Moorea is truly a magic island, with towering jungle covered-peaks rising from azure blue seas, ringed in white sand beaches and a coral reef. A three-day visit is a great introduction to this unique island for your perfect Tahiti vacation or honeymoon.
Day 1
From Papeete, where your international flight will arrive, it’s either a brief ten minute flight, or a thirty minute fast catamaran ride to Moorea. If your flight arrives in the late afternoon or evening, a first night stay would be required in Tahiti before transferring to Moorea the following day. Moorea has an excellent variety beach and lagoon front hotels and resorts. We especially recommend the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Sofitel Ia Ora Beach Resort for your special Moorea honeymoon or anniversary. Both Moorea resorts offer amenities and facilities that one would expect from international quality resort including deluxe accommodations, pool, restaurants and spa facilities. The Hilton Lagoon Resort, Moorea’s only 5-star resort, offers garden bungalows with your own private pool, a unique experience. The star accommodation on the island is the overwater bungalow offering guests the ability to view sea life through glass panels built into the bungalow and direct access to the lagoon for snorkeling and swimming. An indulgence that will make your Moorea vacation or honeymoon unforgettable!
Once you’ve settled into your hotel, you may want to consider taking one of the many half-day tours which will show you the island’s highlights. One of the best excursions on Moorea are by 4 wheel drive vehicle or ATV and include stops at archaeological and historic sites, local marae (temples), the fruit juice factory and distillery, as well as the Le Belvedere panoramic lookout.
Day 2
If you do choose an overwater bungalow, a romantic breakfast served to your private bungalow deck by traditional outrigger canoe is not to be missed. After breakfast, you may find it hard to tear yourself away from a relaxing day enjoying the crystal clear blue green waters of the surrounding lagoons on Moorea. But, if you are feeling energetic, there is plenty to see on Moorea.
There is no one large center of town on the island; the sights and facilities are spread-out among smaller villages. If you want to explore the 53 square mile island, you have the choice of renting a car, scooter, fun car or biking around the island. Navigating the island independently is both easy and safe.
Moorea offers visitors the opportunity to see spectacular South Pacific sunsets. There is no better place to watch this nightly show but from the sea or beach. Sunset sailing cruises are perfect for honeymooners. Toast to another perfect day in paradise from the Moorea Beach Café, a favorite on the island, where you can enjoy a glass of Champagne while enjoying the views of the setting sun from the beach.
Eating out is a delight on Moorea where French cuisine meets fresh Pacific seafood and tropical fruit. There are local restaurants dotted all over the island, and at all the popular beaches ranging from traditional restaurants to budget friendly options including many road side mobile diners or “roulettes”. Most accept credit cards but normally its cash only at the smaller mobile restaurants. Even moderately priced restaurants will give you a free transfer from your hotel if you make a reservation. Typical menus include fresh mahi mahi fish, poisson cru (traditional Polynesian dish of fish marinated in coconut and lime), steaks, seafood, salads, sandwiches and hamburgers.
Day 3
After another leisurely breakfast, perhaps consider exploring Moorea from the sea. Moorea has many diving operations who cater for both experienced and beginner divers. Other popular Moorea excursions include snorkeling, lagoon and deep sea fishing, stand-up paddleboards, glass-bottom lagoon tours to jet skis. You can even put on an old-style diver’s helmet and walk on the ocean floor 12 feet underwater (non-swimmers welcome).
Humpback whales arrive between July and November to mate and give birth in the ocean off Moorea. Visitors to Moorea looking for an up close and personal aquatic experience will enjoy the swim with the dolphins encounter, available year round, at the Moorea Dolphin Center located at the InterContinental Moorea Resort.
If this is your first trip to French Polynesia, you will not want to miss a traditional Polynesian cultural show and dinner. Many hotels offer a traditional show of song and fire dancing, followed by a buffet of local cuisine. A traditional “tamaaraa” is a feast where food is cooked underground in a pit heated with hot rocks.
Three days on Moorea can be total relaxation or a mixture of land and sea-based activities for a Moorea honeymoon or vacation that you will not soon forget.