Visiting Mo'orea | How much does it cost?

♫ Moana. Make waaaay. Make waaaaaaay ♫

I can’t help but to think of that colorful Disney movie when it comes to the breathtaking island of Mo’orea! Without a doubt, it’s one of the most beautiful islands in the South Pacific! 

Mo’orea lies northwest of the island of Tahiti and can be a bit of a journey (an AH-MAZING journey let me add) to get to, but well worth the visit! The turquoise water, the rugged-emerald green cliffs, the gorgeous lagoon & culture will leave you awestruck!

I had the absolute pleasure of checking this extraordinary island off my bucket list to celebrate my 35th birthday! And the 1 mistake I made with Mo’orea was not staying long enough! *insert real tears* The scenery is of something out of a movie (cues ‘Moana’ again)!

Although Mo’orea (& most definitely Bora Bora) are considered honeymoon destinations, I decided to take these beautiful places on as a solo traveler - which turned out to be one of the best decisions ever!

Before we get into all the great things that make up Mo’orea, let’s first cover the basics before you go!

☀️ Passport/VISA info – If you are a citizen of Canada, EU, USA, you do not need a visa to enter Mo’orea or any of the French Polynesia islands. More info on passport/visa requirements – here! 

☀️ Mo’orea’s Weather – The weather in the South Pacific is usually around 80 °F / 27 °C year round! The wet season generally runs from November-April. While the dry season is from May to October. Tropical weather can be extremely unpredictable with rain here & there throughout the day. Humidity will be high. Pack LOTS of sunscreen! 

The islands of French Polynesia is probably on millions of people around the world bucket lists – but how much does a trip to this real life heaven on Earth type of place cost exactly?

Well, that’s what I’m definitely here to help with! I maxed out a credit card or 2 or 3 to make this dream trip a reality and OMG was it worth it (LOL)! I did all the planning myself and opted not to use a travel agent. However, I did reach out to a travel agent early in my search and I was quoted an outrageous price – for just ME! So here’s how I planned out my trip and allocated the cost!

Let’s get into this adventure!

Getting to Mo'orea

On my trip to French Polynesia, I flew into Pape’ete, Tahiti (the main island), and made my way to Mo’orea 1st! 

The least expensive way to reach Mo’orea will be to fly into Tahiti, French Polynesia. The main airport is Fa’a’ā International Airport (airport code: PPT). Flying directly to Mo’orea (or Bora Bora) will cost you a few more hundred dollars.

Travel Tip: Take as much time as you possibly can to research flights. I use ‘Google Flights’ to track the cost. I tracked my flight to Tahiti (PPT) for about 3 months before I decided to purchase my round-trip flight. Also, be sure to check out these websites –  The Flight Deal & Secret Flying for great flight deals. For example, I came across a deal from San Francisco to PPT for $575!! Unfortunately, not for the dates that I needed – but that’s still a crazy good deal! 

In addition to the international flight you’ll need to get to Tahiti, you’ll have to purchase the inter-island flights from Air Tahiti to island hop around the French Polynesia. I purchased two 1-way flights on Air Tahiti:

☀️ From Mo’orea (airport code: MOZ) —-> to Bora Bora (airport code: BOB) = cost 26,239 XFP ($258.25 USD)

☀️ From Bora Bora (airport code: BOB) —-> to Pape’ete, Tahiti (airport code: PPT) = cost 23,976 XFP ($235.97 USD)

If you have a pretty open schedule on your vacation in the French Polynesia, then check out Air Tahiti’s “island hopping pass“. This can save you money AND you’ll have the chance to visit more islands! Unfortunately, I was short on time, but I’ll definitely take advantage of this on my next visit! 

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Once I had my international & inter-island flights booked, I purchased a ferry ticket from Pape’ete to Mo’orea through Aremiti Fast Shuttle for 1,500 XFP ($14.60 USD). If you’re pressed for time you can always book a flight from PPT to Mo’orea on Air Tahiti, but it’ll cost a little more. The flight time is about 15 minutes.

When you arrive at Fa’a’ā International Airport, you’ll need to take a taxi to the ferry terminal (which is about a 20-minute ride depending on the traffic). The cost of the taxi was about 2200 XFP ($21.00 USD). Tickets can be purchased on the Aremiti website or at the ferry terminal. The ferry time from Pape’ete to Mo’orea will be between 35-45 minutes. Make sure to have your camera readily available. We were lucky enough to spot a whale while on the way! Super exciting!

As we’re sailing to Mo’orea and being able to see the island in the distance, I immediately start to think of ways to destroy my passport to stay on the island forever! LOL! And for good reason! Mo’orea looked STUNNING from the boat as we pulled up to dock!

After you disembark the Aremiti, you’ll grab your luggage and make arrangements to your hotel (taxis are easy to get or schedule a ride with your hotel prior to your arrival).

Where to stay in Mo'orea

Mo’orea is one of those islands that will have accommodations to fit everyone’s budget (unlike it’s expensive sister Bora Bora). Below are some options to give you an idea of what the island has to offer – 

★★ star: Mo’orea Surf Inn | Tiare Tahiti Hotel | Marama Lodge | Hotel Kaveka

★★★ star: Tahiti Pearl Beach Resort | Vanira Lodge | Manava Beach Resort & Spa | Fenua Mataïoa

★★★★ star: Hilton Mo’orea Lagoon & Spa | InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa 

For my 1 night stay in Mo’orea, I decided to splurge a little bit and stay at the Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort! The hotel is located 5 minutes from the ferry terminal (Vaiare docks) & Temae airport (Mo’orea’s airport; MOZ). And it was the PERFECT choice due to the activities I had planned while in Mo’orea. Plus I needed to be near the airport for my flight to Bora Bora the next day.

The Sofitel Mo’orea = real life postcard BEAUTY! Upon your arrival, you’ll receive a beautiful flower lei and a delicious welcome drink. If you arrive before check-in (like I did) the concierge will store your luggage while you take time to explore the property. Enjoy Temae beach & it’s beautiful white sand with views of Tahiti in the distance, the infinity pool overlooking the overwater bungalows or grab a bite to eat & a refreshing drink at the restaurant. Wander around and be in awe of the views. Mo’orea is nothing but verdant fields of mountainous beauty!

The Sofitel has many different room types to choose from (including the overwater bungalows)!

Since this was a quick trip for me, I decided to go with the ‘Luxury Bungalow w/ Garden View – King Bed’.

The Bungalow – Tahitian inspired, BEAUTIFUL, spacious, cozy and comfortable. The bed is a little firm, but a great sleep nonetheless. The room is equipped with A/C, Wi-Fi, a free mini-bar with a couple of sodas, beers & water, TV, safety deposit box etc. One of my favorite things about this room was the rain shower with the garden view! Whew! So relaxing after a long day out exploring Mo’orea!

The view from the room is that of a lush green garden. I sat on the patio and sipped my wine for breakfast while enjoying the peace, the quiet & pure serenity!

I booked this room through the ‘AccorHotels’ app. With booking through the app, I was able to earn points with Accor Hotels and a complimentary buffet breakfast during my stay. Food & drinks at the resorts in the French Polynesia can get PRICEY (*coughs* Bora Bora)! As you can imagine, the breakfast buffet offered through Sofitel was very helpful (my wallet thanks you, Sofitel). The buffet included fresh fruits, juices, toast, bacon, sausage, omelettes & much more! I ordered a Mimosa to go with my meal which came out to $25 USD (for just 1) – so be aware of the insane alcohol prices. Breakfast is served in the main restaurant, which offers a stunning view of the lagoon & overwater bungalows while you dine!

In the evening, ‘Vue’ is definitely the spot to check out. The Polynesian ambience, exotic cocktails & delicious food all while enjoying beautiful views of the pool makes for an exceptional night out at the resort. ‘Vue’ offers sandwiches, burgers, salads, pizzas & more! I tried the Tacos de Mo’orea (which were 2 300 XFP/$22.00 USD) & a Pink Mojito! Umph Umph Umph! DELISH! The Sofitel also presented me with a complimentary cocktail ticket at check-in! Whoooooo hoooo! Another $25 in my pocket!

Overall, my stay at the Sofitel Mo’orea was absolutely PERFECT! The staff was hospitable and extremely friendly which made my short visit all the more hard to leave this piece of paradise.

So how hard was my wallet hit for with my 1-night stay at the Sofitel Mo’orea?

Cost = 56 694 XFP ($552.72 USD) with 150.00 XFP ($1.50 USD) in hotel fees (per night) due at check-out.

Pricey? Yes.

Worth it? ABSOLUTELY!

Where to eat in Mo'orea

If you find yourself wanting to venture away from your resort for a bite to eat, then check out these places –

☀️ Moorea Beach Cafe – Great place for cocktail while sitting right on the lagoon’s edge. The pizza here was good as well. MBC also offers free hotel pick up/drop off to & from the restaurant.

☀️ Snack Mahana – Amazing scenery & vibes! The food portions here are huge! The grilled Mahi Mahi is simply amazing! Best fries on the island too! *Note: this restaurant is cash only for the time being!

☀️ A L’Heure du Sud – If you’re looking for a good, cheap local spot to dine in while in Mo’orea, then look no further. Enjoy burgers, crepes, paninis & much more here! I’ve heard that the vegan & veggie options are good too! 

☀️ La Grand Voile – Here's another great place for lunch! Budda bowls, crepes & seafood dishes are plntiful here!

Things to do in Mo'orea

☀️ Moorea Activities Center – How adventurous are you? Don’t know? Then how adventurous do you want to get?? Because I’m quite sure this place has all of the excursions in Mo’orea covered. A 1-stop shop for sure! From jet skiing, to ATVs, to whale watching, to snorkeling – this place is it! I booked the ATV & Jet ski combo through M.A.C and it was one of the BEST decisions I made during my short stay in Mo’orea! I got to explore the island by land & by sea! 

One of the things I absolutely love about M.A.C besides the fact that their excursion guides are SUPER fun & knowledgeable of Mo’orea (BIG shout out to Manu, Oliver & Ben for making us feel at home), shuttle services are also provided in your package – to & from your hotel! You will also receive complimentary pictures from your adventure!

The ATV & Jet skiing excursions both last about 3 hours each (if you select the “Big Combo” like I did)! The cool thing is, if you want to split the activities over 2 days, you can! I did my ATV tour on a Wednesday afternoon & my Jet ski tour on a Thursday morning (see their website for more details).

Another fun thing about this tour is the vehicle that you’re picked up in to head over to the center. You’ll get a great feel of Mo’orea riding around in the back of a pick up truck! Just beautiful scenery and the wind blowing through your hair!

The ATV: My tour guide for the afternoon ATV tour was Manu. He was so much fun, laid back + he taught us a lot about Mo’orea’s history! We started the tour at M.A.C and then off through the mountains, small rivers & plantations we went! Never in my life had I seen sooooo many breathtaking sights!

Mo’orea’s mountains will leave you in awe!!! The landscape of this island is simply UNBELIEVABLE!  

On this adventure we visited a small waterfall, Belvedere Lookout, Opunohu Valley, a pineapple plantation & much more! We also made a pit stop by a local high school to taste some delicious homemade jam made by the students. The jam is also for sale so don’t forget your cash!

But the highlight of the tour was MAGIC MOUNTAIN! W-O-W!! First, let me say, if you are fearful of heights, then getting to Magic Mountain may be a challenge. The higher we rode up on the side of the mountain on the ATV – which is a narrow dirt road with paved lines for the tires the more nervous I grew! 

But once we reached the top (685 feet up/ 209 meters), all nervousness went out the window! It really is hard to put into words how utterly AH-MAZING the view from Magic Mountain is! I mean, truly mesmerizing! The reef, the ocean, the views of the houses below just beautiful & so serene.

Your M.A.C guide will explain the history of this beautiful place to you (in English or French), take some great photos of you with this jaw-dropping backdrop ….and then back down the mountain you go! When the ATV tour is over, you head back to the center for drinks – fruit juice or Rum punch (heeeeeeeeey)!

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*NOTE: Be sure to check out the Moorea Activities Center’s Facebook page for the pictures from your adventure!*

Next adventure: to see Mo'orea by water! 

The Jet Ski: My tour guide for the morning jet ski tour was Oliver. A super cool, laid back dude who surfs and knows a ton about Mo’orea. He started our tour off by showing us a deceased stonefish (a venomous fish that camouflages itself with the sea floor) and how to avoid them. But no need to worry – as you won't be swimming in the area where the stonefish lie. 

After that, we suited up for our jet ski! We zipped around the beautiful ocean with Mo’orea’s stunning mountains serving as the backdrop – AH-MAZING! Reaching speeds of up to 80 mph on the jet ski, we sped past the overwater bungalows and beautiful corals!

We visited the North & West coasts of the islands to snorkel! This was my 1st time ever in the vicinity of sting rays & black tip reef sharks! And I can admit that I was crazy nervous! But surprisingly, the rays & sharks were very docile. The sting rays were extremely friendly and enjoyed the human interaction (they just adored our tour guide who fed them. I think one stingray tried to actually hug him LOL)!

One of the things I was amazed by the most was how transparent the water is in Mo’orea. And the different variations of blue were unbelievable! I took sooooo many postcard like pictures!

The jet ski tour came to an end at the center where we were able to socialize with each other, sip fresh juice & Rum punch & enjoy the new experiences of being out on the fascinating waters of Mo’orea!

Without a doubt this was the best way to see a lot of Mo’orea if you’re on a tight schedule! I met so many cool people, laughed in sheer joy & made some incredible memories! When you visit Mo’orea, don’t miss out on this!

*NOTE: Be sure to check out the Moorea Activities Center’s Facebook page for the pictures from your adventure!*

So how hard was my wallet hit for with for the ‘Big Combo’ ATV + Jet Ski?

Cost = 38 000 XFP ($339.43 USD)

One of the main reasons why I’m head over heels in love with this island is because it reminded me so much of my favorite Disney movie, ‘Moana’. The mountains, the lagoon, the culture - all of it! This really is a magical place! Mo’orea was everything I thought it would be & more!

Until next time, Moorea!