Cook's Bay and Maharepa
Bays and hikesVillages, shops and pensions on the north coast.
French Polynesia city guide
Moorea Travel Guide
Moorea is the island you can see from Papeete, half an hour away by ferry, and the one most independent travellers fall for. Jagged green peaks, two deep bays, a turquoise lagoon full of rays and blacktip sharks, and pensions that cost a fraction of the resorts.
1
Hostels in the city
10.0
Average, from 4 reviews
30 min
Ferry from Papeete
60 km
Coast road around the island
Aug–Oct
Whale season
Moorea at a glance
Moorea is a heart-shaped volcanic island about 17 km north-west of Tahiti. Its jagged peaks, the remains of an ancient volcano, rise straight out of the lagoon, cut by two deep bays on the north coast: Cook's Bay and Opunohu Bay.
A 60 km coast road loops the island, linking villages, beaches, resorts and pensions. The interior is pineapple fields, valleys and hiking trails.
Moorea is the easiest outer island to visit, with a cheap ferry from Papeete several times a day, and it's greener, quieter and more affordable than Bora Bora.
The lagoon is the main event: lagoon tours stop to snorkel with stingrays and blacktip sharks, picnic on a motu (islet), and in season, look for humpback whales outside the reef.
Three to five days is ideal, and many travellers stay longer.
Where to stay on Moorea
Stay on the north coast near the bays for hikes and views, the north-west for beaches and sunsets, or the east near the ferry for convenience.
Opunohu Bay
ViewsThe quieter bay, below the Belvedere.
Haapiti and the north-west
Beaches and sunsetsBeaches and lagoon on the west coast.
Temae and Vaiare
Ferry and beachNear the ferry, with the best public beach.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 1 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Lagoon tours, the Belvedere and the bays
Take a lagoon tour. Boats stop to snorkel with stingrays and blacktip sharks in shallow water, visit the coral gardens and picnic on a motu.
Drive or hike up to the Belvedere lookout, between Cook's Bay and Opunohu Bay, with Mount Rotui in the middle. Marae (ancient temple sites) line the road up through the Opunohu valley.
Hike the Three Coconuts pass, a half-day trail through the interior to a ridge with views over both coasts.
Cycle or drive the 60 km coast road. It's flat and makes a long but easy day.
Kayak or paddleboard across the lagoon to a motu.
Swim at Temae, one of the island's best public beaches, near the ferry.
Visit the pineapple fields and the agricultural school's juice factory.
From about August to October, take a regulated whale-watching trip to see humpbacks.
Free things
Moorea for free (or nearly)
Public beaches like Temae are free, and snorkelling from the shore is free.
The Belvedere lookout and the marae in the Opunohu valley are free.
Hiking trails, including the Three Coconuts pass, are free.
Cycling the coast road costs only bike hire.
Food and drink
Roulottes, poisson cru and pineapple
Roulottes, food trucks, are the cheap option on Moorea too, in the main villages and near the ferry, with plates for XPF1,200 to XPF2,000.
Poisson cru is on every menu, and Moorea's pineapples are famous.
Supermarkets and small shops in the villages sell basics, and many pensions have kitchens.
Restaurant mains cost XPF3,000 to XPF5,000.
Nightlife
Sunsets and quiet nights
Moorea is quiet at night. Evenings are sunsets from the north-west beaches, a drink at a hotel bar, or dinner at a roulotte.
Some resorts host Polynesian dance shows.
Getting around
Getting to and around Moorea
Ferries run from Papeete to Vaiare on Moorea several times a day, taking about 30 minutes, and cost a few hundred francs. There's also a short flight, but the ferry is cheaper and easier.
On Moorea, buses meet the ferries, but services are limited. Most visitors hire a car, scooter or bike, or rely on pension transfers.
The coast road is 60 km and flat, so cycling it is a long but easy day.
Costs
What Moorea costs
Moorea is cheaper than Bora Bora. Hostelworld has one listing, a private room from about XPF6,600, and pensions de famille across the island are the budget option.
Roulottes plates are XPF1,200 to XPF2,000.
Lagoon tours are the main extra cost, along with car or scooter hire.
Allow around XPF10,000 to XPF15,000 a day.
Safety
Staying safe on Moorea
Moorea is safe, with low crime.
The hazards are in the water: currents in the reef passes, coral cuts and stonefish in the shallows. Wear reef shoes.
The sharks in the lagoon are blacktips and lemon sharks that generally ignore people. Don't feed them.
Trails like the Three Coconuts pass are muddy after rain. Take water and start early.
In an emergency, call 15 for medical help and 17 for the police.
Day trips on Moorea
Moorea's day trips are on the lagoon, in the interior or around the coast.
Lagoon tour
Rays, sharks, coral gardens and a motu picnic.
Belvedere and Opunohu valley
Lookout, marae and pineapple fields.
Three Coconuts pass
Ridge trail through the interior.
Round the island
The 60 km coast road.
What's on
What's on on Moorea
Moorea's calendar follows the whales and Heiva.
August to October
Whale season
Off Moorea
Humpbacks calving, with regulated swimming tours.
July
Heiva
Moorea and Tahiti
Dance and singing competitions.
May to October
Dry season
Moorea
The best weather and visibility.
Hostels
Hostels on Moorea
Moorea has one listing on Hostelworld right now. Pensions de famille, family guesthouses, are the budget option across the island.
When to go to Moorea
Moorea is warm all year, with highs from 28°C to 31°C. May to October is the dry season and the best time, with whales from August. November to April is wetter, with cyclone risk.
Jan
Hot and wet; cyclone risk
Feb
Wet
Mar
Wet and quiet
Apr
Improving
May
Dry season begins
Jun
Dry and clear
Jul
Peak season; Heiva
Aug
Whales arrive
Sep
Whales; dry
Oct
Whales; good value
Nov
Wet season returns
Dec
Hot and wet
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average daily highs from weather2travel's Moorea climate data. Crowd levels are our rough guide.
How much does Moorea cost per day?
Pick a style and a number of nights for a rough total. Per day, for one person, in CFP francs.
Estimates. Beds are based on pension prices and Hostelworld prices in October 2026, converted from US dollars. Lagoon tours sit outside these figures.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Moorea FAQs
Prices and timetables change. Check before you travel.
How do I get to Moorea?
By ferry from Papeete, about 30 minutes, several times a day.
Moorea or Bora Bora?
Moorea for most independent travellers: it's cheaper, greener, has better hiking and is a short ferry ride from Tahiti.
Do I need a car on Moorea?
It helps. Buses are limited, so most visitors hire a car, scooter or bike.
When can I see whales on Moorea?
From about August to October.
How long should I spend on Moorea?
Three to five days.
Also trending this week
Say yes to hostels, meet the world
Compare Moorea hostels: live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.
Get the App.