Mo’orea is an amazing place to go for outdoor adventure enthusiasts. From swimming with whales to hiking mountain tops, here are 5 unforgettable activities for your trip to Mo’orea
1. Snorkeling
French Polynesia is known for its crystal clear water and rich marine life. There are many options for locations to snorkel including off the beach (for free!), in the lagoon, and in the open ocean.
You can find beautiful reefs off many of the public beaches. My favorite are Temae beach and Hauru Public Beach.
There are also many options for getting to the lagoon where you can swim with black tip reef sharks and sting rays. You can rent a kayak or paddle board on Tiahura Beach. Kayaks are rented by the hour for 1000 XPF for a single or 1500 XPF for a double. You can also take a group or private lagoon tour offered from several companies that will provide snorkels and fins for you. These typically run about $100 USD/pp for a group tour.
2. Whale Watching (& Swimming!)
If you plan your trip to Mo’orea during whale season (like I do!) you can have the chance to swim the wild with humpback whales. Whale swimming is typically permitted from August 1st to October 31st. During these excursions your captian & guide with observe a whales behavior and decide if swimming is possible with that whale. You will need to be able to swim at least 100m as the boats must maintain this distance from the whales.
Click here for more information on whale swimming including my recommended companies and FAQs.
3. Hiking
Mo’orea is a great destination for nature lovers of all kind, not just the water! My favorite hiking area is Ranch Opunohu Accès in Opunohu Bay. This hiking area is relatively easy and offers multiple shorter trails (1-2 miles) around the ranch. We ran into horses, cows, and had great viewpoints of Mount Tohivea.
If you continue driving past the Ranch Opunohu parking lot, you will eventually end at Belvedere Lookout which offers panoramic view of both Cook’s Bay & Opunohu Bay. There are also two hiking trails off the top. The Three Pine Lookout trail off the left of the parking lot takes you through the mountains to restored fares (traditional houses) from the 1600s.
4. Try the Local Cuisine
My first time in Mo’orea, I never expected I would love the food so much. French Polynesia is known for the dish Poisson Cru, which is raw fish marinated in citrus juice & coconut milk with vegetables and rice. IT’S SO GOOD. There are many places to find it on the island. You can find a guide to my favorite places to eat on Mo’orea here.
5. Watching the Sunset
Another great (FREE!) option you can do every night is watch the stunning sunset over the water. My favorite spot was the sunset at the beach in front of our Airbnb, but other great options are the public beaches in Opunohu and Cook’s Bay.
For a special occasion you can enjoy the sunset from a catamaran either privately or in a group setting. Voila Moorea offers day time and sunset cruises with juice, water & cocktails included.
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