Moorea Island Travel Guide

Moorea is Polynesia's second-most popular tourist attraction after Tahiti, and its name means “yellow lizard” in the native Tahitian tongue.  Located a mere 12 miles  west of the island of Tahiti, Moorea is a triangular shaped island encircled by a lagoon of translucent green, bordered by the spectacular blue Polynesian Sea.  Covering an area of 51 square miles, it is the only other major island in the Windward group of the Society Islands besides Tahiti. 

There are many reasons for Moorea's popularity with tourists.  Because of its close proximity to Tahiti and the city of Papeete, this island has become a well-known destination for wedding and honeymoon travel as well.  Moorea not only offers the dramatic beauty of its interior mountains, but also offers magnificent expanses of both black and white sand beaches.  This is the only island in the Society Islands that offers both.  The beaches of Moorea Island can be rated among the world’s finest.

Filled with Polynesian history and lore, Moorea is one of the most fascinating and completely relaxing places you could dream of vacationing.  On a hilltop lookout high up in the interior mountains, between shark toothed Mount Rotui and towering Mount Tohivea, there is a view once reserved only for the gods.  On one side lies exquisite Cook's Bay, and the other a deep and equally entrancing Opunohu Bay.  You will find so many stunning views and breath taking moments on this little island in the Pacific.

Moorea Weather and Best Time to Visit

Moorea offers visitors a tropical environment, with year round warm temperatures, making this an excellent travel destination no matter what time of the year it is.  The temperatures range only from the upper 60’s to the upper 80’s; however, it is very humid.  Their warmest month is March, and their coolest is August, on average.  The dry winter period from May to October is the best time to visit; the weather is cooler and there is much less rainfall.  Temperatures rise during the November to April summer rainy season when it's humid and very wet.  Almost all of their annual rainfall occurs during this period, mostly in the form of short-lived, but violent storms, although torrential rains lasting several days are not completely unheard of.

French Polynesia is south of the equator, but school holidays are the same as those we celebrate in the northern hemisphere.  The peak season is July and August, so be sure to expect larger crowds and higher rates on accommodations.  Christmas to early January, late February and early March, the Easter period, early May and early October are also quite busy times.  The peak July-August season coincides with the Heiva festival, held throughout July, when the region comes to life.  If you are traveling here during any of the busy times, be sure to plan your trip several weeks in advance to ensure that you receive the best rates offered for your vacation package. 

Diving is popular year-round, and each season brings its share of discoveries.  Surfing is also a year-round activity, but if you are sailing, it's best if you avoid the November to March tropical depressions.  Walking is best in the dry season, as some of the trails are simply impassable when it's wet.

Experience Moorea

Moorea’s wide, shallow lagoon surrounds the island's tall mountains where thin streams of waterfalls tumble down fern-covered bluffs.  Serene Meadows bordered by highpoints of green will fill your senses and renew your belief in the grandeur of nature.  Pastel-colored houses bounded by gardens of hibiscus and birds of paradise, circle the island in a fantasy of blissful, yet simple villages.

Moorea can offer you and yours an exquisite vacation experience.  You can enjoy both of their white sand and black sand beaches.   Due to the fact that many travelers are looking for the typical experience for their beach vacation, the black sand beaches of Moorea are quieter and less touristy than most of their white sand counterparts.  In Moorea, you can walk along the black sand and listen to nothing but the rhythm of your heartbeat under the rolling waves.

The adventurous traveler will enjoy Moorea’s thick tropical rainforest dotted with mountains and filled with caves and waterfalls as well as the opportunity for discovering the South Pacific Ocean.  Explorers can take independent or guided hikes in the mountains to see Moorea’s striking waterfalls, or take surfing lessons, go caving, or even SCUBA dive to see meet the exotic species of fish and coral in these Pacific waters.

There is no better place to celebrate your new life together or to celebrate a milestone of your relationship than in the French Polynesian Islands.  Known for their beauty and privacy, these islands are top-rated throughout the world as one of the best places for romance, weddings, and of course honeymoons.  No matter if you are wedding for the first time, renewing your vows, or just enjoying a romantic getaway, French Polynesia is the right place to stay.  With spectacular peaks, stunning bays, and immaculate white and black sand beaches, Moorea and the rest of French Polynesia can make it an unforgettable experience.