Moorea is just a quick 10-minute flight or a breezy 30-minute ferry ride from the main island of Tahiti. While it might be slightly less dreamy than Bora Bora, its breathtaking landscape—where lush inland mountains seamlessly blend with stunning ocean views—and easy accessibility make it the closest island to paradise you can get. The island has everything you could wish for: top-tier overwater bungalows, epic water sports, and thrilling ATV jungle adventures, all at much more affordable prices than Bora Bora. If you don't want to splurge on a luxury resort, there are plenty of budget-friendly guesthouses too. It is absolutely the top choice for budget-conscious travelers looking to experience paradise!
Tahiti Travel Information
★ 【Bora Bora Activities】Shark & Ray Snorkel Tour|Jet Ski|ATV
★ 【Moorea Activities】ATV & Jet Ski|ATV|Jet Ski
★ 【Island Hopping】Bora Bora Flights & Shuttle Boat|Moorea Ferry
★ 【Accommodation】Tahiti Accommodation Guide
★ 【Guides】Pre-trip Prep|Budget Tips|Bora Bora Attractions|Moorea Attractions

French Polynesia is made up of numerous archipelagos, with the only international airport located on Tahiti. There are two ways to get from Tahiti to Moorea. The first is by plane—a super quick flight from Tahiti takes only about 20 minutes! Besides flying from Tahiti, you can also catch a direct Air Tahiti flight from Bora Bora to Moorea, though this is a bit pricier. For example, based on March 2019 prices, flying from Bora Bora to Moorea cost about $100 USD more than flying back to Tahiti.
Aside from flying, the second, much cheaper, and most popular method is taking the ferry, which is exactly what we'll be covering today!
Taking a Taxi to the Ferry Terminal

After landing at Tahiti's international airport, you'll find that the downtown ferry terminal is only about a 10-minute drive away. Since Tahiti doesn't have Uber, most people take a taxi. A one-way taxi ride costs around $20-25 USD. Some Airbnb hosts offer airport pickup services (usually for a similar price to a taxi), so if you're spending a night in Tahiti, it's definitely worth asking your host!
Ferry Schedules and Price Comparison
For passenger transport between Tahiti and Moorea, there are two main ferry companies you can choose from: Terevau and Aremiti.
Terevau Ferry

You can check the weekly departure schedules on Terevau's official website. The daily times are clearly marked, and you can book tickets online in advance. As for prices, an adult one-way ticket is 1,350 XPF, and a round trip is 2,700 XPF (so buying a round trip doesn't actually save you any money 😆). Their adult ticket is cheaper than Aremiti's, but there's a catch: while Terevau offers child tickets (580 XPF) and senior tickets (950 XPF), these are strictly for local residents, and you have to provide proof of residency when buying. So, if you're only buying adult tickets, we highly recommend Terevau. But if you are traveling with kids or seniors, you might want to look into Aremiti's pricing below.

Bicycles, cars, scooters, and other vehicles can also be taken onto the ferry. The official website clearly lists these vehicle prices if you need them. We actually looked into the cost of renting a car and bringing it over, but since taking a car on the ferry incurs an extra fee—and there are car rental agencies right across from the Moorea ferry terminal—it makes much more sense to just rent a car directly once you arrive on Moorea!
Aremiti Ferry

At Aremiti, an adult one-way ticket is 1,650 XPF, children's tickets (ages 2-11) are 850 XPF, and senior tickets (60+) are 1,350 XPF, while infants under 2 travel for free. Although the adult ticket is a bit pricier here, Aremiti is a fantastic option if you're traveling as a family with kids or grandparents.
For schedules, Aremiti's official website lets you easily select dates and clearly shows the timetable. Since the departure times for the two ferry companies are quite different, you can just pick the one that best fits your itinerary!



Aremiti operates two types of vessels (as shown in the pictures above): the Aremiti Ferry 2, which is larger, and the Aremiti 6, which is the smaller one.
Boarding the Ferry
Since it was just the two of us adults, we decided to take the more affordable Terevau ferry. If you don't book online beforehand, don't worry—you can easily buy tickets on the spot on the day of your trip.


You can pay for your tickets with a credit card, and they even accept American Express! Just keep in mind that Amex requires a minimum transaction of 5,000 XPF, while commonly used cards like Visa and MasterCard only require a minimum of 500 XPF.

After buying your tickets, you'll see a mobile metal cage nearby where you can stow your luggage.

When we bought our tickets, we made sure to ask, and were told our boarding platform was Number 2. The ferry platforms are all located upstairs, and the signs are super helpful, even featuring a cute graphic reminding you to go up for the ferry!

To enter the platform, you first need to pass through the ticket gates.

Past the gates, there's a cozy little cafe waiting for you.

Lining up to board the ship~

The seats inside the cabin are actually quite comfortable, and there are plenty of life jackets safely stowed right above the seats.

If you didn't have time to grab a bite before departing, they also sell food on board. So convenient!

The most popular spot on any ferry is definitely the deck! This particular ferry doesn't have seats out there, but if you want to enjoy the ocean breeze and take in the stunning scenery along the way—and since the ride is only about half an hour—standing on the deck is a fantastic choice!

We even saw some passengers who just opted to sit directly on the deck!

Bye-bye, Tahiti! ~~~~~~

Setting off for Moorea!!!

A short 30-minute cruise, and we arrived in the blink of an eye!

The ferry terminal on Moorea~

Looking back at Tahiti from the dock—it is incredibly beautiful!

Don't forget to grab your luggage after disembarking! Taking the ferry from Tahiti to Moorea is truly simple and fast, getting you there in just 30 minutes. We hope our guide helps make your dream independent trip to Tahiti a breeze! Moorea boasts gorgeous lagoons, lush pineapple fields, and towering mountain peaks. Taking in the panoramic views of the bays and stunning lagoons from the viewpoints is an absolute must-do! For more Moorea attractions, check out our related reading: Explore Moorea by ATV: Don't Miss These Two Must-See Viewpoints, Moorea Must-Do: Jet Skiing, and renting a car to tour the island.

We have many more articles about Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Moorea, including must-visit attractions, overwater bungalow experiences, transport guides, and all-inclusive planning itineraries. Keep reading below! 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
Guides & Itineraries
Tahiti Independent Travel Guide | Weather, Visas, Transport, Exchange & Packing
Tahiti on a Budget | 9 Money-Saving Tips to Experience Tahiti for Less (Itinerary Included)
Tahiti | Our First Air Tahiti Flight ☆ Spectacular Aerial Views of Bora Bora's Lagoon & Transfer Info
Bora Bora
Tahiti Travel | Top 7 Must-Visit Attractions, Itineraries & Experiences in Bora Bora
Tahiti · Bora Bora | Airport Transport Guide ☆ Air Tahiti Free Shuttle Boat & Strolling Around Vaitape
Tahiti · Bora Bora | A Close Encounter with Sharks and Rays ☆ Highly Recommended Bora Bora Tour
Tahiti Overwater Bungalow | Dream Come True! Unboxing Our Bora Bora Overwater Villa ☆ Conrad Bora Bora Nui
Tahiti · Bora Bora | Conrad Resort Review | Discovering the Absolute Beauty of Bora Bora at Conrad Bora Bora Nui
Tahiti Travel | Views Just as Good as an Overwater Bungalow? | Horizon View Suite | Conrad Bora Bora Nui
Tahiti Travel | What Kind of Room Can You Get with Points?! Lagoon View Suite Review! | Conrad Bora Bora Nui
Tahiti · Bora Bora | Romantic Dinner under a Stunning Bora Bora Sunset | Bora Bora Yacht Club
Let's Go See Sea Turtles in Tahiti! Le Méridien Bora Bora
Moorea & Tahiti
Tahiti Travel | Top 11 Must-Visit Attractions and Must-Eat Foods in Moorea!
Tahiti · Moorea | Stunning Ocean Views + Private Pool Villa ☆ Our Hidden Gem Accommodation Pick in Moorea
Tahiti · Moorea | ATV Island Tour: Don't Miss These Two Must-See Viewpoints!
Tahiti Travel | 1 Tour, 5 Experiences | The Must-Do Jet Ski Tour in Moorea
Tahiti | Must-Eat Recommendation: Local Food Trucks ☆ Tahiti Food Truck
Other Travel Guides
★ Islands: Tahiti|Maldives|Fiji
★ Southeast Asia: Bali|Phu Quoc|Koh Samui
★ Middle East: Doha|Dubai|Abu Dhabi
★ Europe: Finland|UK
★ US: New York|San Francisco|Las Vegas