The Tahiti to Moorea Ferry: A Complete Guide

This guide will walk you through how to take the ferry from Tahiti to Moorea step-by-step. We’ll go over the Tahiti to Moorea ferry schedule (and vice versa) as well as the costs of taking the ferry to Moorea from Tahiti. Let’s dive in!

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Moorea, French Polynesia is an absolute paradise. Picture the brightest blue water, the most lush forests, and tall jagged peaks – this is Moorea.

I chose to spend the majority of my French Polynesia trip on the island of Moorea because of the stunning beauty. The wild jungle trails. And, the clearest blue sea.

There are so many fun things to do on Moorea, I highly recommend that you go! It is currently my favorite French Polynesian island.

But – I’m sure this isn’t a shock – French Polynesia is not known for being cheap. Island hopping here can be pretty pricey.

However, it is completely possible to travel to Moorea from Tahiti on a budget. In this post, you’ll learn everything you need to know about taking the ferry from Tahiti to Moorea. Let’s talk about your options, costs, schedules, and more below!

Is It Worth It to Go To Moorea?

Without hesitation, yes!

Moorea is the epitome of a tropical island vacation. Not only do you get breathtaking beaches, but you get rugged jungle, as well.

If you want to lounge on white sand beaches, you can. If you want to snorkel turquoise lagoons, you can. If you want to hike lush green trails, you can.

Moorea has everything from palm-fringed beaches to wild tropical forest. There is something for everyone in Moorea.

How Do You Get To Moorea From Tahiti?

To travel from Tahiti to Moorea, you have two main options. You can either fly or take a ferry from Tahiti to Moorea, and vice versa.

Since Moorea and Tahiti are only 10 nautical miles apart, it’s going to be a short trip regardless of your choice. But what really sets your two options apart if the difference in pricing.

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Option 1: Fly to Moorea from Tahiti

Air Tahiti offers two non-stop Tahiti to Moorea flights each and every day. The flight is a short 15 minutes and is probably one of the prettiest 15 minutes you would have in your life. But, you will pay a hefty price tag for those 15 minutes.

Round-trip flight costs from Tahiti to Moorea of course vary depending on the dates and season. You should expect them to cost anywhere from $100 up to (and over) $400 during the busy season.

Since you’ve already paid for flights from your home country to French Polynesia to begin with, this additional flight may add a significant cost to your trip budget. And, remember, you still need to arrive to the airport early and check bags if you didn’t travel carry-on only.

There is one airline that covers the route from Tahiti to Moorea (and back), and it’s called Air Tahiti. If you want to visit Bora Bora or any other French Polynesian island, you’ll also use this airline.

Pros of flying from Tahiti to Moorea:

1. a short 15 minute flight
2. the prettiest views around

Cons of flying from Tahiti to Moorea:

1. the cost
2. only two flight times per day
3. the time it takes to go through security, check bags, etc.

In my personal opinion, it is only worth flying if you are on one of the island-hopper packages.

Option 2: Take the ferry from Tahiti to Moorea

Taking the ferry from Tahiti to Moorea is the cheapest option by far, and it is incredibly easy to do so! In taking the ferry, you will not only save money, but you will also have significantly more departure options each and every day.

Below I will go into all of the details you need to know to take the Tahiti to Moorea ferry, but let me sum up why you might want to do so first.

Pros of taking the Tahiti to Moorea ferry:

1. a cheap transportation option
2. easy to navigate
3. a short 30-ish minute ride

Cons of taking the Tahiti to Moorea ferry:

1. in my opinion none, but I will mention that it’s not “luxury” in case that is important to you.

Let’s dive into all of the details you need to know in order to successfully take the ferry from Tahiti to Moorea.

A Tahiti to Moorea Ferry How-To Guide

How much does the Tahiti to Moorea ferry cost?

Tickets from Tahiti to Moorea on the ferry typically cost between $11 and $15 for a one-way trip. This may vary slightly depending on the current exchange rate. Check the exchange rate here.

How long is the Tahiti to Moorea ferry?

It will only take 30-45 minutes to travel to Moorea from Tahiti by ferry. So, in reality, it is even faster than flying because you don’t need to deal with all the airport rigmarole.

Some ferries transport passengers only and others transport vehicles, which can affect the travel time due to the weight. But, even 45 minutes seems like no problem to me.

Less than one hour to reach paradise? And for $11? Sign me up!

The two ferry options: Terevau and Aremiti

When you take the ferry from Tahiti to Moorea, you have two ferry operators to choose from; Terevau and Aremiti. Both sail this specific route at least five times per day, so you will definitely have options.

I took the Terevau Ferry from Tahiti to Moorea, and the Aremiti Ferry from Moorea to Tahiti. So, I had a taste of both operations. Both were perfectly fine, but there are a few details that might make you prefer one over the other. I’ll cover those below.

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Terevau Ferry

I used Terevau to travel my initial route from Tahiti to Moorea. Terevau does allow vehicles on some routes, and others are passenger-only.

I prefer Terevau over Aremiti just slightly, though I wouldn’t hesitate to use either again. Here are the reasons why:

• it is cheaper. Expect to pay a few dollars less. And in French Polynesia, it’s nice to save money anywhere you can!
• the website was offered in English, not just French. When I’m making a purchase and need to clearly understand the rules, I don’t want to rely on my half-baked French.
• this is anecdotal, but I had friendlier and more helpful staff with Terevau when I had luggage and boarding questions.

Aremiti Ferry

Aremiti also runs both passenger-only and vehicle-allowed ferry transports. Aremiti also offers a few more ferry runs per day usually offering between 7-12 routes per day.

I will admit, the extra ferry times are helpful if you need to get to Tahiti on a specific timetable.

My main beef with Aremiti is that the website was only available in French. I don’t know if this was just a glitch but it was a bit annoying to have to translate every line myself to make sure I understood the policies and ticket rules.

But, I wanted to try them both so that I could give a full comparison on the blog. You’re welcome!

Pro Tip: Regardless of which ferry you choose, plan to arrive about 15 minutes before departure. If you have a lot of luggage, perhaps 30 minutes is best.

Terevau Ferry Schedule

The Terevau Ferry runs at least five times per day from Tahiti to Moorea. On certain days and during certain seasons, that number increases to seven times per day.

Ferries depart beginning at either 6:40am or 7:15am depending on the day, and the latest departure I’ve seen was at 10pm.

See the current Teravau Ferry schedule here.

Terevau Ferry Ticket Price

Terevau currently charges 1240 XPF per one way ticket. At my time of purchase, this cost exactly $11.08 USD. This means you are saving roughly $90 off of even the cheapest Air Tahiti flight, and possible more like $390 from the upper end.

Take that in.

You do not need to choose your departure time at the time of purchase. Rather, your ticket is valid for a full six months after purchase, for any ferry time.

So, there are no reservations, per se. You just show up, get your ticket scanned, and walk onto the ferry. Easy.

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Aremiti Ferry Schedule

I took the Aremiti Ferry for my return trip from Moorea back to Tahiti. Aremeti runs between 7-12 times per day, so they do have a few more departure options then Terevau.

The Aremiti Ferry 2 can provide transport for cars and passengers, while the Aremiti Ferry 6 only transports passengers. Timings begin at either 5:40am or 7am depending on the day, and the latest departure I personally saw was 8:10pm.

See the current Aremiti Ferry schedule here.

Aremiti Ferry Price

The Aremiti Ferry costs slightly more than Terevau at 1770 XPF per one way. At the time of writing, this is exactly $15.79 USD.

With Aremiti, your tickets are valid for one full year after purchase. And, just like Terevau, you do not make specific timing reservations. You simply show up, scan your ticket, and get onto the ferry.

Terevau vs. Aremiti: Which Ferry Is Better?

First and foremost, I would recommend choosing the one that works best with your schedule. Neither were bad by any means. As I said, I personally had a better (and cheaper!) experience with Terevau.

But, I can share my personal pros and cons on the Aremiti and Terevau ferries.

The ferries I rode from both companies were clean and comfortable. There are no assigned seats for either company, and both offered seating inside and outside the cabin.

So, get those beautiful views if you want them. Or, sit inside in air conditioning if you prefer.

Where do you buy ferry tickets?

You can buy them both in advance online, or in person on the day of. For ease on the day of, I chose to purchase mine in advance so that I could simply walk right on.

After all, I was traveling French Polynesia solo, and had to manage my luggage and buses / taxis myself. So it just made life easier to have one thing ticked off my list in advance.

I purchased my tickets online and downloaded the ticket PDF to my phone.

If you choose to purchase tickets in person, I would recommend arriving about 30 minutes in advance to be safe.

How to get to the Tahiti and Moorea ferry terminals

I had a rental car in Moorea, but not on Tahiti. So, I reached the ferry terminal in different ways.

Tahiti to Moorea Ferry Transportation

Before departing Tahiti, I walked from my nearby hotel to the ferry terminal. If you want to do the same be sure to book a hotel within a reasonable walking distance.

When I arrived in Moorea, I walked to my scooter rental company from the arrival terminal. There is both a car rental and several scooter rental places right near the ferry docks, so that makes things convenient.

Moorea to Tahiti Ferry Transportation

After exploring Moorea to my hearts’ content, I took my rental car back near the dock, dropped it off, and walked to the ferry terminal once more. (Yes, I rented both a scooter and then later rented a car on Moorea just to test the difference.)

Pro Tip: Definitely book your car rental in advance if you go that route. It will cost significantly more if you decide to rent on the spot. Get the best prices here.

Upon arrival in Tahiti, I took taxi cab to my next hotel.

There is no Uber in French Polynesia yet. I typically use Uber or similar when I travel because I have a record of the transaction and can often pay by card. While taxis in Tahiti were not cheap, I found hat I always paid less than locals quoted me, so I can honestly say I never felt “ripped off.”

Location of the Pape’ete, Tahiti Ferry Terminal:

Location of the Moorea Ferry Terminal:

Can you take a day trip from Tahiti to Moorea by ferry?

Yes, you absolutely can! Locals cross between the islands on a day trip very frequently.

Leave as early as possible and go back as late as possible to make the most of it.

If one day is all you can spare, go for it. However, I highly recommend spending much more time on Moorea. It is such a great spot for anyone adventurous, or who likes the outdoors.

Check out my full guide to visiting Moorea.

Pro Tip: If you choose to take a day trip and want to see more for less (money that is, consider taking this 4×4 tour. I personally took it on one day of my visit, and it was awesome! It takes you to some spots that rental cars and rental scooters are note allowed to go. Book your 4×4 tour here!

FAQs on the Tahiti to Moorea Ferry

Are There Any Ferries To Bora Bora?

There are no ferries that run from Tahiti to Bora Bora. The only way to get there is by plane.

How often does the ferry run from Papeete to Moorea?

Combining both Terevau and Ameriti’s departures, there will be between 12 to 19 departures on any given day. This allows for lots of flexibility when planning your trip.

How many days is enough in Moorea?

You can get a taste of Moorea in one or three days, for sure. However, I recommend at least one full week in Moorea so that you can see much more! The island is small enough that you will feel accomplished by week’s end, but there are so many things to do that you will never be bored.

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Is it better to stay in Tahiti or Moorea?

It depends on your itinerary.

If you are island-hopping by plane, you may be better off staying in Tahiti. This is where most of the flights will depart.

However, if you want lush green hikes, waterfalls, and off the beaten path adventuring, then Moorea is the place to be!

For the full comparison, be sure to check out my Tahiti vs Moorea post.

Is Bora Bora more expensive than Moorea?

Yes, very much so. On Moorea, it is possible to find budget accommodations. And, locals live here so there are plenty of shops and grocery stores.

Bora Bora is more isolated, and therefore, more expensive. More expensive to reach and more expensive to get around.

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Can you take a rental car from Tahiti to Moorea?

Yes you can! Both Terevau and Ameriti Ferry allow vehicles to board some, but not all, of their ships. To save a it of cash, you can rent a car in Tahiti and take it to Moorea on a ferry. This is quite common.

If you do decide to take a vehicle from Tahiti to Moorea, be sure to rent the car in advance (I always get the best prices here.)

For the ferry, expect to pay between $45 – $100 USD depending on the size of the rental car.

Can you drive in Tahiti with US license?

Yes, tourists can drive in Tahiti and on Moorea with their US license. Be sure to bring it with you if you plan to rent a car or even a scooter.

Tahiti To Moorea Ferry Conclusion

I hope that this guide on taking the ferry from Tahiti to Moorea and back has helped you out! At first it might seem confusing, but it is actually quite easy and common to do so.

Whether you want to lounge on the island beaches or go hiking for epic mountainous views, Moorea has it all. You have got to check out this incredible island!

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