Magical Moorea: Why You Need to Get Marooned on this French Polynesian Isle

One of 118 isles in the South Pacific spread across an area larger than Europe, Moorea is where you come to spend days lazing on white sand beaches and snorkeling in a translucent turquoise lagoon.

This is exactly what I am doing as I climb down my overwater bungalow’s ladder into the warm sea. Within seconds of putting my head under the water, the view through my snorkel mask fills with a school of electric blue fish swimming past me. Looking down, I see the waving tentacles of a sea anemone and two clownfish playing hide-and-seek within. Swimming out further into the vibrant-hued coral reef, I pass a small, black-tipped reef shark. The ocean is thriving here, and I am in awe.

The view above the surface is as mesmerizing as the one below. Moorea is a lush green island with impressive deep blue bays and soaring volcanic peaks. The air is fragrant with the floral scents of the multitude of exotic tropical flowers that flourish here. If you’ve never been to French Polynesia before, now is the time to visit. From the West Coast, it is easier to reach than much of the Caribbean, and it is nearly as close as Hawaii, but with a vibe all its own.

How to Get to Moorea

Tahiti is the main island in French Polynesia, where all international flights arrive. Bora Bora is the most famous of the islands in this French foreign territory, featured in dozens of movies. But Moorea offers beauty and overwater bungalow experiences that are on par with Bora Bora at a much lower price tag.

Direct flights to Tahiti on United Airlines and Air Tahiti Nui from Los Angeles and San Francisco make getting there easy. The flight is a quick 8 hours, and once you arrive in French Polynesia, you’ll be in the same time zone as Hawaii (depending on the time of year, this is as little as two hours behind PST). Upon landing in Tahiti, your hotel will arrange transport. From the airport, you’ll take a taxi to the ferry terminal. It is then a 30-minute ride to Moorea.

Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Resort is the Best Place to Stay

I loved my stay at the Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Resort, which mixes chic luxury and French Polynesian charm and is the perfect spot for a honeymoon or any sort of romantic getaway. That said, it also works great for families and groups of friends. Moorea doesn’t have the extensive, luxury-branded resort development seen in Bora Bora, and the Sofitel is the most exclusive property on the island.

If you've always dreamed of staying in an overwater bungalow – fun fact: the concept was invented on the nearby island of Raiatea in 1967 – the Sofitel has a string of these fantasy suites strung over the azure lagoon to book. If you’ve never stayed in an overwater bungalow, I recommend booking one for at least part of your visit. Besides ladders into the sea, the Sofitel’s overwater bungalows, designed in traditional Polynesian style, feature square glass viewing panels in the polished wood floor to watch the marine life below.

If you want to save a few hundred dollars per night, garden and beach-view bungalows are nearly as lovely. You'll still have access to the same fish-filled sea and snorkeling; you’ll just enter from shore rather than a ladder.

The destination resort has an onsite dive center and can arrange all your island activities. Guests can access free snorkeling equipment, SUP boards, and kayaks throughout their stay. There are two restaurants.

The main restaurant, Pure, and bar face the lagoon, and the complimentary breakfast buffet will fuel you until mid-afternoon. You’ll find a mix of classic Tahitian fare like poisson cru (raw tuna, coconut milk, lime, and vegetables) and international staples like pizza, pasta, meat, and seafood options for lunch and dinner.

K Restaurant is Sofitel’s romantic culinary experience. Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings, it offers a French-influenced tasting menu with an expert wine pairing. Dine with your feet in the sand under a ceiling made from local wood.

Also, don’t miss a visit to Le Jardin Spa. It uses natural ingredients grown on the property in its treatments, which include everything from activating and toning massages to lymphatic drainage, foot reflexology, and facials.

From Scuba Diving to ATV Tours: Adventuring on Moorea

From world-class diving and jet-skiing to ATV tours and waterfall hikes, Moorea offers diverse adventure experiences that can quickly fill a weeklong holiday. I like to start my trips with a lagoon immersion in the form of a private boat tour excursion. These make a few different snorkeling stops, and giving you a chance to swim with stingrays, gentle, black-tipped reef sharks, and often sea turtles. Lunch is usually on a private island, where you’ll dine on fresh fish at a table where you can swing your feet in the sea. Other fun ocean-focused activities include jet-ski tours, night snorkeling, and snuba.

A favorite way to explore Moorea’s lush inland beauty is on an ATV tour. After a quick driving intro, you’ll ride off the island’s ring road around stunning Opunohu Bay before climbing to Moorea’s most famous panoramic view at the Belvedere Lookout. The second part of the tour takes you through pineapple fields and into the center of the volcano that formed Moorea. At the village of Papetoai entrance, you’ll follow a track to the top of “Magic Mountain,” offering more stunning views of the sparkling lagoon, verdant valleys, and craggy peaks. Also, check with the Sofitel about waterfall hiking excursions.