10 Reasons Why Moorea Should Be On Your Bucket List
Moorea is a small island in French Polynesia that is rather unknown compared to other famous destinations in the South Pacific Ocean such as Tahiti or Bora Bora. Moorea is a true hidden gem! In this travel guide, I’ll share 10 reasons why Moorea should be on your travel bucket list. This article also includes information on the best places to visit and things to do on Moorea. So, without further ado, let me tell you why Moorea is worth visiting…

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Moorea – Quick Tips
Best Places to Stay | Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa, Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort
Best Time to Visit | May – October
How to Get Around | Rental Car, Scooter, Bicycle, Guided Tours
Top Places to Visit | Les Tipaniers Beach, Belvedere Lookout Point
Best Tours & Experiences
🛶 Lagoon Kayak Tour (guided tour including snacks)
🐋 Whale Watching Tour (swim with humpback whales)
⛵ Sunset Sailing Cruise (an unforgettable experience!)
🤿 Sea Scooter Snorkeling Tour (snorkel with stingrays, turtles, and sharks)
🏝️ 4×4 Island Tour (Moorea highlights tour)
⛰️ ATV Tour (explore Moorea by ATV)
How to Get to Moorea?
When traveling to French Polynesia, you’ll first arrive at the international airport in Tahiti. From Tahiti, you have two options to reach Moorea: you can either take a ferry or fly. We opted for the ferry, as it’s the more affordable option (around $22 for a return ticket per person). The ferry ride takes approximately 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can fly to Moorea in just 10 minutes, though it is significantly more expensive than the ferry.
You may also be interested in: Best Things to Do in Tahiti in 3 Days
How to Get Around Moorea?
The best way to get around on the island of Moorea is by scooter or rental car. We opted to rent a scooter for a few days, as it’s our preferred mode of transportation on tropical islands. The cost was around $45 per day.
If you’re not comfortable driving a scooter, it might be better to rent a car (Tip: it’s cheaper to rent a car in Tahiti and take it with you on the ferry to Moorea) or join guided tours that include transport to and from your accommodation. For shorter distances, renting a bicycle is another great option (which we also did).
Best Time to Visit Moorea
The best time to visit Moorea is from May to October, when the weather is cooler and drier. From November to April is the wet season, meaning you can expect more rainy days, but prices for visiting Moorea tend to be lower during this period. If you’re planning to go whale watching, the ideal time to visit is between August and October.
Looking for the best hotels in Moorea? Click here!

10 Reasons Why Moorea is Worth Visiting
1. Tropical Beaches
Moorea is the definition of a breathtaking exotic island getaway. Think white sand, palm-fringed beaches, and tropical turquoise lagoons. Moorea has it all! Next to the resort beaches, its worth visiting the free public beaches in Moorea. Make sure to check out Les Tipaniers Beach, Tiahura Beach, Ta’ahiamanu Beach and Temae Beach.


2. Swimming with Stingrays and Sharks
Swimming with reef sharks and stingrays is such a bucket list experience! It was one of my favorite moments of our French Polynesia trip. I couldn’t get the smile off my face when hanging with these gentle puppies of the sea. We met so many stingrays, black tip reef sharks, and turtles in the waters of Moorea like in no other destination. It was truly amazing!
We did a private sailing tour that included a stop for swimming and snorkeling with rays and sharks (without feeding or touching (!) the animals, please respect the marine wildlife!).


3. Amazing Overwater Bungalows
French Polynesia is known for luxurious accommodation options including amazing overwater bungalows. Moorea certainly is one of the best places to enjoy a memorable overwater bungalow experience in French Polynesia. You can take in the unparalleled views of the lagoon from your balcony and swim or snorkel right off your private deck.
We stayed at the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa and had such a memorable time there (not only because Carsten proposed to me at this place).
To read my detailed hotel review about our stay at Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa, click here.
The following resorts also offer over-water bungalows in Moorea:


4. Dreamy Sunsets
This point probably doesn’t need any further explanation. The sunsets (and also the sunrises) on Moorea are simply breathtaking! Imagine watching the sky slowly changing its color from dreamy pastel shades to vibrant orange tones while the glowy tropical lagoons look like liquid gold. The sunset mood on Moorea truly creates a magical experience every day. It’s not without reason that Moorea is one of the most romantic destinations in the world.



5. Incredible Island Views
Mother Nature outdid herself when she created the picture perfect island of Moorea. Moorea offers an unparalleled scenery with lush tropical landscapes, azure lagoons, and dramatic volcanic peaks. One of the best views over Moorea, you have from the Belvedere Lookout Point. From there you can soak in the panoramic views of Cook’s Bay and Opunohu Bay as well as the iconic mountain peaks. This view point is definitely a must see!


6. Sailing In Crystal Clear Lagoons
When visiting Moorea, you should not only explore the island itself but also the crystal clear, turquoise lagoons around Moorea. I can highly recommend doing a boat trip there. Our sailing trip was hands down one of my favorite experiences in French Polynesia. We sailed along beautiful tropical bays, passed small islands (called ‘motus’), swam and snorkeled with stingrays and sharks, enjoyed fresh fruit on board, and soaked in lots of sunshine. I will never forget this day!
Instead of doing a sailing trip, you can also explore Moorea’s lagoons in a traditional Polynesian outrigger canoe.


7. Snorkeling with Colorful Fish
I’ve already snorkeled in many coral reefs around the world, so you can believe me when I say that French Polynesia is one of the best snorkeling spots I’ve ever seen. The conditions here are incredible! The water is as clear as it can get, the temperatures are pleasant and you can see plenty of colorful tropical fish (next to stingrays, turtles, and sharks, as already mentioned). Snorkeling in French Polynesia feels like exploring a giant aquarium!


8. Fun Water-Sports Activities
Moorea is the perfect destination for water-sports activities of any kind. I absolutely loved exploring Moorea’s beautiful lagoons on a stand-up paddle board (SUP) while watching the marine life from above. Other popular water related activities on Moorea include kayaking (with a glass-bottom kayak), jet skiing, surfing, parasailing, kite surfing, and scuba diving. It’s a dream for any water-sports lover!


9. Friendly Locals
The locals on Moorea are very warm and welcoming. Although French is the official language in French Polynesia, most people will try to help you using gestures and signs or even speak some English. I truly felt the kindness of the locals on Moorea. Next to the people, chances are good that you will also make some furry friends on the island as there are many dogs and cats on Moorea.


10. Delicious Local Food
French Polynesia has a unique cuisine with French and Polynesian influences. A popular local dish is ‘Poisson Cru’ which is only made of fresh local ingredients. It consists of fresh fish, lime, coconut milk and veggies (like cucumber, tomato and carrot). Most restaurants on Moorea are rather expensive, so we mainly went to the local ‘roulottes’ which are food trucks that serve a variety of different dishes. It’s not only a gastronomic but also a cultural experience.



Other Things to Do in Moorea
- Pineapple Route and Plantations
- Lycee Agricole Opunohu
- Ancient Temples (‘marae’)
- Afareaitu Waterfalls
- Magic Mountain
- ATV Tour
- Hiking
- Tiki Village Cultural Centre
- Moorea Tropical Garden
- Moorea Lagoonarium
- Get a Resort Day Pass
I hope you liked this mini Moorea travel guide. Have I convinced you that Moorea is worth visiting? 🙂
Check out my other French Polynesia and Oceania travel guides.


Moorea – FAQ
For a proper experience of Moorea, I recommend spending at least three to four full days. This will give you enough time to explore the island’s stunning beaches, go on a few tours, and enjoy some relaxation.
Moorea offers a similar paradise vibe but with fewer tourists, making it an amazing alternative to Bora Bora. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a quieter, more laid-back experience without compromising beauty.
Moorea caters to every budget, from luxury resorts to affordable guesthouses. You can enjoy the island on a mid-range budget or splurge on high-end experiences.
Yes, you can swim in Moorea! The crystal-clear lagoons are perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and seeing marine life like stingrays and sharks.
Driving around the island of Moorea takes about 1 to 1.5 hours, covering the island’s scenic coastline and providing stunning views along the way.

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Wow what an amazing paradise. How much money would you say is needed for 10 days on Moorea?
It depends on your budget, you can easily spend lots of money when staying at the luxury resorts but it´s also possible to do Moorea on a budget when staying at small local accommodation. You will need at least $100 per day (for accommodation and food). In case you want to splurge there is not really a limit upwards. 😉
Wow, such a dreamy location! I’ve added this to my Pinterest bucket list board but I’ll be dreaming about this place! 😍
I can highly recommend visiting Moorea! It´s such a dream destination. 🙂
Beautiful photos! I’ve been wanting to make it to Moorea for ages, but haven’t been able to yet. One day!
Thanks Tara! I hope you can visit one day! 🙂
The photos convinced me right away Madeleine! I wish I could teleport myself here right now!! Thank you for all the recommendations!
I´m so happy I could convince you! 😉
Moorea looks like a dream destination! Would love to visit once so I just saved your guide for later 🙂
It´s true paradise! <3 You´d love it!
Oh well it was obviously already on top of my bucketlist, look at this paradise!! Now I want to go even more if that’s even possible ahah. Saved this great travel guide preciously for later girl, thanks for sharing 😀
You´re welcome! 🙂