Moorea AITO 4WD Safari Adventure

Get off the beaten track on this 4-wheel drive expedition, journey inland to the heart of Moorea and explore the historical and archeological sites. Visit the Belvedere view point, and discover the fruit and pineapple fields where you can taste some of the delicious tropical fruits. Visit a vanilla plantation and discover the first Christian church built in French Polynesia which is the oldest European building in use in the South Pacific.

Get into a 4 wheel-drive vehicle for a ride through the deep valleys of MOOREA. Your adventure begins with a drive to Paopao Valley passing PINEAPPLE PLANTATIONS and then crossing the Paopao Opunohu trail to the territorial property of Opunohu where a stop will be made at "TITIROA MARAE". This large temple complex is strictly reserved for the gods while the tablet-like stones protruding from the earth were backrests for chiefs or priests. This particular temple was used for animals sacrifices, which were placed here as offering to the gods.

Continue to the BELVEDERE lookout point where you will have a panoramic view of Opunohu and Cook's Bays and the Mt Rotui.

Return to the interior trails of the Rural College of Opunohu. Learn all about banana, grapefruit and papaya trees and coffee plantations. The heady smells of these fruits may entice you to purchase some of the exotic fruits at a fruit station.

The interior of Moorea continues to draw you ever deeper into BAMBOO and VANILLA PLANTATIONS.

Continue to Papetoai Village and visit the FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH built in French Polynesia. This octagonal church built by London Missionary Society in 1822 still stand and is the oldest European building in use in the South Pacific. This church faces the lagoon and is surrounded by a thick, white-washed concrete wall. It is in Papetoai that you will also discover the freshwater eels.

And then, visit the MOOREA FRUIT JUICE FACTORY. Aside from the excellent papaya, grapefruit and pineapple juices made with local fruits, the factory produces apple, orange and passion fruit juices from imported concentrate, with no preservatives added. They also make 40-proof brandies (carambola or "star fruit", ginger, grapefruit, mango, orange and pineapple flavors) and 25-proof liqueurs (coconut, ginger and pineapple varieties).

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