If you are planning a trip to French Polynesia, you need to know about the Moorea ferry. This ferry from Tahiti to Moorea is fast, easy, cheap and takes you to the island paradise we call Moorea!
If you’re looking to get off the main island of Tahiti, which we recommend you do, Moorea is full of adventure and so easy to get to! From hiking its mountains, exploring its beaches, and snorkeling its reef, there is so much to see and do on land and at sea!
Of all the islands in French Polynesia, Moorea is the easiest to reach thanks to the Tahiti Moorea ferry. In this guide we’ll go over everything you need to know about the ferry from Tahiti to Moorea, including how long the ferry takes, ferry options, how to book tickets, ticket costs, ferry hours, and terminal locations. from ferry.
Check out this blog if you’re looking to compare Tahiti vs. Moorea and decide which island is best for you!
The best way to get to Moorea from Tahiti
To get to Moorea, you must first fly into Papeete, Tahiti (PPT), which is the largest city and capital of French Polynesia. From the United States there are direct flights to PPT from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle (seasonal) and Honolulu. Auckland, New Zealand and Tokyo, Japan also offer direct flights.
Once you arrive at the Tahiti airport, there are two options for getting to Moorea. The first option is to fly. The second option is to take a ferry.
BY FAR the best option to get to Moorea from Tahiti is the Moorea Ferry. Moorea is located 10 miles off the coast of Tahiti, so this option is faster than flying when you factor in the time to check in and clear security.
Also, the Moorea ferry is also the cheapest option! A flight from Tahiti to Moorea will cost you a few hundred dollars. Fortunately, there is a cheaper option that will save you a lot of money on this trip.
How long is the ferry from Moorea?
The ferry from Tahiti to Moorea will only take 30-45 minutes. It’s basically a hop and a jump away! You’ll be enjoying the island of Moorea before you can catch up on the long flight to Tahiti.
Moorea Ferry Options
There are two companies that travel by ferry between Tahiti and Moorea. The first is Terevau and the second is Aremiti.
There is little difference between the two companies. Both companies depart and arrive at the same ferry terminal. Both are a similar boat in terms of style and comfort.
We found Terevau to be slightly cheaper per passenger and quite a bit cheaper to bring your vehicle over, which is something to keep in mind if you plan to travel with a car.
On the other hand, Aremiti offers more trips per day, which might fit your travel schedule better, as it gives you more flexibility in your schedule.
Ferry cost from Tahiti to Moorea
terevau
The cost of a one-way ticket on the Moorea ferry is approximately $11 for adults, $9 for seniors 60 and older, and $6 for children. Passenger tickets can be used within 6 months from the date of purchase and can be used at any time, without reservation, for any journey between Tahiti and Moorea.
You can also buy your ticket as a round trip. While this doesn’t save you money, it does save you a bit of time and convenience if you buy both tickets at once.
A ticket to bring your vehicle on the ferry will cost an additional $40 or more depending on the size of your vehicle. Your vehicle ticket is only valid for the ferry time you choose. You can also purchase bring-a-bike or scooter tickets if you plan to travel with one.
Aremiti
The cost of a one-way ticket on the Moorea ferry is approximately $16 for adults, $11 for seniors 60 and older, and $10 for children. Babies 2 years and under are free. Tickets can be used within 1 year from the date of purchase and can be used at any time, without reservation, for any travel between Tahiti and Moorea.
Again, you can also buy your ticket as a round trip if that’s more convenient for you.
The big difference between the two companies is the price for taking your vehicle to the ship. A ticket to bring your vehicle on the Aremiti ferry starts at $80 for an XS vehicle and increases the larger your vehicle. Like Terevau, your vehicle’s ticket is only valid for the ferry time you choose, something you’ll want to plan ahead of time.
Moorea Ferry Schedule
The ferry from Tahiti to Moorea operates several times a day from 5:00 am to 6:00 pm You can find the schedule for the Terevau ferry company here and the Aremiti ferry company here.
The ferry from Tahiti to Moorea basically runs back and forth between the islands throughout the day, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding a ferry that fits your schedule.
The only time it is more restricted is if you are traveling with a vehicle. Not all boats allow vehicles to enter and there are limited places. If you plan to travel on the Moorea ferry with a vehicle, I would highly suggest purchasing your vehicle ticket in advance before you risk running out for the time you want to travel.
How to buy Moorea ferry tickets
Tickets can be purchased in advance online if you wish. You can buy tickets here for Terevau and here for Aremiti. Although it is not necessary to buy tickets in advance, some organized travelers like to have everything arranged before arriving at their destination.
If you are not organized, like us, you can buy your ticket directly at the ferry terminal. If you plan to go this route, I recommend arriving at the ferry terminal at least 30 minutes early to ensure you have plenty of time to find the ticket counter and purchase tickets before it’s time to board your ship.
The only time I recommend you buy your tickets online in advance is if you are bringing a vehicle on the ferry. There are limited spaces for vehicles and you don’t want to miss your ideal ferry time because your vehicle doesn’t fit.
We got lucky on our ferry from Tahiti to Moorea. We arrived at the Tahiti ferry terminal 1 hour before our ideal ferry time and purchased our passenger tickets and vehicle tickets right there.
When we were planning our ferry from Moorea back to Tahiti, we checked the ferry schedule and noticed that all vehicle tickets were sold out for several trips that day. We had to adjust our itinerary a bit to get our car on board, which wasn’t a big deal. However, it could be if you have a flight to catch or don’t have a place to stay that night.
Tahiti Ferry Terminal Location
The Tahiti Ferry Terminal is located in central Pape’ete, just a 15-minute drive from Fa’a’ā International Airport. This area usually has some traffic, so plan for this trip to take at least 30 minutes just in case.
If you are renting a car, it will most likely pick you up at the airport. From there you can drive yourself to the Pape’ete ferry terminal.
If you plan to go from the airport to the ferry terminal by taxi or Uber, plan on it costing around $25-$35.
Moorea Ferry Terminal Location
The location of the Moorea Ferry Terminal is basically west of the Tahiti Ferry Terminal. The ship will take you to the city of Vai’are, which is located on the eastern side of the island.
The island of Moorea only takes about 1.5 hours to drive all over the place, so your drive shouldn’t be too long once you arrive on Moorea.
How to get around Tahiti and Moorea
The best way to get around Tahiti and Moorea is by car. Renting your own car will allow you to explore the islands at your own pace and see exactly what you want to see without having to book a bunch of tours or excursions.
Tours and excursions on both islands are quite expensive. So are Ubers and taxis. In the long run, renting a car will most likely save you money when you add up all the other costs.
In our opinion, the freedom that renting your own car gives you is totally worth it.
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