Day Trips from Papeete: Moorea and the Coast

November 5, 2026

Three ways out of Papeete cover most day trips: across the water, along the east coast and around to the south-east tip. Each suits a different mood and budget.

Across the water: Moorea

Several operators sail from the Papeete ferry terminal to Vaiare, on Moorea’s east side. Aremiti, with its Aremiti 5 and Aremiti 6 catamarans, lists a tourist adult return fare of 4,700 XPF (2,350 XPF each way), a child return fare of 3,000 XPF for those under 13, and no charge for babies under 2. Tauati Ferry and Vaearai run the same line. Timetables shift through the year and over school holidays, and nothing confirms that boats sail on Sundays, so read the current timetable on the Aremiti site before you commit to a return.

From the dock you can rent a car or join a tour. Tahiti Tourisme’s own Moorea route starts at the Belvedere lookout, about 219 m up and free to visit, then drops to Temae Beach for lagoon swimming and finishes with a pineapple-juice tasting at the Rotui juice factory. Opening days at the factory vary, and some operators say it shuts on weekends.

Along the east coast

Drive or join a tour along the coast road to three stops that sit close together. Point Venus, about 10 km out, is where Cook’s party tracked the 1769 transit of Venus from the beach. The Arahoho Blowhole is a viewing stop that reopened on 30 October 2026, and visitors should stay clear of the opening. At Faarumai you can walk a few minutes to Vaimahuta (80 m), or make the 20 to 30 minute climb to the two further falls when they are open.

Round to the south-east tip

Tahiti Iti is reached through Taravao, and the road ends at Teahupo’o, roughly 60 to 75 km from Papeete. The wave there is for expert surfers, while visitors can watch from licensed boats in the lagoon. It is a long drive, so start early and expect most of a day.

By sail to Tetiaroa

Catamaran day trips to Tetiaroa depart from the Papeete marina around 05:20 to 06:00 and return in the evening after about 11 hours. Of that, roughly 5 hours are spent on the atoll, with 2.5 to 3 hours of sailing each way, plus lunch and a snorkel stop. There are no overnight stays.

Planning notes

Cash covers small purchases, and prices throughout are in XPF. Compare current listings at Papeete day trips on Viator .