Raiatea means "faraway heaven," and that's exactly what you'll find on this lush South Pacific isle surrounded by clear blue-green waters. Less touristed than Bora Bora, French Polynesia's second-largest island is also its spiritual center: It's home to the archipelago's most sacred ceremonial “marae” (temple) and is said to have been the starting point for the great Polynesian migrations to Hawaii and New Zealand. And because it shares a large, protected lagoon with Taha'a, it's also one of the best spots in the island chain for sailing, diving, and deep-sea fishing.