Moorea, French Polynesia

Moorea has always been a dream destination for me. Ever since I saw a Roxy video with the girls swimming with gentle sting rays in crystal clear water, I knew I had to go to wherever that place was, no matter what it took.

I finally saved up enough money for a week to stay at the Moorea Intercontinental Hotel and Spa with one of my girl friends. The flight was overnight, 8 hours on Air Tahiti Nui. Good thing most of the seats in the main cabin were empty, so we were able to lay out in an empty row and get some sleep.

We landed in Papeete early in the morning, so it was too dark to see much of anything. We had to wait a few hours for our connecting flight to Moorea. As soon as we landed in Moorea, I was struck by the natural and quiet beauty of the island. We were picked up by the shuttle and enjoyed a scenic drive around the island to the resort we were staying at.

Although the Intercontinental was beautiful, it wasn’t what I expected. It was located pretty far from town, considering we didn’t have a car to get around in. As a result, we were pretty much confined to the resort. Another downside was that the resort food was crazy expensive. A breakfast buffet was part of our package, otherwise we would’ve had to pay $60 per person every morning! For breakfast, I usually ate fresh fruit, croissants with unique jam flavors such as guava or passionfruit… sausages, pancakes, cheese, french bread, and a variety of other delicious items… it was SO good.

The first day was spent exploring the resort and going for swims in the ocean and pools.

The highlight of my trip was swimming with the sharks and stingrays at the sandbar near the resort. (This was at the top of my bucket list for years, and it didn’t disappoint.)

We hopped on a boat tour that took us to the location, but first we had to pick up other people from different resorts. Below is when we stopped by the Hilton. In my opinion, the Hilton is the best resort on the island. It’s right by town and from what I’ve seen, the overwater bungalows outdo all others on the island. Next time I go to Moorea, I’ll be staying there.

Even on a cloudy and gloomy day, the ocean was straight turquoise. I’ve never seen ocean water like Moorea water.

After snorkeling at the sandbar, we were dropped off at a nearby atoll for a picnic. We ate a Tahitian style ahi dish, tropical fruits, rice, salad, and barbecue. It started raining after we were about done eating, so I decided to go for a swim before the boat picked us up again.

One afternoon, we decided to take the canoe out and paddle around near the resort. It had been raining pretty much all week, and we had about an hour of sunshine before another rainstorm rolled in…

When the sun actually did come out, I was able to see the true magic of Moorea. I’ve never seen more vibrant colors in my life! Lush, bright greens and the most electric blue water I’ve ever laid eyes on in person.

There were a few negatives in the trip like breaking my phone from water damage the first day, getting stung by a bee and having to deal with a swollen and itchy foot, and rainy weather for most of the time. But that’s the thing about traveling. It’s not all perfect like you see in photos, but it is an adventure. And adventures are real and can be difficult, but they also create unforgettable memories.

My biggest regret is that I wish I could’ve explored more of the island, but even if I only got a taste of the wonders French Polynesia has to offer, I’m grateful to have experienced it.