7 Days in Paradise: Your Ultimate Mo'orea Itinerary

I split my time between two hotels to get the best of the entire island and to maximize my time exploring and my time relaxing. The first few days, I stayed at Cook’s Bay Hotel and Suites. This hotel was in the perfect centralized location to many restaurants and activities I wanted to do. Plus, their restaurant was phenomenal and the snorkeling from the dock was the best snorkeling on the island. My last three days were spent relaxing, without a car at the Sofitel Kia Ora Mo’orea Beach Resort. Nestled on a private beach adjacent to Temae Beach, the Sofitel was a perfect end to the trip with plenty of snorkeling, paddle boarding, and sun-bathing time.

After you arrive on the morning ferry and pick up your car (if rented), head to your hotel, but make a quick, early lunch stop at the Mo’orea Beach Cafe on the way, since the drive over to the hotel may take some time, as well as check-in.

As soon as you check in, hop in the water for a snorkel or a kayak around the lagoon. Turtles love the late afternoon, so keep an eye out. If you are staying at Cook’s Bay, there are a few resident turtles that cruise around. This part of the reef is for hotel guests only and was my favorite area I snorkeled the entire trip. Even standing on the dock you are able to see turtles swimming around feeding. Cook’s Bay also offers guests free use of snorkeling equipment in case you don’t have any.

Dinner at the resort is a great way to close out your first day. Le Cook’s had AMAZING food. I ate there twice and had octopus, tuna, escargot, tuna carpaccio, and a burrata salad.

No better way to start your morning than on the water, kayaking or paddle-boarding the lagoon. I spotted a few black tip reef sharks, turtles, and a pod of dolphins feeding. There are four kayaks at Cook’s Bay and free for guests to use.

People tend to eat lunch early in Mo’orea (most places are open 11:30 am–2 pm), so head to Fare Tutava and grab their Poisson de Coco (Tahitian style ceviche). They also have great smoothies if you need a morning bite.

With multiple public beaches on the island, my favorite by far was Ta’ahiamanu Beach. Beach parking is free (side of the road or the lot) and they offer public restrooms in the parking lot as well. The beach is partially grass with a little white sand, but is layered with palm trees. We sat on the left side (almost at the end next to the house). The beach is shallow, but if you swim beyond the rocks and out into the deeper area where the boats are, you may spot a turtle or two. This is also near the reef edge, where turtles feed. I didn’t think the snorkeling was spectacular, but still worth bringing your gear.

Dinner at Holy Steak House was a great end to the second day. I opted for the tenderloin and the truffle mashed potatoes. Reservations recommended for larger groups or in high season.

The best lagoon tour on the island is with Miti Tours. I reserved this tour two weeks prior to arriving and there were only two options for the week I was here, so book early. I was blessed to have Mana as my guide and another guide recommendation is also Will. Depending on where you are staying, the boat will pick you up at your hotel dock. This is a full-day adventure beginning with a stop at Stingray Ally. There are many boats around and your guide will discuss safe petting procedures for the rays. This experience was AMAZING. The guides will handle the stingrays so you can safely pet them and the water is shallow enough to stand. Keep in mind these rays are used to human interaction and act like gentle sea puppies.

After swimming with the rays and black-tipped sharks, you head the the Coral Garden, which is adjacent to Coco Beach. I saw a big stingray and another black-tipped reef shark swimming around, plus many corals. Moray eels do frequent this area and like to hide under big coral pods, so keep and eye out and stay away if spotted.

On the way to the Miti Tours’ private picnic area, your boat will take you into the channel to spot turtles. Due to the heavy current, you will not swim here, but just spot them above from the boat. Once you dock, the guides begin teaching you how to make the popular Poisson Cru De Coco, starting with coconut husking and opening. After shaving the coconut meat into a dish, the cooking process begins and this was the best part—if you are lucky you can taste fresh coconut milk. IT IS AMAZING! I have never had anything so yummy. Lunch is served, a mix of Poisson, chicken, rice, taro cuts, veggies, and tapioca for desert (also delicious).

During and after lunch, the guides play music and teach you how to weave traditional Polynesian palm hats. Before departing the island the guides (Will) discuss five different medicinal plants found in French Polynesia and their uses, like treating insect bites, stomach discomforts, and burns. Lastly, he will show you 10 (out of 150) different ways to tie a sarong. This tour was by far a highlight of my trip.

By the time I returned back to the hotel, I was exhausted and opted to chill at the pool, watch the beautiful sunset from my balcony, and eat again at Le Cook’s restaurant.

After a jammed-packed day yesterday and a tour, I wanted to follow it with an open day and no schedule—and a drive around the island. A smoothie at Fare Tutava is a great choice if you are looking to head up to Belvedere Lookout, a great first stop on driving the island from the bay.

On the way to the lookout, there will be some pineapple fields on your right to stop and see. Belvedere Lookout is also the trailhead for the three most popular hikes on the island, Three Coconuts (moderate), Three Pines (easy) and ‘Āfareaitu Waterfall (hard). The plan was to hike Three Pines since it was the shortest option, but since it rained overnight and a lot the week before I was advised not to. Mud and debris cause these trails to be very slippery and without proper footwear it is not recommended until two weeks after a big rain event, especially without a guide.

If you are not into hiking but still want to experience these areas, an ATV tour is another great option.

On your island drive or after your ATV tour, a lunch stop at Snack Mahana is highly recommended. I had the Poisson Cru de Coco with ginger and it was literally the BEST I had on my trip. Snack Mahana is very popular and expect a wait if you don’t get there early when they open. Also, this is one of the only restaurants I went to that took cash-only. The Poisson and beer were about $30, so make sure you have enough cash. It is worth it!!

On the way around the island there are a few other stops you can make, like Magic Mountain Overlook (do that after Belvedere on the way to lunch), Tiahura Beach (I was not that impressed), and a few pull-off spots with beautiful lagoon views on the east side. After you pass the ferry, Temae Beach is another great option to hang out at for the afternoon. You can snorkel from the beach here, as well. On the way back from Temae, don’t miss the Toatea Lookout. It has a gorgeous view of Tahiti and the Sofitel Resort below.

Dinner that night was at the infamous Le Lizard. This small restaurant is tucked away past Tipaniers Beach, near Tiahura and is to not be missed. Be sure you reserve a table a week or two in advance, as they only take reservations and it is always full. It was one of my favorite dinners—I picked the tuna, spicy sauce, and taro.

Coco Beach is another activity not to be missed on Mo’orea. Reservations a few weeks ahead of time are highly recommended too. They are closed Monday and Tuesday, so I booked my reservation for Wednesday. You need to arrange transportation to their parking lot or have a car.

Once parked, a boat will take you to the island. Again, a reservation is key. There were a few people that showed up and could not get on the boat because they didn’t have a reservation and the restaurant was full. I booked the 10 am slot, as it is the time your boat transfer leaves to Coco Beach. Once you arrive the hostess will bring you to your table. The first reservations of the day also get lagoon-view tables and you can see rays swimming below.

I recommend snorkeling first (which is why I chose the 10 am slot) and after grabbing your lunch, which of course for me was poisson and taro fries. Coco Beach snorkeling is located in the same area I snorkeled with Miti Tours in the Coral Garden. Knowing that, with Miti I opted to go out a bit farther and stay closer to their island, so that when I went to Coco Beach I could snorkel on that side.

Boat departures leave every 30 minutes and you can hop on any boat. Your boat transfer ($5 per person) is added to your lunch tab to make everything seamless. You can stay on Coco as long as you want, and your belongings are safe on your table if you choose to explore. If your reservations are later in the day (like noon) keep in mind the time for the last boat departure (2/3 pm) and how long you will have to snorkel and eat. The boat transfer is about 15 minutes each way.

After Coco Beach, I chose to head back to the hotel for one more snorkel and some packing, as the next morning I transferred hotels. That nights dinner was at Ke’iki, a recommendation from the waiter at the Mo’orea Beach Cafe.

After saying goodbye to Cook’s Bay, I dropped off my rental car and headed over to the Sofitel to check in. These last few days on the island, I wanted to chill, swim, paddle board, and experience the hotel, so I knew I did not need a car. And I did not want to drop the car off prior to the last ferry I was taking on Saturday evening.

The Sofitel Kia Ora Mo’orea Beach Resort is nestled along the stunning Temae Beach—Mo’orea’s longest white-sand stretch. This luxe and laid-back escape is known for being the best overwater bungalow experience on the island. It not only offers breathtaking views of Tahiti, but access to the vibrant coral reef just steps from your room, a traditional Polynesian spa and fresh island cuisine. Not only did I get a VIP welcome and fresh pineapple juice, but an early check-in at 11 am AND an upgrade thanks to the perks I get from booking hotels for myself and my clients.

After check-in and dropping off the luggage, it was time to hit the private beach, grab a lounger and a cocktail, and relax in the sun. My room was located on the beach side of the hotel (a great upgrade from the ocean-view side) and also steps away from the sand and the Beach Bar.

A late afternoon paddle-board session was just the right amount of activity needed to close out the day. The crystal-clear lagoon waters at the Sofitel are ideal for snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle-boarding. Motorized vehicles, like jet skis, are not allowed in the Sofitel lagoon, which only adds to the tranquil beach setting. If you head over to the dock and the bungalows keep an eye out for a spotted eagle ray swimming around.

There are two main restaurants at the Sofitel, Pure and K Restaurant. Pure is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and serves international and local fare. Dinner that night was at Pure Restaurant, which was delicious. After my tenderloin at Holy Steak House, I was craving another steak and it was perfectly paired with mashed potatoes.

After an early morning gym session followed by a delicious breakfast at the hotel (included with perks), I was ready to jump in the water and do some snorkeling. Since Temae Beach is located adjacent to the hotel’s private beach, I opted to start my session there and take a nice drift into the hotel’s coral garden.

The Sofitel is located on a protected lagoon and is actively committed to enhancing its marine ecosystem. Equipment rental is free for guests, so no need to lug that old snorkel from home. If you snorkel next to the overwater bungalows, you can see all of the coral restoration taking place. Keep your eyes open for the resident moray eel.

If you are looking for a small and eco-friendly activity either in the morning at 9 am or at 1:30 pm, Hello Reef Tahiti hosts two-hour tours of the coral garden. During the tour, you learn about coral rehabilitation from a marine biologist, learn grafting techniques, and help participate in coral conservation by adopting your own to plant and follow its evolution. You can even plant your own coral! Reservations are required for this and the activities desk can help you arrange them. This activity is a great way to give back to both the island and the sea.

For dinner I had to experience the K Restaurant, which is the Sofitel’s fine dining establishment with a sandy-toe experience. This restaurant requires reservations and is also a price-fixed menu. There are two offerings, either a five or seven-course tasting menu, and a wine-pairing can be added on also. The menu changes often and it blends both French and Polynesian flavors—think foie gras with coconut and mango. I chose the five-course option and was stunned by the combination of flavors.

On my final day, I dropped my luggage off at 11 am (check-out), but hung by the resort all day swimming, tanning, and had one more paddle session. Lunch was at Pure and the Poisson Cru á la Tahitienne was AMAZING. The activities center arranged a taxi to the ferry for me ($20 in cash) in the late afternoon, as I chose to take the last ferry out at 4 pm which was perfect timing for my 9 pm flight home.

For a more detailed guide to activities and options at the Sofitel, please check out my trip report highlighting this beautiful property.