Beyond Tahiti: Choosing between Moorea and Bora Bora
After the main island of Tahiti, there are so many other islands to see when visiting French Polynesia -- but which ones should you choose to add to your holiday itinerary? Below, we present our breakdown of how Moorea compares to Bora Bora so that you can make the right choice for your trip!
French Polynesia is a paradise of emerald islands scattered across the Pacific Ocean, made up of 5 archipelagos and 118 islands in total.
The crown jewels of these islands are known as the Society Islands, formed from volcanic activity from the Society hotspot underneath the Pacific plate, including the islands of Tahiti, Raiatea, Tupaoi, Huahine, Taha’a, Maupiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora!
The largest of the islands, Tahiti is well known as the main island of French Polynesia and it also has the only international airport among the islands. While Tahiti is the most popular destination in French Polynesia, it is well worth your time to explore the other exquisite islands that make up the Society Island chain. Next to Tahiti, the most visited islands are Moorea and Bora Bora. Both islands offer crystal clear lagoons, white sand beaches, lush interiors, and a variety of activities to explore the incredible environment around you – but which island should you choose to spend your time on?
Continue reading for our breakdown of how Moorea and Bora Bora compare to each other so you can pick which island to visit during your trip to French Polynesia!
Getting around
Moorea
From Tahiti, the closest island is Moorea, also known as the ‘sister island’ due to its proximity to Tahiti. One of the easiest ways to get to Moorea from Tahiti is by boat! A ferry between the islands takes about 30-45 minutes and offers a pleasant and relaxing voyage on the water. For a quicker option, you can also choose to take a 15 minute commercial flight, or for a more elevated experience, a helicopter ride!
Once on the island, getting around is relatively simple due to the 37 mile ‘ring road’ that wraps around the entire island. This paved road gives you easy access to explore the island on your own should you decide to rent a car, scooter, or even a bike. There are multiple rental options available all over the island and there are even a couple of electric charging stations at your disposal should you choose to go with an electric vehicle. Exploring Moorea on your own is very doable! However, if you don’t mind giving up a bit of independence, you can also simply choose to leave the organisation and logistics to someone else and book guided tours of the island.
Beyond just travelling around the island, you are bound to want to discover the sparkling lagoons around Moorea as well! To do so, you can rent a boat or paddle board to explore the shores on your own, but for a more extensive adventure, check out these catamaran lagoon excursions in Moorea!
Bora Bora
A bit further afield than Moorea, the turquoise waters of Bora Bora are around a 50 minute flight from Tahiti. By boat, the journey can take up to 4 hours and offers a more economical and adventurous option!
Once you get to Bora Bora, it is likely that your hotel will arrange speedboat shuttles to pick you up from the airport or the quay to bring you to the islet or motu where the hotel is located. If you are staying on a motu, it is worth looking into what complimentary shuttle options the hotel offers to get around the island!
If you are staying in Bora Bora’s main town of Vaitape you can also take a boat shuttle from the airport to town. Once in town, you will be able to rent cars, scooters, or bikes as needed to help you get around. Even though the island is just 10km (6 miles) long, a bike or scooter lets you enjoy the slowplaced island life while making getting around a little bit easier under that island sun and heat!
Where to stay
Moorea
When it comes to staying in French Polynesia, the image that comes to mind is of idyllic overwater bungalows – not only does Moorea offer these coveted options on its motus, but you also have the option of choosing a beachside or jungle view accommodation if you wish!
Depending on your budget and the kind of activities you want to indulge in, you have a number of options to choose from on Moorea.
When it comes to the areas on Moorea to stay in, some options include Maharepa, great for first-time travellers to Moorea as it is a lively area, Tiahura to the northwest of the island which has a bit more nightlife, being near pubs and restaurants, and Te’avaru, to the east of Maheapa, which offers all inclusive resorts.
Bora Bora
Where Bora Bora differs from Moorea in terms of accommodation is that most of its hotels are not only super secluded overwater bungalows on a motu, but they are often quite high end. That said, you do have the option of staying right in Vaitape for a more budget friendly choice that is also closer to the airport as well as the restaurants and shops on the main part of the island.
One popular option that is not located on an islet, is at the southern end of the island – Matira Beach, which is the largest public access beach on the island. Matira beach offers 1 mile of white sand and crystalline waters that still remain connected to the island for ease of transportation, and there are a number of hotels and restaurants located in the area.
While you do have options, most of the places you will want to stay at in Bora Bora will be on the higher end at all inclusive resorts.
What to do
Moorea
There is a lot to do on Moorea, and if you love adventure, you will have plenty of activities to keep you occupied from jungle to shore!
To explore the island’s verdant interior, hiking to the summit of Mount Opunohu for a stunning viewpoint over the island is a must when on Moorea! Check out these guided hikes for the best way to see the lush valley and peak of Mount Opunohu. For another way to enjoy the unique jungle atmosphere on Moorea, take a look at this canyoning experience that will keep you cool while you explore!
Of course, water activities are the focus when on Moorea, as they are throughout French Polynesia. In addition to your typical boat tours, snorkelling, and diving, for a more unique experience, you can go snorkelling with whales during whale season or even try a sailing excursion on a traditional Polynesian boat!
There really are so many things to do on Moorea!
Bora Bora
Bora Bora is the place to go for rest and relaxation!
However, if you tire of hanging around your resort but are still looking for a relaxing way to explore the island, a boat tour is the perfect option for you. Whether you are looking for a romantic sunset cruise or a lagoon boat tour under the sun, check out these boat tours in Bora Bora that will have you lounging in paradise!
Bora Bora also has much more of a focus on water based adventures amongst its atolls and lagoons. For some classic water-based fun, try snorkelling with sharks in a coral garden or learning how to scuba dive.
For a little more adventure, swap an afternoon of relaxation for some excitement during a helicopter tour of the island or a jet ski tour of Bora Bora’s crystalline lagoons!
Bora Bora may be all about kicking back and relaxing, but if you are on a family trip and need to occupy the kids, or simply want to have a balance of lounging and fun, you definitely have a variety of options to choose from!
Overall vibes
Moorea
In short, Moorea is the easiest island to get to from Tahiti, allowing you to explore the islands of French Polynesia without any hassle. Moorea offers a variety of accommodation, things to do, and is easy to explore on your own or with a tour group. Depending on where you choose to stay, you can enjoy a lively town centre, restaurants and nightlife, as well as the all-inclusive resort lifestyle.
From ocean to inland, there are a great many adventures to be had on Moorea!
Bora Bora
Bora Bora is a little further away from Tahiti and Moorea, but is definitely worth making the trip if you are looking for a secluded and private getaway!
Getting around Bora Bora is not the easiest, but since you will mostly be lounging at your luxury resort, there is not much need to do so anyway! Of course, if you do need a bit of a resort break, there are still plenty of activities to fill your time with and explore the island while you are at it.
French Polynesia has so many incredible islands to discover! It is definitely important to do your research before booking your holiday so that you can create the trip of a lifetime! Other than choosing between Moorea or Bora Bora, if you find yourself wondering what other archipelagos to visit or more activities you might want to do whilst visiting French Polynesia, check out this article about how to plan the best vacation to French Polynesia!