Tetamanu Pass
Le Taha’a
Sofitel Mo’orea
Tetamanu Village
Hotel Kia Ora
Stay
HIGH END:
This is the ultimate splurge-worthy choice for the quintessential overwater bungalow experience on a small island near Bora Bora. We saw sting rays and small sharks swimming by from our deck and loved the intimate Polynesian feel. The food is nothing to write home about, especially the high end restaurant, but that’s really the case everywhere in FP. There’s great snorkeling around the hotel and kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel gear are all included. If you do one excursion make it the jet ski tour where they will take you to the most amazing snorkel spot with nobody else around. Look for deals where you can get discounts like 5 nights for the price of 4.
I haven’t been here yet but it’s been on my list. More of a Robinson Caruso experience than Le Taha’a but in the same general area on its island. Less amenities than Le Taha’a but more intimate and personal I imagine. Very small so is often booked up in advance.
MID-RANGE:
This is a great option if you don’t have a lot of time or if you want to combine with a more far-flung island. To get here from Papeete International airport you just take a taxi to the port in Tahiti and then it’s a quick ferry over to Mo’orea. Despite its close proximity to the more urban Tahiti, Mo’orea still feels quiet with surprisingly great snorkeling. The plus to staying here is that you are less trapped at your resort with the overpriced food and drinks. However car rentals aren’t cheap so it’s a bit of a compromise to get out and try local restaurants. It is definitely worth renting a car or moped for a day - more on that below! All the rooms at the Sofitel are individual bungalows so you always feel like you have privacy. You could splurge on an overwater bungalow or do a garden cottage to make this a cheaper option. If you want to see their dance show which is touristy but still amazing be sure to reserve a table in advance saying you want to sit close to the dance floor.
Similar to Le Taha’a but not quite as refined and intimate, but less expensive. Located in Rangiroa near a wold famous atoll for snorkeling and scuba.
AFFORDABLE:
This small low-key collection of a few beach bungalows, one communal dining restaurant and a dive center sits on paradisiacal motu overlooking the stunning Tumakohua Pass, with the most amazing coral reefs all around. To get there you will have to fly to Fakarava, drive to a boat, then it’s an hour and a half boat ride. But when you arrive on the dock with small sharks circling and the brightest biggest schools of fish you’ve ever seen you forget the long journey it took to get here. The bungalows though are rustic with no hot water and there is no ordering at the restaurant, no drinks by the water. You eat what the chef caught and made. This is a hot spot for non-fussy french divers but also a good option for those on a budget looking for spectacular diving and snorkeling without frills. The charming dive staff help make up for the lack of service all around.
Do
Belvedere Lookout, Mo’orea
At the resorts listed above you’re rather limited by what to do by what the hotel has to offer which usually ranges from snorkeling, scuba diving, and bike riding. I’ve mentioned excursions I liked under the hotel columns. The islands where you can really get out of your hotel easily and explore on your own are Tahiti and Moorea so below I’m going to list some of the highlights from those.
MO’OREA
Belvedere Lookout
Park in Mo’orea
The first time I came to Belvedere Mountain on a shoot for Travel + Leisure my assistant and I arrived in the late afternoon and the light was all wrong. We were staring straight into the sun so that you couldn’t see the majestic mountain ridge. The next day we returned early in the morning and the light was perfect with no crowds. Shoot tip: Photograph at sunrise/early morning.
Public Beach Ta'ahiamanu
This is a nice palm tree-filled park on the ocean with great views of the mountains on the way to Belvedere Lookout.
Tropical Garden
Near Belvedere, nice pit stop for homemade jams and charming gardens.
'Ōpūnohu Bay
Shark & Ray feeding in Mo’orea
Stunning bay surrounded by lush verdant mountains with lots of boats sailing through.
We did this tour through Albert Tours and wouldn’t necessarily recommend it unless you love being with hoards of other tourists. The area they go to is in the link above and is near the Hotel Les Tipaniers and InterContinental. My recommendation would be to skip the boat tours and go to Les Tipaniers and ask to rent a kayak. From there you can paddle out to the area with your own snorkel gear and then head back to the hotel for an oceanfront lunch.
TAHITI
Roullettes, Tahiti
Marche Municipal
Some of you may need to spend a day in Tahiti while you wait for your flight to another island. If so, seeing the Marche Municipal (Municipal Market) is a way to experience a slice of daily Tahitian life. You’ll find local fish, fruits, and crafts being sold in this bustling market which can make for great pictures especially from the upper wraparound balcony.
Roullettes
These are what the food trucks are called that set up near the port of Tahiti. This is a fun way to try local specialties like ceviche, Chinese food, and crepes all in one place for an affordable price.
How I Got That Shot
Underwater photography can be so fun but sometimes hard to pull off depending on the clarity of the water, your snorkeling skills, and the quality of your underwater camera. A fun alternative to the underwater shot is shooting through clear water to achieve a more painterly effect. The sting ray image was shot from a boat in direct sunlight so I used a polarizer to cut down the glare on the water. In the tropical fish photo I used the shade of the dock I was standing on to cut the glare and was also benefitting from incredibly clear and clean water in the Tetamanu Pass.
Photo of sting rays: Fujifilm X-T2 18-55mm f/2.8-4 lens. ISO 200, f/6.4 at 1/500.
Photo of school of fish: Canon 5D Mark II, 24-105mm lens. ISO 320, f/4 at 1/100.