Mo’orea: A Bucket List Roundup

While our Mo’orea adventure went by WAY too quick, it has taken me quite a while to recap it here on the blog. Cody and I spent an entire week in what I would refer to as a true paradise on Earth. We indulged in luxury during our stay in an overwater bungalow, we crossed off three different bucket list items, we dove with sharks, we snorkeled with sharks and sting rays, we drank champagne under the stars to celebrate my 30th birthday, we reminisced about our five years of marriage, and we looked ahead to our future adventures.

After sharing most of our adventures during our time in Mo’orea, the time has come for my final post in this series. I started the “Roundup” series a couple years back in order to recap each destination; it’s an insider look at location tips, lessons learned, and things that I would change on our next visit to paradise (because with this location, there will most definitely be a next time). 

I’m notorious for packing too much into our vacations, however, on this trip we made a point to slow down and relax. After all, we were spending a significant amount of money for an overwater bungalow so we wanted to enjoy every minute of those luxurious digs (and you know, spend time cannonballing into the ocean from our balcony, because we are civilized like that). 🙂 We also enjoyed snorkeling with our neighbors — the fish who lived in the coral under our bungalow — and I spent a lot of time out on our private balcony enjoying a beverage while reading my new favorite series: Harry Potter (yes, it only took me about 20 years to discover the magic found within these books). 🙂

So let’s get to all the good stuff, shall we?

ISLANDS/LODGING

Because we only had one week in the South Pacific we decided to spend all of our time on one island. After some consideration we chose Mo’orea because it was a little more remote and it was also much more friendly to our wallet. On our next visit I would love to spend 10-14 days in the South Pacific and take some time to explore another island. Perhaps Bora Bora, the South Pacific’s shining star, or perhaps, somewhere even more remote than Mo’orea, somewhere like Huahine or one of the Tuamotu islands. There are 118 unique islands and atolls in French Polynesia, so I’m sure we’ll find one that is absolutely amazing!

One thing I do know is that we will return to the Hilton Mo’orea Resort and Spa. The staff was friendly, the rooms were incredible, and the location cannot be beat. We enjoyed using their kayaks and paddleboards and appreciated the thoughtful personal touches such as the complimentary champagne for our anniversary and an authentic Tahitian pareo for my birthday. I often find myself daydreaming about our stay here and I look forward to our next visit.

LOGISTICS

We flew Air Tahiti Nui from LAX to Tahiti Faa’a International Airport, and after going through customs and collecting our bags we caught a taxi to the Aremiti ferry. Because Mo’orea is only ten miles from Tahiti we decided to save some money by taking the high-speed catamaran ferry across the channel instead of splurging on a 15-minute flight. I had considered purchasing our ferry tickets online before the trip, but decided to wait as I was told the ferry is never full — which was true. One thing I did arrange in advance was our transportation from the Port of Mo’orea to our dreamy bungalow at the Hilton Mo’orea Resort and Spa; I scheduled our pickup through the Hilton and also made sure to include a stop at a local market for some essentials.

Our return trip was just as smooth: the Hilton provided transportation to the Mo’orea Ferry Terminal, we enjoyed the 45-minute ferry ride back to Tahiti, caught a taxi to the airport, and then flew back to Los Angeles.

The bustling port of Mo’orea

ACTIVITIES

On this trip our aquatic explorations were abundant and we thoroughly enjoyed each memorable adventure. During our next visit I’d love to turn inward and check out some jungle adventures on the island. I’m thinking four-wheeling, hiking (Tarzan-style rope swings, anyone?), a helicopter tour, and perhaps we’ll jump out of another plane. Because who wouldn’t want to see Mo’orea from a parachute?

And it goes without saying, but of course we wouldn’t go all the way to Mo’orea without spending a day or two under the sea with our favorite dive master in Mo’orea.

As the pinnacle of my Bucket List I feel incredibly lucky to have made this dream a reality. It took a lot of planning, saving, and deal searching, but I’m super proud that we actually made it happen! Our time in Mo’orea brings back so many wonderful memories, and I’m looking forward to the day we visit again.

  

Mauruuru!