Moorea, French Polynesia
So, I landed myself here, because well I saw it years ago on the bucket list family, I’d parked the idea but then, you know when I was in Iceland and saw lots of whales I just thought it was cheating to only see their backs/fluke and HAD to get in the water with them. So here I am from my hostel (little Moorea) telling you about my trip. I’m heading back out into the water soon, don’t think 'I’ve ever typed so fast.
RIGHT first things first. Where to stay: there are homestays on the Island, everyone I spoke to that stayed in the Hilton said it was over-rated and not worth the price (about 450/night), I stayed in Motu Iti and I’ve never stayed in somewhere so horrendous so don’t do that to yourself. I’m now in Little Moorea and it’s so so nice. really chill, it’s a little more expensive but you’ll save money by staying here. why?
close to a supermarket.
cooking facilities (eating is expensive here)
closer to more places to eat also though.
water refill from the tap (water for a 2 litres is about 4 euro here. mind-blowing I know.
next thing. WHAT TO DO:
HIKING: three coconuts, magic mountain, trails from belvedere lookout.
WHALE SWIMMING: I booked with two tours Moorea Moana and Moorea expedition. what I thought I had to do was book a week long excursion with a ‘tour’ kind of group where they sort your accommodation and do other activities but I just wanted to swim with whales and try some food so yeh, go do that I reckon. about 7 days for one of those trips is 4000 euro and a half day whale trip is about 100 euro. So probably saved myself 2000 by booking it all myself. We also did a private boat trip with Moorea Moana, little sunrise trip with a photographer which is an additional 150$ and they take photos of you in the water with the whales. ok what else, the sunrise trip we got coffee and a cute breakfast. bring your own fins and snorkels as it just makes life easier, I definitely wish I did this.
there’s other things to do like lagoon tour, jet skis etc. don’t book the ray and sharks if you are going with Moorea expedition as this is always included in the whale trip.
