The French Polynesian Islands is a dream destination for many. From white sand beaches lined with palm trees, to towering mountains and lush greenery, Moorea is an absolute jewel. We love how rugged and untouched Moorea felt. There is no shortage of adventures to have on this Island.
In this guide, we let you in on all the Moorea travel secrets. Where to stay, where to eat, and all of the best things to do on the Island!
Best Time To Visit
January To April
The start of each year means wet season has begun. Each month in this season averages 12 inches of rainfall. This time frame is when hotels are at its emptiest and at their cheapest, so if you do not mind the rain at times, then this is a great time to go!
May to June
Dry season begins in May. The Papenoo region of Tahiti holds the Matari’i Raro, a festival that celebrates the beginning of the dry season during the month of May. May and June are a great time to visit as the hotels are still cheap and the peak season has not arrived meaning less crowds.
July and August
July and August mark the beginning of their peak season. The weather is sunny and dry. Heiva in Bora Bora is an annual festival that takes place in July that incorporates singing, dancing, and sports competitions. If boats are more your style, consider the Tahiti Moorea Sailing Rendez-Vous, a three-day sailing rally that takes place in July.
September and October
The humidity begins to creep up as fall approaches, but the days remain sunny and warm. Rainy days start in late October. Late September marks the spring equinox meaning the sun hits the island lagoons in such a way, making the water extremely turquoise. It looks like it’s right out of a postcard.
November and December
Humidity rises and the rainy season begins again. November and December can have unpredictable days of rain, meaning 30 minutes to day long rain. We traveled during October and November and we had a varying amount of days of rain. Some days it poured the entire day, and other days there was no rain at all!
How To Get There
The main international airport in the French Polynesia is in Tahiti. It is the Papeete International Airport (PPT). There are direct flights from many airports in the USA and one in Canada. We flew direct from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) with United Airlines. Our flight was approximately 8 hours!
Multi-Island Flight Pass
From PPT, you can take connecting flights to other destinations like Moorea, Bora Bora and more. Air Tahiti (the only commercial airline that operates between French Polynesian Islands) offers Multi-Island Passes. They range from $350-$600 USD each person and can be used for multiple flights between many different islands. This is a perfect idea if you are planning to Island Hop to multiple islands around the French Polynesia.
Fast Ferry
You can take a Ferry directly to Moorea from the Ferry Port. The Ferry takes approximately 20 minutes and there are multiple crossings a day, meaning you can fit them into your itinerary easily. There are two fast Ferry companies from Tahiti to Moorea. We used Tereveau, and a one way ticket is approximately $12 USD. There is no discounts for purchasing round trip tickets. The Ferry was clean, large and spacious. There was a canteen onboard, as well as washrooms and televisions.
How To Get Around
There is one single road the circles the entire Island of Moorea, with a few village roads that lead inland. It takes about an hour and half to circle the entire Island.
Rent a Car
The best way to get around the Island is by renting a car. Rental cars in Moorea are not cheap and run approximately $50-$150 USD a day. However, we think that the price is absolutely worth it as we believe the benefits out way the cost. There are two rental car companies on Moorea, Avis and EUROPCAR. Both are located right at the Ferry Port, making it easy to pick up your car and start your adventure right after you get off the Ferry.
Tip: Make sure to book your car in advance as there is a limited supply of Automatic Transmission vehicles on the Island.
You can also rent a car in Tahiti and drive it onto the Fast Ferry to bring it to Moorea. Rental cars can run approximately the same price, but there is a bit more Inventory in Tahiti so you may have a better chance of finding an automatic transmission car here.
Rent a Scooter
A scooter is a more adventurous way to get around if a Rental car is out of your budget. A scooter can be rented for approximately $50 USD for 24 hours from Moorea Fun Bike. There are certain types of bikes that require the driver to have a Motorcycle license so make sure to inquire about the type of bike you are renting!
Where To Stay:
Moorea is a relatively small Island but there are a lot of different options for places to stay for all budgets.
Budget Friendly
AirBnb – there is a large number of AirBnb’s on the Island. However, we recommend giving the reviews a very good read before booking. We had a recommendation made to us and it ended up being infested with ants and was not well kept. But we have heard that many Airbnb’s are wonderful with great hosts! So again, make sure to read the reviews before booking.
Mark’s Place – this is a great place for someone looking for a comfortable stay on a budget. This property is comprised of several bungalows equipped with kitchenettes and wifi!
Luxury
Manava Beach Resort and Spa Moorea is a great resort within walking distance to a bustling town full of shops, cafes and restaurants. They have a variety of different categories of rooms, from garden bungalows with private pools, beach front bungalows and Overwater Bungalows. The resort has two great restaurants, an infinity pool and a secluded beach. We stayed in an Overwater Bungalow and were treated to some of the best views from our deck. We watched sharks, turtles and hundreds of fish swim right in front of our Bungalow!
Sofitel Moorea La Ora Beach Resort is a luxury resort on one of the nicest white sand beaches on the Island. The property has Garden View Bungalows, Beach Front Bungalows and Overwater Bungalows. They have a beautiful infinity pool and three restaurants on the property. We stayed in a Garden View Bungalow and it was large and comfortable.
Where To Eat:
A famous dish from The French Polynesian islands is Poisson Cru! It is a raw Tahitian fish soaked in coconut milk. This is a must try dish when visiting the French Polynesia. This was Jake’s favourite meal and he ordered it at almost every restaurant we went to in the French Polynesia.
Rudy’s
This restaurant is located in the town of Maharepa. Rudy’s has excellent food at reasonable prices and was our favourite restaurant on the Island! The owner greets you when you walk in and serves some tables. The most highly recommend dishes are the Parrot Fish (sold out by the time we got there), and the Curry dishes as well as the Lava Cake. They have a shuttle that you can arrange at your Resort’s reception desk to bring you to and from the Restaurant. The owner is so friendly and loves his guests. We found this gem at the end of our trip and we wish we found it sooner!
Tip: Make sure you get a reservation as this place fills up quickly!
CaraMeline Cafe
This small Cafe is a great stop for some tasty food for breakfast and lunch. They are famous for their pastries and for a good reason, they are all delicious! They also have great lunch options, like Poisson Cru as well as Gelato.
Tip: Get here early in the morning if you want to get your hands on some of their pastries as they do sell out quite quick.
Allo Pizza
Located in Cook’s Bay, this wood fire Pizza place is no fuss and one of the cheaper eats on the Island! The Pizza is great and they have a variety of toppings for any palate. There is a small amount of seating outside for dining at Allo Pizza, but they also have an option for takeaway. This was the best Pizza that we had in the French Polynesia!
Moorea Beach Cafe
Moorea Beach Cafe is a fancier spot located right on the water. It is open for lunch and dinner and offers an a la carte menu as well as a Price Fixe menu for dinner at sunset. They have a variety of dishes from seafood, to steak to wood fire pizza. They have a shuttle that you can arrange at your Resort’s reception desk to bring you to and from the Restaurant.
Champion Grocery Store
If you are looking for cheap eats, snacks and cheap wine than this is the perfect place to stop! This is the largest grocery store on the Island and not only has groceries and alcohol, but they also have ready made snacks that you can purchase. This is a great place to stop to get some snacks for a day of adventures!
Things To Do:
Swim with Sharks and Stingrays
A boat tour is the ultimate way to experience the magic that the Island of Moorea has to offer. We did a private Catamaran tour with Voila Moorea. From the moment got onto the boat, a Rainbow and Spinner Dolphins appeared, and we knew that this tour was going to be special. Our first stop was a popular spot for swimming with Sting Rays and Sharks. Then, lunch over a clear lagoon and lastly, swimming to discover underwater hidden tikis! If you are visiting Moorea, you definitely need to add a tour with Voila Moorea to your itinerary.
Belvedere Lookout
With panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, Opunohu Valley and Cook and Opunohu Bays, this place is straight out of a dream! To get here, there is a quick drive up a winding road “Rte Du Belvedere”. At the top there is a small parking area. We recommend getting here for sunrise to get a spectacular view with little to no crowds.
Beach Hop
There is no shortage of beautiful beaches in Moorea. If you stay at Sofitel Resort, it is right next to Tamae beach which is considered one of the most beautiful on the Island! Tamae Beach is a private piece of land that previously allowed the public. However, recently, locals informed us that the property has been purchased and will not remain open to the public much longer.
Les Tipaniers is a beautiful beach with plenty to do. There is a small dive and boat shop right at the beach where you can rent a boat to take a tour of the Island yourself! You can also rent Kayaks here to have an adventure close to the shore.
Find Hidden Gems
There are so many beautiful spots hidden around the Island. You can explore this Island for weeks and find so many gems. We drove around the Island everyday and could not believe that this place was really real!
Go Whale Watching
Moorea is a famous destination for swimming with Humpback Whales! Join a tour company as they whisk you out to sea where you will swim with whales in the wild. The whale season is from July to November so keep that in mind when booking your adventure to Moorea if your goal is to swim with whales! This is one adventure we did not get to do, so I guess it is a good excuse to go back.. right?
Final Thoughts
Moorea is an absolute dream destination for many and can easily be traveled to on any budget. From the rugged mountains, to the white sand beaches lined with palm trees, this place is a true paradise. Take a boat tour and swim with sharks and stingrays, watch the sunrise over some of the most incredible mountains and enjoy the Tahitian sun. There is no shortage of adventure on this Island.
We absolutely love Moorea and we highly recommend adding this place to your French Polynesia travel bucketlist!
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