Forget Bora Bora: 3 Reasons Moorea is the Best of Tahiti

Trying to decide between Moorea vs Bora Bora (or Tahiti vs Bora Bora)? Here are 3 reasons Moorea is without a doubt the best choice in French Polynesia.

Note: This post was originally written during my 6th annual Round-the-World trip. But fear not island lovers! It is updated regularly with all the latest & greatest information.

Yes, Round the World #6 is nearing its inevitable end.

Luckily, there’s still another tropical paradise or two left to go. Today, I say goodbye to the incredible Cook Islands and head back to one of my favorite places in the world.

The jaw-dropping island of Moorea, French Polynesia!

It’s worth noting that up until last week, I thought Moorea was the most beautiful place I’d ever seen. And then I arrived in the Cook Islands, specifically the island of Aitutaki. Now, I admit I’m conflicted (first-world problems).

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to book through these links, I receive a small commission, which I will undoubtedly blow on more flights (it’s a vicious cycle).  All of this internet voodoo takes place at no additional cost to you. 

Read More: Are the Cook Islands the Best Kept Secret in the South Pacific?

Thanks to careful planning and an inexplicable desire to explore every dreamy South Pacific outpost within my logistical reach, today I fly from the paradise of the Cook Islands to the Eden of Moorea.

Does it get any better than a direct flight between bliss and nirvana?

I think not.

My return trip to the French Polynesian island of Moorea is an intentional do-over for my ill-fated trip to Bora Bora last year. That particular Tahitian adventure included a brush with Tropical Cyclone Oli and 17 hours’ worth of quality evacuation time in a gym.

Paradise, it was not.

Read More: Surviving Bora Bora: Sea Turtles & Cyclones – A Tahitian Adventure

But before I move on to exactly why Moorea French Polynesia is so incredible, a quick overview of the islands is in order.

Where is French Polynesia?

An overseas collectivity of France, the 118 islands and atolls of French Polynesia stretch lazily across the south-central Pacific Ocean covering more than 1,200 miles. The island group truly is remote, situated about halfway between California and Australia.

Where is Tahiti?

French Polynesia is divided into 5 island groups. The most famous of these are the Society Islands which include the main island of Tahiti, Bora Bora, and – my favorite – Moorea island (technically Mo’orea).

Where is Moorea?

Sister island to Tahiti Moorea is just 17 kilometers (about 11 miles) northwest of it. The island is easily accessible by ferry and the ferry from Tahiti to Moorea takes just 30 minutes.

What’s the best time of year to visit French Polynesia?

The weather in the islands is sub-tropical year-round. So, technically, it’s possible to visit any time of year (and I have). April to November is considered the drier (high) season. During those months you’ll find higher rates, more crowded hotels, and beautiful, sunny weather.

Conversely, November to April is the rainy (low) season. If you visit during these months you’ll find lower hotel rates, fewer tourists, and likely still pretty great weather. However, the rainy season is also cyclone season, so proceed with caution.

Is Tahiti the same as French Polynesia?

Though “Tahiti” is sometimes used interchangeably to refer to all the islands (as I did in the title of this post for the sake of brevity), it’s actually just one island in the French Polynesian group.

Tahiti is, however, home to the only international airport in the islands (Papeete – PPT). Meaning all trips to French Polynesia begin and end there.

Note: Depending on the logistics for onward travel to the other islands, an overnight stay on Tahiti after arrival or prior to departure is likely for most visitors.

Tahiti sounds like paradise…right?

Before my first visit to Tahiti on Round the World #4 I received some unsolicited advice from a friend. He visited the islands a few years ago on his honeymoon and offered the following helpful nugget:

“Don’t waste your time on Tahiti, Moorea island is the real gem.”

But wait, I’ve seen beautiful pictures of Tahiti all my life. It looks like paradise! Overwater bungalows, blue lagoons, how could the island not be worth a visit?

Is it possible I have friends who are too good for Tahiti? Surely not.

But I took his advice and booked a few days on Moorea in addition to two nights on Tahiti (because trust, but verify).

Read More: Blowing the Budget in Tahiti

As it turns out, he was mostly right. Tahiti is a fine island…until you compare it to Moorea.

It’s true that Tahiti vs Bora Bora is a more common dilemma for most travelers (and they are likely more familiar names to many).

However, I will argue that Moorea is the lesser-known superstar of French Polynesia.

Moorea vs Bora Bora – 3 Reasons Moorea wins!

With visits to all three exotic islands now under my belt, I feel sufficiently qualified to make the case for Moorea as the best island to visit in French Polynesia.

Here’s why:

1. It’s much easier (and cheaper) to get to Moorea island

Getting from Tahiti to Bora Bora requires an additional flight from Papeete.

While the flight from Papeete to Bora Bora is a quick one, the flight is relatively expensive and, due to the small planes used on the route, luggage size is severely restricted. I travel with just a carry-on and even I had to leave some things behind at my Tahiti hotel to avoid additional fees.

Conversely, from Tahiti Moorea is an easy 30-minute inexpensive (and gorgeous) ferry ride on the Aremiti Ferry. No luggage limit required.

More importantly, as I learned during the cyclone, once they cut flights to Bora Bora ahead of an approaching storm, you’re stuck.

In my case, this happened with little to no warning. Had I been on Moorea Tahiti and the relative safety of larger Papeete would have been an easy return by ferry to ride out the storm.

2. Moorea has the same great resorts, but cheaper

Cheap is, of course, relative in French Polynesia. Nothing (and I mean nothing) is actually cheap across these indulgent islands. Food, taxis, hotels, you’ll spend more on all of those things than nearly anywhere else in the world.

However, when you compare Bora Bora vs Moorea on cost, Moorea is a real bargain.

For example, a coveted overwater bungalow can still be had for less than $1,000 a night on Moorea. That’s an impossible feat on Bora Bora where you’ll likely pay $1,500+ per night (ouch!) for similar overwater accommodations.

And staying in an overwater bungalow is just one of those Bucket List things you simply have to do in your lifetime (especially if it’s your honeymoon!). In fact, staying in an overwater bungalow ranks as one of my top 30 most extraordinary travel experiences around the world.

Here are 29 more if you’re curious: Around the World in 30 Extraordinary Travel Experiences

3. Moorea is far less touristy

Maybe I’m just overly sensitive, but while on Bora Bora I felt like everyone was trying to sell me something. Whether it was the pearl shops offering free rides from the resort or the endless excursion options, it just felt way more touristy than I wanted.

To further illustrate my point, I like to compare the three islands of Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora to the Hawaiian Islands.

Tahiti is Oahu. Most visitors arrive there and stay a few nights before moving on to other islands. Sure, there are some nice things to see and do, but it’s crowded and the traffic sucks. (2024 Update: I now live on Oahu and I still agree that it’s crowded and the traffic sucks, but I have to admit I’ve discovered plenty more fun things to do!)

Read More: The Ultimate Guide to Hawaii’s Idyllic Island of Oahu

Bora Bora is Maui. There’s no arguing with the fact that it’s beautiful. But it’s also expensive, touristy, and lousy with honeymooners (if you’re one of those honeymooners, you might not mind).

Read More: The Beginner’s Guide to Whale Watching in Maui Hawaii

Moorea is Kauai. Fewer tourists, more laid back island vibe, and far less pretentious. I love Kauai, it’s my favorite Hawaiian Island (which is probably why I love Moorea – to me, it’s the French Polynesian Kauai).

Read More: The Top 5 Best Things to Do in Kauai Hawaii (#1 is a MUST!)

Now that I’ve made my case, I’ll leave it up to you to decide which island appeals most to you.

But for now, let’s dive deeper into magical isle of Moorea…

Arrival in Tahiti

My Air Tahiti flight from Rarotonga to Papeete was a flawless 2 ½ hours. I land in Papeete at 2:15pm, make my way through immigration and customs, and I’m in a cab by 2:30pm.

In town, I have my cab driver wait for me outside a bank so I can change a little money (Moorea may be paradise but it doesn’t come cheap…or with convenient ATM’s). Then he drops me at the Aremiti Ferry terminal.

The Hilton Moorea

I easily catch the 3:00pm ferry to Moorea and by 4:00pm I am settling into my magnificent overwater bungalow at the fabulous Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa.

The weather is decidedly overcast but I don’t care. I am so happy to be back in Moorea and I’m convinced the sun will come out eventually (it does).

As far as Hilton properties go, it doesn’t get any better than the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa. It truly is paradise.

Whether you choose one of the incredible overwater bungalows or a garden bungalow you really can’t go wrong. But since I’ve stayed in both on various visits to the island, I’ll break it down for you.

Overwater Bungalow or Garden Bungalow at the Hilton Moorea?

Well duh. Of course, you came to Tahiti for the overwater bungalow experience.

But if you’re on a budget (or using Hilton points), I recommend spending your first few nights in a Garden Bungalow and then switching to an overwater bungalow for your last few nights.

The garden bungalows are a bit larger and also feature a private plunge pool.

Hint to honeymooners: The Garden Bungalows actually offer more privacy. You will inevitably have kayakers paddling by (or God forbid under!) your overwater bungalow.

When using points, you’ll typically be offered the opportunity to upgrade to an overwater bungalow for a reasonable additional fee (that’s how I managed to afford one!). This offer generally comes not long after you make the booking so you’ll be able to confirm it well before you arrive.

Things to do on Moorea French Polynesia

On my first trip to Moorea, I rented a car for a day to explore.

I drove the ring road around the island, stopped at all the deserted pristine sandy beaches, and ventured up to the Belvedere Lookout for panoramic views of the island’s spectacular lagoon.

Read More: Blue Lagoon Paradise in Moorea

Satisfied that I have already tackled island exploration, this time I feel free to do absolutely nothing – which is exactly what Moorea does best.

I spend my three days jumping into the crystal blue lagoon off my own personal dock and snorkeling for hours. When I’m not in the lagoon, I keep an eye on it from my bungalow through the glass panel in the floor known locally as “Tahitian television.“

The lagoon is the primary form of entertainment in Moorea for good reason – you can spend countless hours in it and never see the same thing twice.

It’s simply mesmerizing.

In the evenings, I stroll down the boardwalk to Toatea, the Hilton Moorea’s overwater creperie and bar. Each night black-tip sharks swarm the lagoon at feeding time under the restaurant’s evening lights.

Note to self: Don’t swim in the lagoon at night.

It is truly the most relaxing few days I’ve had in years.

I realize sometime around lunch on day three that I haven’t put on shoes since I arrived. In fact, I’m not even sure where I left them.

I smile.

Who needs shoes in paradise?

To recap, here’s your perfect 3-step plan to the ideal Tahiti vacation:

#1) Fly to Papeete (because you have to)

#2) Take the ferry to Moorea island and don’t look back

#3) See #2

And there you have it! Everything you need to know to plan your Tahitian holiday.

And when it comes to Bora Bora vs Moorea or Tahiti vs Bora Bora?

Well, I’ve given you my 3 most persuasive arguments for skipping Bora Bora and Tahiti in favor of lesser-known Moorea. It’s the true Polynesian paradise you’re seeking in a more affordable, less touristy package.

For me, Moorea or Bora Bora isn’t a question. Moorea is my answer. But don’t take my word for it, go see for yourself!

Leaving paradise

Sadly, the next morning it’s time to take the ferry back to Papeete to catch my flight back to LA and on to my final stop on RTW #6, Cabo San Lucas.

It’s been an amazing couple of days in my own private paradise. I can’t wait to return someday. (Update: I never would have guessed that I would return just a few years later on my honeymoon!)

Read More: Honeymoon Paradise in Tahiti

As the ferry docks in Papeete, I am greeted with a beautiful rainbow over town. Which just goes to show that even the least attractive part of Tahiti can still take your breath away.

Next up…a full week of whale watching and obligatory poolside margaritas in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Then, sigh, back to the real world (zero stars, do not recommend).