The Ultimate Moorea Travel Guide

Moorea, an island in French Polynesia, is paradise! Located in the South Pacific it is a perfect island to escape the craziness of everyday life. We enjoyed just five short days in this beautiful place, and already wish we could go back! We were amazed at how simple the island life can be – no movie theater, only one fire station, and chickens that roam free. Fun Fact: there are no natural predators for chickens on Moorea and supposedly no creepy crawlers live here!

This travel guide will tell you everything you need to know about visiting Moorea!

Weather/Best Time to Go

With any tropical island, there are typically only two seasons, the ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ seasons. Temperatures range from low 80s to high 80s (24-26 C) all year long. June and August are typically the busiest months for tourists.

Summer & Fall are the ‘dry seasons’, and last from May through October, August is usually the driest month.

Winter and Spring are the “wet seasons”, and last from November through April, March is usually the wettest month.

We went in late October/early November and the weather was just perfect! The temperature ranged from low to mid-80s (25 C), and there were rain showers each night. The summer crowds are usually gone at this point and the prices are slightly lower. 

What to Pack

I always have the hardest time packing; I tend to overpack and bring items I never even use at home. Here is a simple list of what to bring to this tropical paradise!

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• Swimsuit (duh!)
• Swimsuit cover
• Sandals
• Sunhat
• Beach bag
• Beach towels
• Cute sundresses for dinner (shorts and polo for guys)
• Sunscreen (pack an extra in your carry-on for the ferry ride over, unless you want to end up looking like a lobster on your vaca )
• Snorkeling gear. We use this mask and it is wonderful!
• Water shoes (we were warned about the stonefish that has been seen near the resorts. We didn’t want to take any chances)
• Shorts and t-shirt for day excursions
• Sneakers for day excursions
• Water bottle for day excursions
• Bug spray for day excursions
• Essential toiletries
• Don’t forget your GoPro for those underwater shots!

Transportation

Getting to Moorea is an adventure. On our first leg of the trip, we took an 8-hour flight from LAX, California to Fa’a’ā International Airport on the main island of Tahiti. From the airport, we were bussed to the ferry dock in Papeete. Our flight had been delayed in LA, so we missed the first ferry. After an hour of waiting, we boarded the ferry for a 30-minute ride to Moorea! The ferry offers food and drinks below and you can get a stunning view of the island from the top! When we arrived in Moorea, we got on another bus before arriving at our amazing Hilton Resort! It was a long journey, to say the least, but well worth it. We stayed at our resort, with the exception of excursions, but if you wish to explore taxis are readily available.

Currency

In Moorea, they use the French Pacific Franc, abbreviated XPF or CFP. Most hotels will take an American credit card, however, if you wish to do local shopping or excursion souvenirs, I recommend bringing cash.

Language

The official language of Mo’orea is French, however, you will hear more locals speaking the unofficial language, Tahitian. Don’t worry, you do not need to learn French or Tahitian to visit, most speak English as well.

Where to Stay

There are so many wonderful places to stay in Moorea, including the iconic over-the-water bungalows. We stayed at the Hilton Lagoon Resort and Spa. It was a fantastic resort. Unfortunately, we did not stay in the over-the-water bungalows, however, we stayed in the King Garden Bungalow with our own private plunge pool!

There is one main pool and of course a spacious beachside. Umbrellas are located around the entire resort. Canoes and paddleboards are available when requested. There is a total of three restaurants and one bar area each with a great selection of food and drinks! 

If you are interested there is a pearl shop where you can purchase the famous ‘black pearls’ of Tahiti. And if you need extra pampering, schedule a massage at the spa!

What to Do

Other than sitting at the beach all day, there is so much to do in Moorea! You can hang by the water and snorkel, paddleboard, or canoe. At the Hilton Resort, they also had a traditional Tahitian dance and a fire show! You can head off to the resort and book some great excursions. We booked three excursions through Tahiti.com and loved every minute!

The first was a 4×4 safari tour of the island. Stop by a pineapple plantation, before heading up Magic Mountain to Belvedere lookout where there was a gorgeous view of the island! At the very end, we were able to walk through an area with ancient temple ruins and explore Cook’s Bay!

The second was jet-skiing – omg this was fun! Drive around Moorea’s two bays and experience the beauty of the island from the lagoon!

The third was a ‘Walk Under the Sea’. This unique excursion includes wearing a heavy yellow helmet in order to ‘walk’ on the bottom of the sea. Get up close and personal with colorful fish and friendly stingrays! (Offical website).

Where to Eat

Of course, I saved the best for last because I am a foodie! We tried all three restaurants at the Hilton Resort and loved each meal!

I’ll start with breakfast (included) at the Arii Vahine Restaurant – I have never seen such a massive breakfast buffet in my life! From bread, cheeses, fruits, and jams that was just the start. There were pancake and omelet-making stations. At least four different kinds of fruit juices, coffees, and teas. 

For lunch, we ate at the Rotui Grill & Bar where I had fish with salad and Sam had a burger with fries. We also stopped here for dinner, where I had the most delicious pasta carbonara and Sam had Spaghetti.

Eimeo Bar, opening from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm is the perfect location for Happy Hour!

For dinner, we stopped at the Arii Vahine Restaurant. I highly recommend the duck with sweet potatoes or the beef filet with glazed vegetables, such incredible food!

For dessert we tried Toatea Crêperie & Bar – they offer the most delicious crepes while you watch the famous blackfin sharks swim by! We tried the Bounty crepe – Banana, chocolate, almonds, coconut ice cream, grated coconut, and whipped cream!

We had such an incredible time in Moorea, we did not want to leave! I hope after reading this guide you are inspired to visit this gorgeous island!

Until the next destination!

If you have any specific questions, do not hesitate to comment down below! Or you can email us!