Oh, Moorea. Is it any wonder that generations of starry-eyed travelers have dubbed you “The Magic Island?”
Even after falling hard for off-the-beaten-path Huahine, your dramatic peaks and valleys, fragrant pineapple fields, and bright blue lagoons still managed to impress.
Every turn down your winding roads yielded yet another breathtaking view; every beach we stumbled across somehow managed to be even more wildly beautiful than the last.
With just a few days on Moorea, any traveler can certainly experience the best the island has to offer. Below is a rough outline of the 3 day Moorea itinerary we followed—happy travels!
3 Day Moorea Itinerary At-a-Glance
Day One
- Rent a car and spend 4-5 hours circling the island
- Highlights: Cook’s Bay, Opunohu Bay, Belvedere Lookout, Ancient Marae, Pineapple Route, Les Tipaniers Beach, Maharepa
- Dinner at Moorea Beach Cafe
Day Two
- Rotui Juice Factory
- Lunch at Snack Mahana
- Mareto Beach
- (Optional: Dinner and luau at the Tiki Village Cultural Center)
Day Three
- Full day relaxing at one of Moorea’s luxury resorts (day passes available)
Day One: Rent a Car + Circle the Island
What better way to spend your first day on Moorea than by getting oriented with the island?
We actually arrived the evening prior to our “day one” (meaning we had an entire full day to dedicate to exploring) but this schedule is simple and relaxed enough that it could still work if you’re arriving in the middle of your “day one.”
Circling the island of Moorea by car will take you roughly 4-5 hours, depending on the length of your stops. With zero stops, it would only take you around 2 hours to travel the 45 miles (72km) around the island…so I’m definitely factoring in some beach time, photo ops and meals!
Below are the highlights from our circle island tour around Moorea, moving in a counter-clockwise direction:
Cook’s Bay: We based ourselves in Cook’s Bay, so this was our starting point for the day. But regardless of where you’re staying on the island, this is one area of Moorea you don’t want to miss; the palm-fringed shorelines and dramatic, craggy mountain peaks are like something straight out Moana! Be sure to see the Saint Joseph Catholic Church, which is as cute as can be.
Opunohu Bay: The second of Moorea’s twin bays is no less impressive than the first; in fact, Opunohu Bay has even fewer developments and more untouched shorelines than Cook’s Bay. Additionally, it was actually here that the famous explorer Captain James Cook anchored in 1777.
Belvedere Lookout: Wind your way through dense forest and past ancient Polynesian temples to this viewpoint, where you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of Mount Rotui, Opunohu Bay and Cook’s Bay. (Tip: Arrive as early as possible to avoid the crowds! We snapped these photos around 7am.)
Ancient Marae: Located along the road leading to the Belvedere are two marae (ancient temples) known as Marae Titiroa and Marae Ahu-o-Mahine.
Pineapple Route: Continuing back down the same road from the Belvedere, you will reach a crossroads where you can turn right onto the Pineapple Route. This bumpy dirt road is lined with fragrant fields brimming with ripe pineapples.
Les Tipaniers Hotel + Beach: Stop here for excellent seafood (try the grilled fish with Tahitian vanilla sauce!) and fruity cocktails, as well as one of the most stunning beaches on Moorea. The water is a beautiful clear, turquoise color and extremely shallow – perfect for wading, floating and snorkeling. The definition of paradise!
(Tip: If you’re looking for a way to fill out your day, spending a few hours snorkeling, swimming, kayaking and relaxing at this beach is the perfect option. When you’re ready to go, you can continue on with your circle island tour).
Eglise de la Sainte Famille: Pull off to the side of the road to snap a photo of this scenic church in the little town of Ha’apiti. The Protestant Temple on the other side of the road is nice, too!
Once you leave Ha’apiti and continue south, there aren’t many other genuine “attractions” to speak of. Moorea is a very quiet island – especially the south side between Hauru and Vai’are. You’ll pass a number of mini-marts, boutique guesthouses, churches, residences and snacks (casual eateries), but not a whole lot else. And that’s all part of the charm!
As you continue along the road towards the northeastern corner of the island, consider stopping to check out the beautiful beach in Tema’e and the many eateries and souvenir shops in Maharepa.
After you’ve circled all of Moorea, spend the rest of your day relaxing at your hotel pool or enjoying the views at one of the island’s many beaches. Around sunset, head out for dinner and a cocktail—I recommend Moorea Beach Cafe for magical golden hour views and excellent (albeit pricey) seafood.
A quick note about our experience renting a car through Avis…
We rented our car through Avis, which included an airport pickup via their free shuttle service. Unfortunately, things started off a bit rocky – the shuttle arrived to pick us up 35 minutes after our flight arrived, when every other passenger from our plane was already long gone.
And it turns out that the Moorea airport essentially shuts down between flights; the shops pulled down their metal doors, and the vendors all packed up and went home. Even the airline front desk staff had gone by the time our shuttle arrived!
To make matters worse, Avis didn’t answer the phone when we tried to reach them to find out if anyone was coming to get us. It was definitely stressful for a moment (…well, more like 30 moments). Feeling as if you’ve been forgotten about in an unfamiliar place is a nerve-wracking experience!
Anyways, in the end they did come to pick us up, so we just chalked it up to “island time.” The rest of our rental experience was great, so it could have just been a fluke, too.
Day Two: Juice Factory + Beach Day
Remember all those fragrant pineapples from the Pineapple Route? You’ll know they’re being put to excellent use after your first sip of Jus de Fruits de Moorea at the Rotui Juice Factory & Distillery!
This company was actually launched in response to a pineapple surplus on the island during the 1980s, and today the brand lines the shelves of even the teeniest mini-marts across French Polynesia.
Visiting the Juice Factory for a tasting is one of the most popular activities on Moorea, especially if you get unlucky with a rainy day.
In addition to their standard fruit juices (my favorite juice was the watermelon passionfruit), we also sampled a few tropical liquors. Tossing back mini shots of pineapple rum at 10am felt a little strange, but I could have sipped that coconut cream liqueur allllll day long.
The tasting experience is pretty quick, but you can beef up your visit with a tour of the factory if you choose. Definitely spend a bit of time browsing the gift shop, too.
Assuming you haven’t filled up on juice, it’s time for lunch at my favorite eatery on Moorea: Snack Mahana. This casual little restaurant is situated right on the water—perfect for enjoying the sea breeze while you dine. We even saw a stingray from our table!
I highly recommend ordering the mahi mahi with coconut sauce, although Derek said the poisson cru—a French Polynesian staple—was excellent as well.
Then, it’s time to hit the beach yet again! (…hey, that’s what the South Pacific is all about, right?)
Mareto Beach (also known as Ta’ahiamanu Beach) is one of the most scenic, most popular public beaches on Moorea. With its dramatic views of Opunohu Bay and dozens of swaying palms, Mareto Beach is a true paradisal setting.
Derek and I found a nice sandy spot near the far end of the beach, and spent a while just floating in the shallow water and soaking in the views of the bay. Ahhhh.
Once again, you’ll notice that this isn’t a super action-packed day…and this is completely by design. For me, French Polynesia was the perfect destination for mixing adventure and activities with relaxation.
If you’re the type who can’t sit still for too long, you could use this evening to book a sunset sailing excursion or attend a luau at the Tiki Village Cultural Center.
But what we ended up doing was grabbing a casual dinner at Allo Pizza (SO GOOD) and star-gazing from our overwater deck back at Aimeo Lodge. We also saw a largeish shark and a stingray making their way through the black water—so amazing!
Day Three: Relaxing Resort Day
I’m a big advocate of ending any itinerary with a laid-back day of relaxation and/or casual exploring…and Moorea was seriously made for that.
If you’re staying at one of the island’s overwater resorts, you’re all set – snag a lounger by the pool, order a cocktail (or five) and spend your final day in paradise blissed out in your bikini.
If, like us, you’re not staying at one of the big hotels, no worries! Did you know you can book a day pass at many of Moorea’s luxury resorts? We opted for day passes at the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa, which ran us $90 per person.
A day pass at the Hilton Moorea includes:
- Pool and beach access
- Lunch + dessert + one soft drink or beer (per person)
- Beach towels
- Access to the hotel’s snorkeling gear, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards
It was definitely a splurge, but considering that we probably received $50 worth of food and beverages at lunch, it wasn’t a bad value at all.
Purchasing additional cocktails (like we did) will definitely bump up your bill a significant amount, but it’s still a massive savings compared to actually staying at the Hilton. And hey, you’re at one of the most beautiful resorts in the world—enjoy it!
While you’re on the property, stop by the overwater Toatea Creperie & Bar for your choice of savory or sweet crepes. You just may get lucky and see some stingrays and reef sharks in the water below!
Andddd that’s a wrap on my 3 day Moorea itinerary! If you’re currently planning a trip to this island, I hope this serves as a useful guide for you as you build out your own Moorea itinerary. Happy travels!
Read Next: The Ultimate Moorea Travel Guide
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Have you ever visited French Polynesia, or specifically the island of Moorea? Is this a destination that’s on your bucket list? What questions do you still have about visiting or creating the perfect Moorea itinerary?
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