Just northwest of Tahiti lies another island that's part of French Polynesia, and despite how utterly stunning it is, chances are you've never heard of it.

Surrounded by a bright blue lagoon, the volcanically formed island of Moorea was rated as the third-best island in the world by the Conde Nast Traveler's Readers Choice Awards . Getting to the hidden paradise is a process. Besides having to get to Papa'ete in Tahiti, travelers then travel by high-speed ferry to reach Moorea, which sits 12 miles away. But let us be the first to tell you -- the island is worth the schlep.