This Tahitian honeymoon vacation was a trip of a lifetime. I have complied the best things to do in Bora Bora and Moorea to help you plan your Tahiti vacation!
Let’s start with the most dramatic way to start a trip to Tahiti, shall we?
We got to the airport early so excited to start our amazing honeymoon just to see our plane was delayed in Denver to LAX. We thought “no big deal” we planned enough time in between flights at LAX. Well…a couple hours went by and we realized we may miss the connection from LAX to Tahiti. This wouldn’t be a huge deal except the next flight wasn’t for another two days and we would be paying thousands of dollars and missing excursions we already had planned.
I won’t go into too much detail but I would highly suggest leaving even more than four hours between international flights. My husband also had to get in and out of LAX security to retrieve our bags and check them back into international terminal because our flights were not booked on the same ticket. I literally had to cry and make a scene while they held the plane in LAX until he got through
ANYWAYS….
The rest of the trip was more than I could have imagined. Our first stop in Tahiti was Papete where we were taken on a bus to a ferry to the island of Moorea. It’s a little bit of a trip (12 miles), just make sure you have your transportation organized before getting there. It’s worth it.
Let’s get to the Best Things To Do In Bora Bora and Moorea
Best Things to Do in Moorea
Just northwest of Tahiti lies another island you probably haven’t heard of. Moorea is surrounded by a bright blue lagoon, and is a volcanically formed island. Getting to the hidden paradise is a process but I would highly recommend it. We enjoyed that is was a little less busy and was a true place to relax and disconnect.
Accommodations: Intercontinental Moorea Resort & Spa in overwater bungalow
Food: Had daily breakfast buffet for two with amazing options and nightly two-course dinner for two. Crepes, fresh fruit, meats, cheeses, you name it. Dinners I mainly choose seafood and dessert options. Was never disappointed and the hospitality was amazing.
Activities in Moorea:
Alberts Tour Snorkel/Picnic: Sharks and Stingrays Meet and Greet
– Fun and entertaining guides, swimming with heaps of stingrays and reef sharks, making ceviche, a delicious barbecue lunch on a small island, snorkeling, husking and eating coconuts, learning how to tie a pareo, made it a great day and adventure!
Renting Paddleboards from the Hotel
-leisurely paddled around looking for more stingrays and sharks. Boats were feeding some of the sharks and rays with their fish scraps so we were able to watch multiple string-rays glide up onto the end of their boats. Found sea cucumbers and other creatures along the way snorkeling too.
The Gym (definitely for locals)
-I tried to complete a CrossFit Open workout but attempting chin-up on a racked barbell was a disaster. For those you of who don’t CrossFit, I didn’t want to let my team down. I was definitely the only girl in the gym. They had a cool jungle gym with ropes outside though!
Albert’s Pearl Shop- I bought the most beautiful black pearl and gold bangle bracelet, my husband bought beer at the liquor store attached. Better prices in Moorea vs. Bora Bora for pearls.
Holy Steak House- The fish and chips were great; it was a nice place to eat and very conveniently located with a deck outside to view the ocean.
Moorea was a great relaxing way to start. We took it easy and enjoyed our surroundings and the bungalow deck while soaking up the sun and jumping off the deck. If you want all the feels of Bora Bora for a little cheaper and less busy, Moorea is perfect.
Next stop…
Best Things to Do in Bora Bora
Bora Bora is a small South Pacific island northwest of Tahiti in French Polynesia. Surrounded by sand-fringed little islands and a turquoise lagoon protected by a coral reef, it’s known for its scuba diving. It’s also a popular luxury resort destination where some guest bungalows are perched over the water on stilts.
Accommodations: InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana Resort in overwater bungalow
Food: Food: Had daily breakfast buffet for two with amazing options with Nightly two-course dinner for two. We were obsessed with the octopus curry and ahi tuna. The seafood was unreal.
The Lucky House Pizza-
The Lucky House was great, easy walk from the bungalow. We had Canadian bacon and cheese pizza with good beer. I liked the more local atmosphere.
Top Activities in Bora Bora:
Jet Skis through Hotel Accommodations
-A local guide took us around the island, did a coconut show and gave us awesome insight to the island life. He let us stop in places to jump in the water and for the best views.
Jeep Tour through Hotel Accommodations
The jeeps drove right up the mountains (slightly terrifying since they were old vehicles) but worth it! Walked around to view overlooks- I loved being able to see the island from higher elevation.
Spa Day at the Intercontinental Thalasso Spa
I had a wonderful facial and massage and then enjoyed the amenities with a hot tub, tea room, jet bubble pool. I could have spent all day in the jet pool. It was fun to see a different side of the island too.
Top Dive Scuba
Amazing experience, was able to see manta rays. This is an unreal sighting, if you have your scuba license, do it! Definitely the highlight adventure for my husband.
Bloody Marys
Great restaurant in town. I got the fish and chips and obviously a Bloody Mary. Loved the sand floor and open air environment.
Town Market
Traded a bottle of Sailor Jerry’s for a pearl ring, that was fun! There were so many beautiful pieces of jewelry and crafts. Some things are not easily assessible on the island and locals are willing to make trades.
Things I brought to Bora Bora:
Camera (you need to upgrade for this trip)
Snacks: Rx Bars, Dried Fruit, Nuts, Jerky, Alcohol (it’s super expensive there)
Things to buy while in Bora Bora:
Tahitian Vanilla Extract
Full Disclosure: We did a honeymoon fund vs. a registry for a wedding so we could afford this trip! We also went through Costco Travel and would highly recommend checking their accommodations out.
Check out my healthy traveling tips next!
