Bora Bora, Tahiti, Moorea...these are synonyms of paradise and we were lucky to have spent our honeymoon in this beautiful country. Here is what you can do for 10 days in French Polynesia. When we were planning our honeymoon, we were thinking of just relaxing on a beach with clear turquoise waters, but we were afraid we would want to be a little more adventurous and get bored. So I started researching different beach destinations that had options of just being beach bums and also going on hikes or snorkeling tours. I had always dreamed of staying in an overwater bungalow either in Bora Bora or Maldives, but never thought that would be an option until I found out about Costco Travels which offers a lot of packages to amazing destinations like French Polynesia. (This is in no way an advertisement, and in no way did they pay us or offer us a special rate to mention them...although I always tell my family and friends we should get paid for how much we tell this story!) I swear that I researched everywhere online and could not find a better deal for the package we ended up getting with Costco and that was the main reason why we got a membership. We decided on a 10-day package that included Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora, with flights and ferry transfers, as well as breakfast in all the islands plus dinner in Bora Bora. We chose to stay at the InterContinental Resorts, since that was the nicest hotel chain that fit within our budget. We splurged in Bora Bora with the overwater bungalow, but that was the point! In regards to the excursions and tours, we booked those through our hotels once we arrived at each destination, so we would not worry about having to book them in advance just in case there were any unforeseen delays. For now, we wanted to share a sample itinerary for 10 days in French Polynesia. DAY 1: Arrive in Tahiti My parents gave us a ride from San Diego to Los Angeles, since the nearest airport that has flights to Tahiti is LAX. Our 8-hour flight on AirTahiti Nu left LAX at midnight and we arrived around 5am in Papeete, Tahiti. There was a hotel transfer already waiting for us at the airport and they even had a lei which they put around our necks! We arrived at our hotel within a few minutes since the city is small and the hotel is not very far from the airport. We checked in but had to wait a while to get our room, since it was so early. In the meantime, we decided to have breakfast and then found out there was a half-day island tour of Tahiti leaving shortly so we took advantage of that. This tour took us all around the big island of Tahiti by an air-conditioned van. We stopped at the main tourist points on the island of Tahiti: One Tree Hill - It has a panoramic view of the main town of Papeete. Point Venus - It is a lighthouse surrounded by many crafts vendors on a beach. Blow Hole - This is a small space between a rock wall and where the ocean waves crash into rocks, creating a blow hole. You can actually stand next to it and feel/see the mist. Vaipahi Gardens and Waterfall - It is an enclosed garden with a waterfall, gardens and a grotto. Grotto of Maraa - This is within the botanical gardens of Vaipahi but you cannot actually go inside the grotto, you can walk around the garden though. Gaugin Restaurant - The restaurant is built over the water and has its own fish farm right outside, which you can walk around. This was the final stop in the tour, where we had lunch. We were back at the hotel by 1:30pm, just in time to settle in to our room. We decided to try out one of the two pools in the hotel and then get ready for the dinner show. The hotel offers a French Polynesian dance show on certain days of the week, so we did not want to miss it during our two nights on the island. WATCH: Honeymoon in Tahiti, the Big Island! DAY 2: Enjoy Hotel and Explore Papeete We woke up hungry so the first thing we did was have breakfast in the hotel. We then decided to relax at one of the other pools we found in the hotel, this one was an infinity beach pool with a bar and an amazing view of the nearby island of Moorea. After a while, we decided to head into town through the free hotel transfer van that drops you on in central Papeete. We walked around the main town of Papeete, including the flower market where they make beautiful crowns with real flowers. We went to a local bank to exchange dollars to the CFP Franc, but that took a long time since there was a long line, mainly tourists. Eventually, the day went by fast and it was evening before we knew it, we had a drink at a local bar and started to get hungry, so we began looking for some place to eat. We had heard there was a food truck gathering in the marina of Papeete, so we headed there. We ended up stopping by a pizza truck, which was delicious, but we were surprised that they did not have crushed red pepper - in fact they did not have anything spicy! For dessert we stopped by a truck that sold crepes and gelato. There we met another couple that was on their honeymoon as well and they were staying at our hotel, so we split the taxi on the way back. Infinity pool from our Tahiti hotel facing Moorea. Photos of the town of Papeete, Tahiti: WATCH: Honeymoon in Tahiti, the Big Island! DAY 3: Ferry Transfer to Moorea After having our final breakfast in our hotel, we walked around the property one last time and then we took the free hotel transfer to the ferry landing, they already had our boarding tickets for the ferry. We checked our bags in the ferry and waited to board. The ferry only took about 45 minutes to arrive in Moorea. You can either sit indoors or on the top deck, we sat mainly indoors and then headed to the top to enjoy some of the views. As soon as we arrived in Moorea, the hotel transfer was already waiting for us and took us to our hotel, the InterContinental Moorea Resort. We checked in and they had us wait for our room in a lounge area by the lobby where they gave us a welcome juice, made of delicious local pineapple, and some cool towels for the heat. A short while later, we were driven on a golf cart to our private GRADEN POOL BUNGALOW. It was amazing! They had a welcome champagne bottle and a whole pineapple ready to eat, as well as a nice flower arrangement. We got dressed in our bathing suits and headed to the pool and beach area. We made it just in time to the rent a kayak (included for free) so we kayaked around for only about 30 minutes because we had to return the kayak before the shop closed. Afterwards, we hung out at the pool and we shared a small appetizer at the pool bar and some drinks of course! We finished our drinks on the beach as we watched the sunset. The view of Moorea towards Tahiti. Ferry from Tahiti to Moorea. Photos of the InterContinental Moorea resort: WATCH: Honeymoon in Moorea! DAY 4: Moorea Island Tour The day before, we had booked an 4WD of road tour of the island of Moorea with the hotel concierge. This tour was so fun, we literally were riding on the back of a truck as it took us off road through the roads of Moorea, passing by the beach and inland through the valleys. This four-wheel-drive tour included some of the main attractions in Moorea: Belvedere Lookout Point - An inland perspective, in between the valleys, with an amazing view of the two bays of Moorea (the ones that make the heart-shape of the island). Belvedere Point in Moorea Jumping on Belvedere Point Magic Mountain - This was a short mountain hike up to the highest point on the coastal side of the island. The Marae -We visited an ancient Polynesian temple, well, what is left it. This included a walk/hike through a beautiful forest path. Pineapple Fields - The tour also took us through some pineapple farms where we stopped to take photos and learn more about the specialty fruit of Moorea. Distillery - The our ended with a stop at a local distillery where we tasted some of the different varieties of pineapple juices, including some alcoholic ones. Pineapple Distillery in Moorea. We arrived at our hotel in the early afternoon, so we had some time to enjoy our private garden pool before getting ready for the evening dinner show at our hotel. Once again, we did not want to miss the Polynesian dance show because this one included fire! IC Moorea Polynesian Dance Show WATCH: Honeymoon in Moorea! DAY 5: Relax and Enjoy the Hotel Amenities We spent this day enjoying all the amenities in our hotel, which was obviously breakfast, our private garden pool in our bungalow, the main pool, the free kayak to explore the beach and around the overwater bungalows. Our hotel also has a dolphin aquarium, so we were able to enjoy that from afar. We also decided to take a walk to a nearby convenience store to buy some snacks. For dinner, we decided to book a reservation at a local restaurant outside of our hotel, which was on the recommended list of the concierge and included a free hotel transfer: Le Lezard Jaune. It was delicious, probably the best dinner we had throughout our entire trip! Enjoying our private garden pool. Kayaking around the hotel. Le Lezard Jaune WATCH: Honeymoon in Moorea! DAY 6: Fly to Bora Bora! This was our last day in Moorea, so we decided to wake up earlier to have breakfast and enjoy the last of our hotel stay. We spent some time in the pool and even got a chance to float around in our donut floaty in the private lagoon of the hotel. Moorea Airport Once we arrived in Bora Bora, we got our bags and looked for the hotel transfer to our hotel, which was already waiting for us. We got a lei here too, right before boarding our hotel transfer, which was a BOAT since the airport is actually located on a small strip of land that is only accessible by boat. So, we got a free short boat tour of Bora Bora on our arrival - at least we would like to think of it that way! Boat Shuttle to our hotel InterContinental Bora Bora Resort and Thalasso Spa Once we arrived at our hotel, we were escorted to a small lounge area where they served us some iced tea while we waited through the check-in process. Then, we were driven on a golf cart to our OVERWATER BUNGALOW, which had an amazing view of Mt. Otemanu. The driver walked us into the bungalow and gave us a tour - it was basically a small house if you ask us! It had a living room with a glass-bottom coffee table that opened up to the lagoon underneath our bungalow, the bedroom facing a HUGE window that looks out the lagoon, the walk-in closet as well as the huge bathroom with a bathtub facing the lagoon, not to mention the beautiful private deck that leads to the lagoon, with loungers and a table for two. IC Thalasso Bora Bora Overwater Bungalow deck We did not have time to take a dip, since it was getting dark quickly and we wanted to get ready for the dinner show and it was the only day we would be able to see it. We basically saw a French Polynesian dinner show on all three islands we visited and it was worth it! We think it is a must while visiting Tahiti and its islands - there really is nothing else to do in the evening anyway so why not enjoy this cultural show where you can have dinner and participate too!? WATCH: Bora Bora Honeymoon, Day 1 DAY 7: Snorkel with Sharks and Stingrays We booked a snorkeling tour the day we arrived in Bora Bora. This was probably one of the highlights of our trip! We woke up early to finish breakfast just in time to start the tour. We were picked up at the hotel dock and then we headed over to the end of the lagoon, which opens up to the ocean! We were able to see all the different colors of blue the beautiful lagoon of Bora Bora consists of. First Stop: Snorkel with Sharks! We stopped in the deep, darker blue area of the lagoon, basically open ocean, where the lemon sharks gather. This was both scary and exciting! The boat tour included the snorkel gear, so you don't have to worry about bringing your own. We got to swim/snorkel among sharks! Second Stop: Feed Stingrays! As we headed to shallow water, we passed by the Hilton Bora Bora Resort, I noticed it because it was featured in Keeping up with the Kardashians (where Kim Kardashian lost her diamond earring!). Once we arrived in a shallow area of water, we got off the boat to feed some stingrays! The tour guide gave us some fish bait to feed them with, there were also some lemon sharks swimming by us here. This was an unforgettable experience! Third Stop: Bora Love Sign and Corral Reef - After feeding the rays, we headed to another area where we got to swim at and dive down to take underwater photos of the famous "BORA LOVE" sign on the ocean floor. It is not that deep, but we were unable to go all the way down due to our sensitive ears. This famous sign is also located right next to some corral reef that you can swim through but must not touch. Fourth Stop: Lunch on Private Island - The final stop of the tour included a small buffet lunch on a private island. While the food was prepared, we were given free time to swim around the private beach and shallow waters. For lunch, we were served local food, including fish, chicken, rice, coconut, and cole slaw. After eating, we walked it of by hiking up the stairs to the viewpoint of the private island that had beautiful panoramic views of Bora Bora's Mt. Otemanu and the open ocean. After returning to our hotel, we spent rest of the day enjoying our overwater bungalow and floating around in our donut in the lagoon. Once it got dark, we had dinner at one of the restaurants and called it a day. WATCH: Bora Bora Honeymoon, Day 2 DAY 8: Relax, Enjoy Hotel, Explore Bora Bora We decided to take it easy on this day and after having breakfast in the hotel, we went in the pool, hung out on one of the many hammocks around the resort, went paddle boarding right in front of Mt. Otemanu (which is included in our resort). After a few hours on the beach and pool, we decided to take advantage of the free boat transfers from our hotel Intercontinental Thalasso to the other Intercontinental Moana, which is located on the main side of the Bora Bora island (not facing Mt. Otemanu, but instead it is right next to it). So we explored the IC Moana, we could have gotten in the pool there as well, but decided to explore outside instead. Paddle Boat around the InterContinental Thalasso. Exploring the InterContinental Moana in Bora Bora. Walking through a cute sidewalk wall in the main island of Bora Bora. We had been wanting to eat at Bloody Mary's so we walked almost a mile to get there, we could have gotten a taxi but decided to make it an adventure and enjoy the scenery of the island instead. The food there was OK, but we made the best of it at the bar. You definitely don't want to miss out on the bathroom, they have some interesting decor! We also left our dollar on the BIG DOLLAR wall, with our names on it, let us know if you see it! We decided to take a taxi back to the IC Moana hotel, so we can make it in time for the final boat transfer to our hotel the IC Thalasso. Once at our hotel, we decided to walk around a little bit more before dinner, and we ended up on the other side of the hotel which is the open ocean! There is access to the beach but at your own risk since it is the open ocean and there are no lifeguards. WATCH: Bora Bora Honeymoon, Day 3 DAY 9: Bora Bora Island Tour On this day we had breakfast before heading to another tour we booked earlier with the hotel concierge. This was a half-day island tour of Bora Bora, which was also similar to the Moorea 4wd tour we did. This tour included some interesting activities: We learned how to play the Polynesian javelin throw: We learned how local vendors tie dye pareos: We also stopped by some nice panoramic viewpoints of Bora Bora: Upon returning to our hotel, we just hung out in our Overwater Bungalow and ordered pizza to our room. We had bought a wine bottle at a supermarket in the main island of Bora Bora so we saved a little money on that too! We spent the rest of the day just swimming in the lagoon right off our private deck. Once it got dark, we went to have dinner at the buffet restaurant. WATCH: Bora Bora Honeymoon, Day 4 DAY 10: Last Day in Bora Bora and Fly Home On our final day in Bora Bora we just took it easy and made the best of our final hours in our Overwater Bungalow. We took a dip into the lagoon right off our private deck and borrowed some snorkel gear from the resort. We also got a kayak to go explore around the lagoon and actually passed by many of the overwater bungalows, including right underneath our own! Our boat transfer to the airport was not until 4pm, but we still had to check out by noon. However, the resort switched us to another location dedicated to late boat transfers, it is like a temporary mini room with a sofa and a full bathroom with a shower. We were able to leave our luggage there and change clothes if necessary. Meanwhile, we just waited by a beach lounge where we had a chance to order food and take a final dip in the beautiful lagoon right in front of the IC Thalasso facing Mt. Otemanu. Right before our boat transfer arrived, we showered and changed clothes in our temporary mini room and headed towards the airport. Don't forget to take a photo by the Bora Bora airport sign! Enjoying our last hours in Bora Bora: The Bora Bora airport: WATCH: Bora Bora Honeymoon, Day 5 Did you like this article? Pin it on Pinterest to save it for your future planning!
15 EPIC Things to Do in Moorea: From kayaking in a glass bottom boat and lunch on a "motu" to snorkeling with sharks and sunset cocktails, it's all HERE!
With these Rangiroa Travel Tips you will have all the information you need to help you plan and make the most of your time there.
Planning a trip to French Polynesia isn't easy. In this 2 week Tahiti itinerary, learn which islands to go to, where to stay, eat, and what to do.
I heavily researched the best places to stay Moorea and recently spent 10 days there. Read this to make your trip planning nice and easy!
Huahine, this island of French Polynesia remains a very beautiful place to explore. I explain to you what to do in Huahine during your stay!
When we first planned our year-long word trip, French Polynesia holidays weren't on it at all. That is because it is expensive - I'm telling you right
Are you heading to French Polynesia? Be sure to read this blog post to avoid the same mistakes we made while visiting this beautiful country.
I just checked out of the Sofitel Moorea and I have to say, I am so sad to have to leave! We spent 2 nights there and it just wasn’t enough. If you’re considering a trip to French Polynesia right now, do yourself a favor and be sure to add Moorea to the list. Though Bora Bora and Tahiti get all the attention, Moorea...
Honestly, I fell in love with Mo’orea so quickly! From their culture to the beautiful beaches and land. I fell in love with it all. While I’ve talked about island…
Travelling to Mo'orea, French Polynesia soon? This guide is for you! We stayed at some incredible Mo'orea Airbnbs, Hotels and found some of the best restaurants
Our two-week travel guide to French Polynesia - Society Islands, including travel tips and other spots to consider in Tahiti, Bora-Bora, Huahine, Maupiti...
With 75 islands to choose from which are the best islands in French Polynesia? Read on for beautiful tropical retreats, fun days out, luxury hotels and more!
This 3 day Huahine itinerary will have you discovering vibrant turquoise lagoons, wild untamed landscapes, and breathtaking underwater worlds.
Check out an honest review of our stay at Hilton Moorea Resort & Spa in February 2020. We review facilties, food, staff, and amenities.
15 EPIC Things to Do in Moorea: From kayaking in a glass bottom boat and lunch on a "motu" to snorkeling with sharks and sunset cocktails, it's all HERE!
This ultimate Mo'orea, French Polynesia travel guide will help you plan an unforgettable tropical trip to the island!
After a half dozen visits over multiple seasons I finally feel qualified to write this blog. I first visited Mo’orea for my 30th Birthday in February of 2020 during the rainy season. I spent nearly two weeks on the island - hiking, camping and truly immersing myself in the culture of French Polynesi
French Polynesia Travel Tips - We complied a list of tips and details that we wish we had known before our trip to share with you.
Moorea is a small island close to Tahiti in French Polynesia. In this travel guide, I will tell you why Moorea is worth visiting...
How to spend the perfect two weeks in French Polynesia. Which islands to visit, what to do, what to eat and where to stay on a French Polynesia itinerary.
After three visits to these beautiful islands in the South Pacific, I've got some money-saving tips I'd like to share. You might be surprised as the various ways you can save money and still visit FP.
These are the best things to do in Moorea. Discover the top food recommendations, activities, excursions, and tours in this ultimate Moorea travel guide!
When planning your French Polynesia holidays and looking for a breakdown of prices, look no further - I break down every price.
French Polynesia is a place of extravagance and luxury but visiting doesn't have to break the bank. We've got you covered with all the best tips for how to travel French Polynesia on a budget.
French Polynesia is the perfect setting for a tropical dream. I’m talking palm trees, crazy blue waters, fresh seafood and coconuts, lush rainforests, abundant marine life, beautiful reefs, and the most amazingly warm people and
Looking for the best things to do in Moorea, French Polynesia? Here are the best places to visit and things to see in Moorea!
Planning your trip to Tahiti and looking for all the BEST things to do in Papeete while you are there? This list has it all!
Planning a trip to French Polynesia and looking for the BEST things to do in Moorea? This comprehensive guide has it all laid out.
Plan the trip of a lifetime with these top things to do in Bora Bora, from the best snorkel spots and lagoon tours, to luxury resorts and overwater villas!
Dramatic peaks, turquoise waters, or pearls? You'll find them all on Mo'orea!
Discover this tropical island's top 10 activities
French Polynesia is a place of extravagance and luxury but visiting doesn't have to break the bank. We've got you covered with all the best tips for how to travel French Polynesia on a budget.
Ready to plan a trip to French Polynesia? Read this first!
Oh Mo'orea, how you completely blew us away. What with your mountainous peaks of epic proportions, your marine diversity & your wonderful people doing wonderful things to preserve your magic. This is a place of
Endless skies, blue lagoons, white-sand beaches, and coconut trees swaying in the trade winds - it's an ideal postcard and can be found in the South
If you’re planning to visit Moorea, get ready to have your mind blown. It has the most brilliant turquoise-blue waters I’ve ever seen (and I’ve been to the Maldives!) as well as some of the best coral reefs I’ve had the privilege to dive and snorkel in. That said, Moorea is not the most straightforward...
Everything you need to know about where to stay, who to dive with, and what to do when on Fakarava in French Polynesia. You're in for a treat.
52 most beautiful islands in the world. From French Polynesia to the Caribbean, here are the best islands to visit in the world.
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 E…
Travel to Moorea: What’s it like? Moorea is Tahiti’s more touristy “mini-me” right across the water. While not as familiar as Tahiti or Bora Bora, Moorea boasts an incredible lineup of advent…
Are you planning a visit to French Polynesia? This travel guide will give you an overview of the best things to do in Tahiti in 3 days.
Paul Gauguin luxury cruise ship an affordable way to visit French Polynesia.
