Raiatea is one of the leeward islands of the archipelago of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It lies 210 Km. West of Tahiti, between Huahine, which is 40km away, and Bora Bora. It stretches to 238 km²; and is the second biggest island in the archipelago after Tahiti. A crown-shaped reef surrounds both Raiatea and Tahaa, which share the same lagoon.

The climate is tropical, and pleasant all the year round, softened as it is by the trade winds, which leave a mean annual temperature of 25ºC. There are two distinct seasons: a hot and rainy one, from November to April, and a dry period from May to October. In choosing a time to visit one must not only take into consideration the climate but also the times of the festivities.

Between November and the end of May the weather is hot and humid.