The Ultimate Travel Guide for Moorea french Polynesia
ia ora na!
Welcome to the ultimate travel guide to Moorea French Polynesia. This guide covers everything you need to know from the best beaches, where to stay, places to eat, how to buy real pearls, swim with whales, and much more.
When you are finished reading this post you will be able to plan your dream vacation with ease.
Where is Moorea?
Moorea is located in the South Pacific ocean and is one out of 118 islands and atolls that make up the country of French Polynesia.
It is exciting to share a map of the Polynesia Triangle with you. Most people do not realize that this triangle takes up 2,500,000 square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean.
The pacific side of the world is rarely shown on maps. Below you will find an excellent visual.
At its widest point, The Polynesian Triangle is 180 degrees, half of earth!
It is important to note that the Polynesian Triangle encompasses many countries, not just French Polynesia.
So, where is Moorea French Polynesia?
French Polynesia is made up of five archipelagos. To the east of Australia lies the Society Islands. Moorea is part of that archipelago.
Map of Moorea french Polynesia
When is the best time to visit french Polynesia?
The best time to visit is the months of June through October. The weather is cooler, drier, and it is Humpback Whale season. Later in this guide are the details on swimming with whales.
Despite the massive size of the pacific ocean, Tahiti is only an 8 hour flight from LA.
Languages: French and Tahitian are the official languages of French Polynesia. Later in the post we will go over a few Tahitian sayings you will hear often and can learn before your trip.
English is common, more so in hotels and tourism oriented businesses.
What money is used in Polynesia
The currency is the Pacific Franc (XPF) and the exchange rate is approximately 100 XPF to 1 USD. As a quick trick, when I get a bill, I cover the last two digits and that gives me a rough estimate of the total in USD.
Example:
450 XPF = 4 USD
45000 XPF = 450 USD
4500 XPF = 45 USD
Can you use your cell phone? If you do not have an international plan with a provider such as T-Mobile, purchase a local SIM card immediately. Vini works great on all the islands. Before you leave the store, make sure the SIM is activated and working properly.
Another option is to turn off all cellular data and roaming then only use your phone when connected to WiFi. After 10 days in paradise, a friend of mine, returned home to Australia to a 6,000 phone bill. No one wants that.
In 2019, I switched to T-Mobile and have been a happy customer ever since. As soon as the airplane wheels touch the ground, my phone works. In every single country with no daily data charge like all other mobile phone providers.
Is Moorea safe?
French Polynesia as a whole is extremely safe. Just like any location in the world with high rates of tourism [Moorea, Tahiti, Bora Bora] there are occurrences of petty theft. As well as, rare break-ins at hotel rooms and bungalows.
Follow international rules: do not leave your valuables alone on the beach or out in the open in a vehicle.
How long should you visit Moorea?
As long as you possibly can. French Polynesia is made up of 118 islands and atolls, 70 of which are inhibited, and 40 have airports. To say, you've seen one you've seen them all, would be a massive understatement. From the landscapes to the locals, each island is unique.
At a minimum, I would spend 10 days exploring two to three islands.
Best Places to stay in Moorea
There are a ton places to stay around Moorea. Where you choose to stay will depend on the length of the trip, overall vibe, and of course, budget.
For full adventure and budget conscious stay in a local home via Airbnb or VRBO.
Little Moorea is the only hostel on the island. I have stayed in countless hostels around the world and this is by far one of the best. Super clean and chic.
Budget friendly options
Lucie's Chambre d 'Europe ( PIHA PE'EU)
Mid-range cost hotels
Les Tipaniers has oceanfront views with garden bungalows. It is located on a beautiful white sand beach, just a short swim to the shark and ray location. Amenities include bike, kayak, and snorkeling gear. There is a restaurant on site and a boat rental a few sandy steps down the beach. Within walking distance to the Little Village of Tiahura. To explore other sides of the island you will need a car or scooter rental or taxi service.
Manava Moorea Beach Resort & Spa (pictured above) has over the water bungalows, Wednesday and Saturday night Polynesian dance shows that pair well with their happy hour, on-site restaurant, pool, dive shop, massage, and spa. It is centrally located for shopping, cafes, and a car rental service and tour company across the street.
Luxury with a Large Budget
Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort (pictured above) is a four star hotel designed for rest and relaxation. The property sits inside a crystal clear lagoon with full panorama views of Tahiti. Of course, over the water bungalows, a private beach, Tahitian dance shows on Wednesday and Saturday nights, and exquisite concierge services.
However, it is not located near anything that would be ideal for walking. If you wish to explore the island, you will need transportation.
How to fly to Polynesia
As of January 2023 Delta offers flights from LA to Bora Bora (BOB) Moorea (MOZ) and Raiatea (RFP). This has never been done before and will make honeymoons and vacations much easier.
All flights land on Tahiti (PPT) with a layover and then fly to your final destination.
While this sounds like the same as it has always been, it is far from it. Now, all your flights will be on one itinerary. Saving you the hassle of booking multiple round trip tickets with multiple airlines.
Friendly reminder: Tahiti airport offers complimentary WiFi and you will find a few ATMs near McDonalds.
How to go from Tahiti to Moorea
There are two options: fly or ferry.
Flying to Moorea can be booked online. The price for the 15 minute flight ranges from 100-400 USD. Depending on peak travel times.
Taking the ferry is the affordable option. From the airport, you will find taxi's waiting. Even if your flight arrives after midnight, there will be a couple taxis. There is no Uber or Lyft in Polynesia.
Transport to the ferry station (12 - 15 minutes) by taxi or rental car. It is critical to know that the last ferry from Tahiti to Moorea departs at 5:30 pm except Sundays the last ferry is at 6:10 pm.
That being said, if your flight arrives after 4:00 pm you will likely need to stay one night in Tahiti and then catch the ferry to Moorea the next morning.
ferry options
There are two ferry companies: Aremiti and Terevau. For the most part the schedule rarely changes. However, things do happen so it is best to double check for last minute changes.
To make things as easy as possible for you, I have linked the schedules here: Aremiti and Terevau. You can buy tickets at the station (12-15 USD) there is no need to purchase tickets online or in advance.
The ferry takes about 35-40 minutes.
Taking a rental car on the ferry, arrive in person one hour before departure. Park and purchase tickets for both the people and the vehicle. You will need to provide paperwork as the price of the car ticket will depend on the size/weight class of the vehicle.
Wait in your vehicle until the ferry staff members instruct you to drive the car inside the ferry. I must admit, it is quite fun. Unfortunately, you do not ride in the car. That being said, you will walk upstairs and find a seat. You can sit inside or outside, there are food and options inside. As the ferry approaches Moorea, you will notice people walking downstairs. This is your cue to also walk back down and get ready to exit. Motorbikes and cars are the first to disembark the ferry.
Transportation on Moorea
Options: Car rental, scooter rental, taxi bicycle, e-bike, walking, bus and hitchhiking.
Of course, depends on the size of your group and budget. The bus is not reliable to get around the island, it operates around the arrival times of the Aremiti ferry.
If you rent a car on Moorea there are a few options near the ferry. For Moorea, I personally recommend Albert it is located by Manava Resort.
Driving on the island of Moorea is as easy as it gets. There is one road that goes around the entire island. You can make an entire day of it or drive the entire island in less than one hour.
For peak travel times, I highly recommend a call or email to reserve your car rental as soon as possible. Between Tahiti and Moorea there are limited cars available and they can book up fast during peak season.
Best Places to eat in Moorea
The overall cuisine ranges from Tahitian to French with some Asian influences. One dish you must try is poisson cru (pwah-sahn-kru), raw fish in French, it is a traditional Tahitian dish that is similar to ceviche.
This dish is made with fresh fish, caught by local spearfishing men and women. After preparation, you add shredded carrots, cucumber, tomato, cooked in lime juice for a minute, and add the final ingredient, fresh coconut milk.
It is common to have rice on the side and I must warn you, it is addicting-ly delicious. You will not find a dish like this anywhere else in the world. I highly recommend giving it a try - you will not regret it!
On your first full day, I recommend booking a full day tour with Enjoy Moorea.
They are the best full island tour. In 8 hours you will see half of all the must do spots plus you will learn how to make poisson cru from a Tahitian.
And, of course, enjoy the famous dish.
fresh is best
As you drive around the island you will notice stands on the side of the road with fruits and vegetables for sale.
Before you stop at the store, check out what the locals have for sale.
Moorea is an incredible island for naturally growing fruits. It is common to have bananas, mangos, uru, passionfruit, limes, coconut, papaya, avocados (see the size below), and more growing in your own yard.
Make sure to try all the pineapple you can.
Best ever!
Hello, avo 
If you like to explore new foods, another must try is the coconut bread.
In fact, eat all the bread. The baguettes are made fresh every morning and delivered to all the stores. They are huge, one meter, three feet long.
Firi firi aka the Tahitian donut is a must eat. Sometimes in the shape of a figure eight.
Anything vanilla. The island of Taha’a is home to Tahitian vanilla farms. You can find vanilla for sale in many forms. I always buy vanilla extract to take home for cooking and baking.
Saving the best for last, Uru. Commonly cooked in a small fire, think campfire. After it is cooked to perfection, for protection, take a few leaves from a tree (nature’s oven mitts) and carefully peel off the charred skin.
When you dine out, be sure to scan the menu for Uru frites. All this talk about Uru, what is it? Uru, also known as breadfruit, has a taste similar to potatoes.
It is in the same family as Jackfruit, so, they look similar, however, they taste much different.
Restaurant Recommendations
Te Honu Iti is a must visit. The cuisine is French, every dish is delicious, and it is located seaside. Make reservations and request a table seaside. As you dine you can watch the local sharks and rays.
Fare Maheata is a relaxed beach house overlooking the lagoon with an excellent restaurant. Family owned and operated, the food is fresh and includes local ingredients. If you drink alcohol, make sure to try a specialty drink. Many include homemade liquors.
Chez Tamahau is one of my favorite places to eat. It is great if you have a group and everyone is wanting something different. They have French, Chinese, seafood, and even steak dinners. A few nights a week they have a great live music performance.
Carameline is one of my favorite spots for breakfast or light lunch. It is located in Maharepa shopping center. They have some of the best coffee on the island which can be tough to come by if you are a coffee lover. They also have mouth watering pastries.
Sea you soon is a casual bar and grill with options ranging from fresh seafood to pizza.
Golden Lake is the best on island for Chinese food.
Pizza
MOZ Pizza has huge pizzas with a lot of great options to choose from. They also have the most cheese on their pizza, Wisconsin approved.
Casa Vincenzo is the only full service Italian restaurant on the island. They have incredible pasta and of course, really great pizza.
Allo Pizza has tasty pizzas cooked in a wood burning oven.
Vegan or Vegetarian
As a traveling vegetarian of many years, I will say, French Polynesia is one of the toughest I have been to. At the grocery stores, fruit and vegetables are expensive. It is common to see prices of 8-9 USD for a single eggplant or three medium sized Roma tomatoes.
When you can, buy fresh from the local stands on the side of the road. It might be the same price but local and fresh.
With limited time, I suggest finding a balance between grab and go snacks and dining out for larger meals. Moorea has a lot to offer, it would be best to maximize your time adventuring vs cooking in the kitchen. Your time is valuable.
My vegetarian recommendations are the veggie burger at Fare Maheata, any veg pizza from MOZ, Allo, and others, pastas without meat, vegetable chow mein from Chez Tamahau, and Golden Lake has Chinese vegetable options.
Many restaurants are limited when it comes to vegetarian dishes as a main course. It is common for me to order sides to make a meal.
All the places mentioned in this post (and more) are all saved on my Ultimate Moorea Map.
Top 10 Must Do in Moorea
Relax on the beautiful white sand beaches.
Visit Belvedere Lookout for stunning views of the island and both bays.
Spend an entire day touring the island.
Snorkel in the crystal clear waters at the famous Shark and Ray spot.
Visit Moorea Tropical Garden
Explore the ancient Polynesian archaeological site, Marae.
Take a trip to Coco Beach, a private island that serves lunch.
Take a short nature walk to the Afareaitu waterfall.
Visit the Pineapple fields.
Experience the local culture and hospitality at a traditional Polynesian dance show.
On your first full day, I recommend booking a full day tour with Enjoy Moorea.
They are the best full island tour. In 8 hours you will see half of all the must do spots plus you will learn how to make poisson cru from a Tahitian.
And, of course, enjoy the famous dish.
Hiking in Moorea
When you want to take an adventure into the lush mountain Moorea has eight mountain peaks for you to get your full adventure on. Many trails are on private land. If you rent a mountainside Airbnb you can ask for permission to hike or if you happen to see a potential trail, seek permission.
A few easy to moderate hikes are Belvedere, trois cocotiers, and trois pinus.
Magic Mountain is another easy hike with stunning viewing and a 360 view.
Belvedere
Belvedere is the most popular viewpoint on the island. It is a picturesque lookout with impressive views of both bays and many of the mountain peaks. You can also see the sweeping pineapple farms.
More than just a viewpoint, on the way up there is a spot to stop and view the Marae, sacred temples.
Not only can you hike Belvedere, it is also a home base for hiking trails trois cocotiers and trois pinus.
Mou’a Puta
The ultimate hike. Maybe you have heard about the pierced mountain? There is a legendary story to go along with the hole in the mountain. This is an advanced hike, heavy on the advanced. A guide should be considered. Do not ever attempt this hike within a couple days of rain, the end of the hike is extremely steep with only ropes to assist you to the summit.
Plan to start your hike as early as possible. I personally prefer to have my feet on soil before 7 am. That way I can get a solid hour of hiking in before the sun really starts to heat the world up.
As always, bring plenty of water, sunscreen, snacks, and long socks can come in handy depending on the trail. There are plenty of hikes that will put you in direct sun.
With French Polynesia being 17 degrees south of the equator, the sun is very strong.
'Āfareaitu Waterfall
'Āfareaitu waterfall is the most accessible waterfall on the island. Just past the hospital head down the road with the middle school until it ends. From there, it is about a 30 minute (light) walk to reach.
If you are traveling with a drone, I highly recommend flying up as high as you legally can to see how far this waterfall goes. It will blow your mind.
Best Beaches
Tema’e Beach is the longest white sand beach on the island. The lagoon is exceptional for a fun snorkel, adventurous paddle board, or relax and soak up the panoramic view of Tahiti. The sun is strong on this beach, be sure to find a good shade tree.
Ta’ahiamanu Beach is located on Opunohu Bay, with endless palm trees and stunning views in every direction. This is my favorite beach to relax, watch the sailboats, and read a book. Added bonus, there is a taco truck across the street.
Hauru Beach is a great beach to snorkel from to see turtles. Enter the water and swim to the right, east towards the channel, once you reach the dock keep your eyes open for turtles.
Sunset Beach lives up to its name with stunning views of the sunset.
CoCo Beach
After you spend the morning hiking it would be a great idea to visit coco beach for a rewarding lunch.
Coco beach is a restaurant and local favorite hangout located on motu Tiahura. The menu is loaded with fresh locally sourced foods.
As noted, it is located on an island so a boat shuttle is required, there is a seaside parking lot at Pk 24 in Tiahura. The shuttle runs every 30 minutes Wednesday - Sunday 10 am to 1pm and is 500 XPF 5 USD per person over 12 years old.
Recommend all the classics as well as the Thai papaya salad. Since we eat with our eyes first, here is a direct link to their Instagram, to make reservations tap the link in their bio.
All the places mentioned in this guide are all saved here on my Google Map of Moorea
Shark and Ray Spot
Arguably, one of the most 'instagrammable' locations on island.
How to get here: There is a parking lot across the street from Les Tipaniers Hotel. From there you can walk down the hotels drive to the ocean.
Recently, I was told they have started charging a small fee of $5 for access.
On the beach, you will find boats, kayaks, and paddleboards for rent. They will explain safety, how to drive, park, and operate inside the lagoon.
Your destination is a 3 minute ride. Needless to say, it will be easy to find. Bring reef safe sunscreen, a hat or some type of shade.
If you do not want to pay. Put all your gear in a dry bag, go down the road to Hauru park, and swim to the shark and ray spot. This is my preferred option because you can potentially see turtles and spotted eagle rays.
Use caution with boat traffic, especially the jet skis.
Swim with Humpback Whales
French Polynesia is one of the few places in the world where you are able to enter the water and swim with these gentle giants.
Being in a boat or whale watching from shore is an experience all in itself. Nothing truly describes being in the water with a mom and baby humpback whale who is so playful dancing and showing off their belly.
Or watching every movement and then suddenly, the eye of a whale, approximately the size of a baseball is staring directly back at you.
By far, one of the best and powerful experiences of my life. Pure magic.
What brings the whales to French Polynesia? The short answer is protection. Each year, humpback whales migrate from Antarctica to Polynesia, arriving as early as June. The majority of Moorea is surrounded by a reef system that creates lagoons. These beautiful turquoise lagoons provide a safe haven with deep waters for moms to give birth and reproduce away from predators.
The male whales are also present as their sole job is to ensure the females arrive safely to French Polynesia. If the male does a good job, he might be able to mate with the female he successfully escorted from Antarctica.
When to go
July - October is Humpback whale season. September is known to be a fantastic time to observe the newborns with mom.
In addition to mom and baby whales you can potentially see male whales, commonly referred to as escorts or minders.
They like to swim deep out of sight.
However, their songs can travel up to 10,000 miles underwater so, you might be able to hear the powerful songs they sing.
The closer they are to you, the stronger the vibration will be. Once you feel the vibrations in your lungs, they are just below you.
How to see them
Book a tour with a local company. Options are public or private and half or full day. Half day tours are 4 hours and a full day is 8 hours.
If you are a group of 4 or more I would recommend a full day private tour. Also, some companies have underwater photographers available for hire.
It is an excellent way to be as present as possible while someone captures all the magic for you.
The guide will explain what to look out for, how to behave in the water, and the laws.
Once the whales are located, both the captain and guide will assess the whale’s behavior, weather, water, and of course, other boats.
If it is safe for both the whales and humans, on the guide's directions, you will enter the water quietly. Boats cannot operate within 100m of the whales, so expect to swim with your fins underwater.
Never swim in front or away from your guide.
Stay behind and close to the guide so you are able to see or hear all communications. They will let you know when to stop swimming and float calmly.
The whales will swim to you. Do not swim at the whales or dive down to them.
What to Bring
If you have your own mask, fins, and snorkel, recommend bringing your own gear. If not, the boat will have options available.
A wetsuit is not required and the boat will not have one for you. If you get cold easily, wear a shortie or a rash guard. The water temperature is ~80F 28C year round. Warm enough for only a swimsuit.
Extras: Towel, water, reef safe sunscreen, and an underwater camera. Visibility in French Polynesia is top notch. Yes, take your GoPro, even your cell phone in a waterproof case.
Best Place to get a Polynesian Tattoo
If you want to get a tattoo while on the island of Moorea, I cannot recommend Lolo enough.
He is the best. To get a better idea on his work, look at his Instagram or visit his website.
How does it work? You will meet Lolo in his home, discuss where you would like your tattoo, how big, share your story, and of course price.
As you share your story, Lolo will start to draw your story (your tattoo) onto your body. There is no paper drawing or sketching on an iPad.
Each tattoo is one of a kind, unique to your story and your body.
Tahitian tatau is made up of symbols based on the four elements of nature: air, earth, fire, and water. From those four categories the symbols breakdown further. There are symbols to represent one's social rank and genealogy to roles in society, stability, travel, wisdom, and much more.
Once your tattoo is complete, make sure to ask Lolo (or whomever your artist is) for a video explaining your tattoo. When I say each tattoo is one of a kind, it feels like an understatement. Your tattoo is not just unique to the curves of your body. It is your story, who you are, your roots, what you love, your struggles in life, and your wins. A visual representation of all the fibers that make you, you.
Fun fact: The word tattoo originates from the Tahitian word tatau.
Polynesian Pearls
The most important part of buying pearls is to make sure they are real. One easy way to know they are real (without asking) is by touching them. Real pearls will be cold on display, once you hold them in your hands or around your neck, the pearl(s) will match your body temperature. A second way is to examine the texture. Real pearls are smooth in texture, there is no grit, they roll easy across surface. Lastly, real pearls are bright, they shine, and are vibrant in color.
Fake pearls are dull, temperature never changes, light in weight, and gritty.
Where to buy real pearls
Moana Pearls located mountainside in Cook's Bay at Pk 7.7 Paopao
Pai Moana Pearls located mountainside near the Little Village Tiahura
Coral Gardners
Coral Gardeners is a movement of young group of surfers, fishermen, and free divers noticed the health of the reef around them kept getting worse and worse.
Then, they decided to do something about it.
How long have then been active:
The movement was founded in 2017 by Titouan, his brother, and friends.
Where are they located:
Coral Gardeners are located on the island of Moorea, French Polynesia.
Over the years, their mission has grown from the little island of Moorea to a global movement. The entire team has worked hard to spread awareness, plant coral, and provide opportunities for anyone in the world to help.
With the help of scientists, they were educated on the top five climate resistant coral. And, those are the five coral anyone in the world can adopt. Right from your cell phone, you can adopt your own baby coral and then track its progress.
Thanks to the power of social media, their mission has spread far and wide, catching the eye of some of the world's greatest ocean hero's such as Dr. Sylvia Earle.
They are now partnered with National Geographic and Rolex.
save the reef
Scuba Diving in Moorea
Moorea is great location for new scuba divers and those who want to increase their comfort with sharks.
Moorea, well, all of Polynesia is home to thriving marine life. This is largely due to the deep rooted respect to nature Tahitians have.
When diving around Moorea you have the opportunity to see turtles, spotted eagle rays, sting rays, lemon sharks, spinner dolphins, and even humpback whales.
For advanced divers, I recommend visiting Rangiroa and Fakarava. South pass of Fakarava is where you can dive with the wall of sharks.
Detailed posts for each location coming soon.
Where to buy flower crowns
Keep an eye out as you drive around the island. There will be stands on the side of the road that sell fruit, vegetables, flower crowns, and necklaces. The BEST one I know of is seaside, between the ferry and Champion grocery store.
Make the flowers last longer by storing them overnight in the refrigerator.
It is common to place a single flower behind one of your ears. Behind your right ear if you are available and behind your left ear if you are taken.
Tahitian Sayings
For more Tahitian words and sayings you can practice with these videos.
That concludes my ultimate travel guide to Moorea French Polynesia. Each section of this guide has a dedicated post with even more details. You can read more on my French Polynesia page.
When I left corporate health care to travel full time, French Polynesia was my first destination.
The Tahitian way of life restored my faith in humanity. Most importantly, it reset my heart and soul back to what really matters in life.
Every year, I return for a few months to explore new islands and see friends. In total, I have spent one year living on the islands.
With each trip back to Polynesia, I will continue to update and share more information here for you.
Enjoy your trip!
xoxo, ash
