What To Expect

What‘s Included

Reviews

• Bait and switch

  Albertatraveler,May 19, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  1.00

  I saw the great reviews here about how great Cathy is as a guide. As I wanted to see both Raiatea and Tahaa and I could not find a tour that did both, I contacted Cathy through WhatsApp and she indicated she would do the morning tour for Raiatea and she had relatives who could take us by boat in the afternoon to see the coral Gardens in Tahaa. I was booked on Norwegian Spitit, May 3-12, and was able to find 10 others through private Facebook Group, to join this tour. Through many emails and messages, from Feb 22 to March 12, Cathy and our group came to agreement on price and itinerary. We booked Cathy on the basis of her great reviews. What happened on our day of our tour was huge disappointment to our whole group. We were expecting a tour from Cathy. Cathy split our group into 2 vehicles. I was in a van with 8 and our driver spoke very little English so we had no information about anything on our drive. The other 4 were in a vehicle with a tour guide and 2 added guests. Our first stop was a vanilla farm (which wasn’t even on our itinerary as that was listed for afternoon). It was at this point our group realized what was happening. Apparently Cathy received inquiry from another large group (not exacting sure of how many, but it seems like about 20) which she accepted . So now we were a group of our 14 and perhaps another 20 which is not what we booked or would have booked. We tried to explain our disappointment to Cathy. She only apologized for not letting us know ahead of time. She seemed to not understand that it was wrong of her to accept another group. After the stop at the vanilla farm, we never saw Cathy for the rest of the tour. We had no idea of what was happening. Our group in the van with the driver who spoke no English got no guiding until we met up at the Marae with the other vehicle We were given 10 minutes at botanical gardens and the other group had 30. The afternoon arrangements that Cathy arranged worked out perfectly and we had a great time. We never did see a pearl farm in the morning but did in the afternoon. When corresponding about the afternoon, I was told the boat only took 12. 2 others were added which was okay but initially we thought with the 2 added there would not be enough room for the 12 of us. Cathy accused one of our group about scaring 3 paying passengers away on this boat tour. I still don’t understand why she would say this as there wasnt any more room than 14. I tried a few days later to explain to Cathy why our group was so upset. Cathy responded back that she had no idea of what had happened and said she had given instructions to the driver and guide and was surprised the instructions were not followed and they had ruined her reputation that she worked so hard to build.We had booked the tour based on Cathy’s reviews and an expectation that she would be our guide and we would be a group of 12. I have no idea how she could have thought we would get the tour we booked when 1 group had a driver who spoke almost no English. It appears to me that Cathy now blames her driver and guide for not providing a good tour. In my opinion, she never should have accepted 2nd large tour group or if she did she should have found a different guide as she had already made a commitment to our group.

• Princess Cathy is an excellent choice.

  charlyc631,Apr 15, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  My husband and I had an excellent private half-day tour with Cathy and can recommend her without hesitation. She picked us up in a brand-new, very comfortable van with efficient air conditioning—an important detail in the tropical climate. Cathy herself is a standout guide: charming, highly knowledgeable, and genuinely service-oriented. She provided insightful context on the island, its culture, and local life, while keeping the tour engaging and relaxed. What we appreciated most was her flexibility—she adapted the itinerary to our interests and pace without any rigidity. Overall, a very well-run, comfortable, and informative experience. If you are looking for a private tour on Taha’a (or the surrounding islands), Cathy is an excellent choice.

• Raiatea Comes Alive with Cathy – An Unforgettable Island Tour

  April P,Apr 7, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Cathy is the kind of guide who makes you feel like you’re exploring the island with a knowledgeable friend rather than on a packaged tour. She took us to the iconic Marae Taputapuatea, one of the most sacred and historically significant sites in all of French Polynesia, and before entering, she paused to offer a beautiful prayer in her native language – a deeply moving moment that set the tone for everything that followed. She then gifted us with a song, sharing a piece of her culture in the most personal and generous way. It was one of those unexpected moments that stays with you long after the trip is over. Beyond the marae, she brought us to a pearl farm run by a close friend of hers, and her husband had actually helped them get their business off the ground. Having that personal connection made all the difference – the explanation of the pearl cultivation process was intimate, genuine, and far richer than anything you’d get on a standard tour stop. We also visited the Belvédère de Faaroa, the Jardin Botanique de Faaroa, and the remarkable Promenade des Gabbros, a geological wonder unique to the Faaroa Valley. Throughout every stop, Cathy was our personal photographer, consistently going out of her way to make sure we had beautiful memories to take home. She was warm, generous with her time, and clearly proud to share her culture and island with us. If you are visiting Raiatea, do not hesitate – book Cathy. She will make your time there truly count.