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Moorea is an island located in French Polynesia. Its dramatic landscape is amazingly beautiful, and it can be a lot cheaper than vacationing in Bora Bora.
The island of Moorea makes a perfect getaway from the hustles and bustles International airport hub town of Tahiti island called Papeete. Moorea does have an airport on the island, and it’s a very short flight from Tahiti airport (PPT). Any visitors going to French Polynesia will have to endure a long-haul flight into Tahiti airport first, clear immigration, and collect any baggage before connecting to catch the domestic Air Tahiti flight to another island. It sounds exhausting! This is why we do not feel that flying is the best way to enjoy the journey to Moorea.
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| Ferry Crossing Scenery Between Tahiti and Moorea |
Getting From Tahiti to Moorea By Ferry & How Long Is The Ferry?
The ferry from Tahiti to Moorea is very enjoyable and affordable. The ferry terminal is located in the town center of Papeete town, which is about 10 minutes car ride from the airport. Each way sailing takes approximately 30 minutes and costs around $11-$15, depending on which ferry company you choose.
Currently, there are two ferry companies,
Aremiti and
Terevau, that sail between Papeete town and Moorea.
Compare: Aremiti vs. Terevau
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| Aremiti Ferry |
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| Terevau Ferry |
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There’s not much comparison between the two ferry companies and their boats, and it comes down to which ferry’s schedule works better for your time.
The cost between the two ferry companies is not much different either. At the time of this writing:
- Aremiti charges 1,650XPF (~$15) one-way and 3,300XPF (~$29) for a round-trip ticket.
- Terevau is slightly cheaper at 1,240XPF (~$11) one-way and 2,480XPF (~$22) for a round-trip ticket.
Getting the most current ferry ticket cost information:
Should You Purchase Ferry Ticket Online Or In Person?
You certainly can purchase the ferry ticket online in advance if you find a reason to. However, there’s no need to purchase a ferry ticket online far in advance. You can just show up at the ferry dock on the day of sailing or one day before your sailing day to purchase the ferry ticket in person or on your mobile phone. Just make sure you know the schedules of the ferry company that you will be taking.
When you purchase the ticket from the ferry website, you’ll receive the e-ticket via email that you can show to the ferry personnel for scanning before boarding. I purchased a Terevau ticket online and was able to add the ticket to my iPhone wallet too. It’s really easy and convenient if you do not want to deal with purchasing a ferry ticket in person.
The validity of the Aremiti ticket is 1 year, and the validity of the Terevau ticket is 6 months, open date and open time. This means that you don’t have to pick a return date or time when you purchase the ticket, and you simply board the ferry during the validity of your ticket.
Getting the most current ferry schedule information:
Where To Sit On The Ferry?
There’s no boarding process to get on the ferry. The seats are comfortable, and the inside seats come with huge windows for sightseeing. There’s also an open-air top deck with seats that some travelers may go up to enjoy the sun and ocean breeze or take some pictures. The crossing from Papeete to Moorea is very scenic, so get your camera ready!
Can You Bring The Luggage On The Ferry?
Yes, absolutely. The ferry is big and spacious, and it is very common for visitors to take their luggage on the ferry between Tahiti and Moorea.
There are a couple options for handling your luggage on the ferry:
- You can drop your luggage on the luggage cart before boarding and pick it up when you arrive, OR
- You can take your luggage with you on the ferry during the entire sailing time if it makes you more comfortable with your valuable belongings.
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| Bring the Luggage on the Tahiti to Moorea Ferry |
Is Day Trip To Moorea Doable?
Absolutely, but you should start out early. You can prearrange a full-day tour in Moorea and have the tour company pick you up from the ferry to join the tour. After the tour, return to Tahiti island in the evening.
It’s worth mentioning that the ferry terminal in Moorea does not have much to do and has very limited places to eat. If you have time to spare, ask your tour company for recommendations or go to the Sofitel resort to enjoy the sandy beach, swim, and take some photos with those iconic overwater bungalows. You do not have to be a guest to enter the resort to swim and eat. Just make sure you know your return ferry’s schedule and how to get back to the
ferry terminal.
Where to Stay in Moorea?
If you want to stay on Moorea island (which you should), below are the two best luxury resorts:
Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa
Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa property is nestled between two bays on a heart-shaped island in French Polynesia. It is surrounded by the crystal-clear water of the Pacific Ocean, featuring overwater bungalows and the only over-water restaurant in Moorea.
Standard Hilton rewards room is King Garden Guestroom. The room comes with a private terrace and a garden view. The upgrade is possible at this property for Hilton Honors Diamond members. The room rate starts at $436/night, and Hilton rewards night requires 80,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
SOFITEL Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort
SOFITEL Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort is located on the most beautiful white sand beach in Moorea. You will be greeted with spectacular views of the crystal lagoon and picturesque overwater bungalows. The resort also offers one of the best snorkeling spots on the island in the protected lagoon. The on-site restaurant features outdoor terrace dining and dance shows during the week.
Beautiful bungalows feature garden views, beachfront, and over the water. The Garden views room rate starts at $355/night depending on the dates, making it cheaper than Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa. Sofitel is part of the Accor ALL rewards program, so you can earn and redeem Accor points.
Both Moorea resorts are beautiful and amazing in their own ways, and you can’t really go wrong with either resort. If you wish to stay on reward points to save money, Hilton Honors points are much easier to earn than Accor points because you can earn several Hilton points with just one credit card’s sign-up, whereas Accor does not have any credit card offer.
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