Moorea:

At 12 miles from Tahiti, the verdant mysticism of the “yellow lizard” flows forth from a shredded landscape that resembles a vast star-shaped garden branching out into eight valleys. Captain Cook’s island has one of the most beautiful lagoons. Its turquoise waters reflect the sumptuous harmony of the underwater world where divers might meet turtles, leopard rays or even some scorpion fish amidst coral roses hosting many other species.

To the visitor, Moorea appears as a tropical garden filled with silver pineapple fields, the main agricultural product of the island. In the midst of this fairytale landscape, light rays pierce the Mou’a Puta (“the pierced mountain”). Was it just natural eccentricity, or according to the legend, made by the arrow of the demigod Pai.

All of these, along with Afareaitu’s waterfalls or the famous Cook and Opunohu Bays, make this a magical place to stay.
Ancient hide out of the royal family, Tahiti’s sister island became the home of Protestantism upon the Europeans’ arrival. Everyone can go to the Sunday morning mass, where people gather dressed in their best outfits and women wear beautiful hats or flower crowns and sing rhythmic psalms.

Despite the many pensions, hotels, snack bars and restaurants of all sorts and the golf course, Moorea has not lost any of its authenticity.
It has remained a savage and enchanting place where many myths have come to life.

Many walking trails: Climb the island peaks. Discover waterfalls, valleys and the legendary Opunohu and Cook Bays.
Guided floral and local agriculture tours: 4x4 excursions among the pineapple plantations, essential oil and food crops.
Taste homemade produce from the local farms.
Dolphin and whale watching: specialist-organized eco-tours with these incredible marine mammals.
Many water activities and underwater exploration. Moorea is also famous for its impressive “shark feeding” demonstrations.

Getting To and Around Moorea

Because of the close proximity to Tahiti, Moorea is quick and easy to reach. Moorea's airport is served by Air Tahiti and Air Moorea with 10-minute flights from Faa'a Airport departing every 30 minutes. Air Tahiti also has regular flights between Moorea and Huahine, Raiatea, and Bora Bora. Passengers ferries operate up to six times daily between Moorea and the waterfront in downtown Papeete.

Transportation from the airport or ferry dock to the hotels should be arranged in advance by your Preferred Travel Company or by your hotel. Taxi service is also available, and the public transit system, Le Truck, operates between the main villages and the ferry.

The circle-island and interior roads are best discovered through hired excursions or by renting a car, while motorboat and outrigger canoe rentals are enjoyable ways to explore the lagoon and surrounding motu. Yachts can be chartered with or without captain and crew, and helicopters are available for island tours or for transportation to and from Papeete, all of which can be arranged in advance or at the activity desk of your resort or cruise ship.

Dinning on Moorea

Besides its natural beauty, Moorea is blessed with many excellent restaurants, each in unique settings alongside the lagoon.

The resorts offer a romantic open-air ambience while serving the best of French, Italian, Chinese, and Tahitian cuisines.

Resort and hotel restaurants include:

The gourmet Le Matiehani at Moorea Pearl Resort and Spa; Arii Vahine at Sheraton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa; the lagoon-side restaurant at Moorea Pearl Resort (photo at left); Fare Nui at the InterContinental Resort and Spa Moorea;

La Perouse at Sofitel Moorea Beach Resort; and a beachfront setting favored by locals at Hotel Les Tipaniers.

Popular local restaurants around Cook's Bay include:
Le Pécheur, Te Honu Iti, and Le Cocotier for French cuisine; Alfredo's for Italian; and Mahogany for Cantonese. On the island's west side, try Le Pitcairn and La Plantation for romantic settings and Tiki Village for an authentic Tahitian feast.

For the visitor, Moorea offers drama and adventure:

- Discovery of the peaceful circle-island road dotted with fruit-tasting stops, pineapple fields, quiet beaches, and unique shopping experiences.

- Enchantment from the dramatic landscape of bright-green valleys encircled by the sentinel-like mountain ridges.

- Excitement of the liquid playground with warm lagoon waters for snorkeling, jetskiing, canoeing, and diving.

- Discovery of the many shops featuring "made in Moorea" products.

- Enjoyment of the surprising number of fine-dining restaurants within the resorts and in small villages that line the shores

- Exploration of the historic sites hidden under a canopy of lush forests

- Relaxation in the majestic setting of the resorts and their Polynesian spas.

Some of the most popular activities and sites for visitors include:

Snorkeling Heaven

Because of the lack of strong currents, and the abundant marine life, the shallow waters around Moorea are ideal for year-round snorkeling. All ages can enjoy dozens of perfect snorkeling spots close to the resorts and around the island. Local guides will take you to snorkel among schools of gentle rays.

Plantations

The fertile valleys are home to plantations of cotton, coffee, sugarcane, and pineapple. Considered by many to be the sweetest tasting pineapple on earth, Moorea's harvest can be enjoyed at village stores, road-side stands, or the tasting counter of the delightful fruit-juice factory.

Mountain Exploration

The majestic mountains are fully accessible to everyone. By air, helicopter tours fly into canyons and along ridge tops. By road, a 4x4 ventures past plantations, across streams, into deep valleys, and up to waterfalls. By foot, guided hikes of all levels follow winding rainforest trails and up to high mountain overlooks.

Belvedere Overlook

Moorea's most spectacular sites are seen from this easily reached overlook. Located in the center of the island, visitors marvel at the panoramic views

of the twin bays and the plantations of Opunohu Valley. The overlook is a popular stop on circle-island or 4x4 tours.

Swimming with the Dolphins

Encounters with the ocean's friendliest residents are waiting at Moorea Dolphin Center at the InterContinental Resort Moorea. Here, adults swim side by side with dolphins, while children wade in the waters with them. For an educational excursion, expert guides lead dolphin-watching boat tours into the ocean to observe them in their native habitat as well.

Diving

Some of the finest diving in the world can be found at Moorea-year round.

The drama of Moorea's landscape continues below the sea with an infinite range of canyons, chasms, and promontories. Fish feeding is common here so divers are often surrounded by schools of small and large marine life.

Parasailing

Moorea has always provided visitors with a natural high, but parasailing lets you soar to literal new heights. Pulled by a 28 ft. boat, you can ascend as high as 300 feet over Moorea's glistening lagoon.

Fruit Juice Factory Tastings

Visitors enjoy a pleasant stop along the shores of Cook's Bay at the Fruit Juice Factory for shopping and tastings of juices and liquors made from island-grown fruits.

Papetoai Village

History buffs will want to make a stop at the historic octagonal church located in the northern coastal village of Papetoai. Established by the London Missionary Society in 1822, the church is the oldest European building in use in the South Pacific.

Other activities and sites on Moorea include:

Shark and Ray Feeding.

Tiki Theatre Village.

Open-ocean dolphin and whale watching.

Underwater diving helmets.

Paopao & Opunohu Valley tours.

Semi-sub underwater tours.

Shopping at Le Petit Village and island boutiques and art galleries.

Lagoon explorations by boat, jetski, pedal boat, kayak, or parasail.

Circle-island self drive to explore villages, shops, and ancient sites.

Deep sea fishing.

Guided hiking trips to mountain overlooks and waterfalls.

Bring your kids along to Moorea!

With plenty of land and water activities, children and parents can experience this tropical world together.

The central focus of a Moorea family vacation is the water. From boating and snorkeling to the discovery of gentle sea creatures, your children and adults can enjoy and learn about this pristine aquamarine world.

The Kids-Only-Camp is offered at the InterContinental Beachcomber Resort Moorea for guests with children aged 4 to 10 and features beach games, trips to the botanical gardens, fruit tasting, and flower-crown weaving.

Experiences like these can be reserved in advance by your travel arranger or at your resort.

Health: 1 hospital, 3 dispensaries, 1 infirmary.

Banks: “Banque de Polynésie” (2), “Banque Socredo” (2), “Banque de Tahiti” (1)