Overview of the South Pacific Islands of Moorea and Tahiti
Welcome to the French Polynesian islands of Tahiti and Moorea. From the crystal clear blue water to lush tropical rain forest, there is something for everyone!
“The South Pacific is a magical place - the people, the food, the landscape is unrivaled. This is the perfect escape to experience serenity”
While we spent time on both Tahiti and Moorea, much of this blog is dedicated to Moorea as that is were we opted to spend the majority of our time.
What to Budget
The French Polynesian Islands can be pricey depending on where you stay and what kind of tourist activities interest you. You have the option to rent overwater 5* bungalows on land or if you are feeling really adventurous, you can charter an entire sailing yacht or catamaran and tour many islands during your stay. There are also hostels and budget friendly hotels that will fit the budget of most any traveler. For the entire trip (minus flights) for 2 people staying 1-2 weeks, budget breakdown:
Low: $1,500 USD
Shared accommodation, hostel, or traditional home stay
Fast food, street food, sandwiches
Hiking, snorkeling, swimming.
Mid: $2,500 USD
Private hotel room or private vacation rental
Causal dining and local restaurants
Guided tours, scooter rental, distillery tour, hiking, snorkeling, swimming.
High: $3,500+ USD
Overwater bungalow (Sofitel Resort) or private chartered boats
Fine dining options
Guided tours, rental car, jet ski rentals, private boat rentals, helicopter tours, ATV rentals
How to Get There
There are a few direct flights to Tahiti (PPT) from mainland U.S.A., many of these only operate on a seasonal basis. I booked tickets from Los Angeles (LAX) to Papeete (PPT) departing on December 30, 2022 and returning on January 8, 2023 for 50k Delta miles per person. While the same timeframe for 2023/2024 travel has increased significantly, with some alternate date searches, you will find that it is still a good bargain.
A separate ticket was booked to get to LAX using the Delta Companion Certificate. The companion certificate acts like a BOGO for flights. Prior to booking, I logged into my Delta account and selected the companion pass I would be using. The price for two people to travel to Los Angeles, CA (LAX) from Birmingham, AL (BHM) using the companion pass was $385 USD.
The ferry from Papeete to Moorea takes approximately 30 min each way and costs around $15 USD each way.
The ferry's operating hours as of 2023:
SCHEDULED DEPARTURE FROM PAPEETE:
Monday to Thursday:
06:00 am - 09:15 am - 11:45 am - 15:10 pm
Friday:
06:00 am - 09:15 am - 11:45 am - 14:30 pm - 17:00 pm
Where to Stay
We opted to stay in Hotel Kaveka while in Moorea, and I cannot say enough great things about this property. It is located in the heart of Cooks Bay, and includes many beachside bungalows that can serve as your home base while you explore the island. The hotel has amazing staff who are extremally accommodating. The restaurant has an extensive breakfast buffet (for an additional fee) and offers lunch and dinner dinning.
Things To Do
Renting a car and/or scooter is a must! We rented Peugeot scooters from a local company for 2 days. It is possible to drive the entire island of Moorea in a day, there is a single road that circles the entire island. There are a couple of organized tours in Moorea, with Albert Tours being the most popular.
Organized tours are great for activities where multiple modes of transportation is required or for those who are uncomfortable driving internationally. We opted to do Albert Tours for the snorkeling excursion on our last day on the island. Check-out at the hotel was in the morning
Final Thoughts
Overall the French Polynesian islands are pricier than many Caribbean islands, while remaining significantly cheaper than many of the islands that makeup the Maldives. Visiting during the rainy season is a great way to find bargains and feel truly secluded as there are less vacationers during that time.
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