Although just 10 miles from its big sister Tahiti, life on Mo’orea moves a little slower. Start the day with a café et croissant (this is a French territory, after all), then follow the coast past white churches and fruit stalls. Escape the midday sun by wandering though ancient marae tucked beneath the peaks, or climb to Belvedere Lookout for sweeping views of Cook’s Bay and Opunohu Bay, twin inlets named for the explorer who visited in 1777. Naturally, as a designated Ramsar Wetland, the lagoon takes center stage. Glass-clear shallows and deep cut bays teem with underwater life, and snorkeling here is some of the best on the planet. The fusion of French, Chinese, and Polynesian cultures in the region is especially evident in the cuisine of Mo’orea, and no visit to the island is complete without trying a Chow Mein Sandwich.
Although just 10 miles from its big sister Tahiti, life on Mo’orea moves a little slower. Start the day with a café et croissant (this is a French territory, after all), then follow the coast past white churches and fruit stalls. Escape the midday sun by wandering though ancient marae tucked beneath the peaks, or climb to Belvedere Lookout for sweeping views of Cook’s Bay and Opunohu Bay, twin inlets named for the explorer who visited in 1777. Naturally, as a designated Ramsar Wetland, the lagoon takes center stage. Glass-clear shallows and deep cut bays teem with underwater life, and snorkeling here is some of the best on the planet. The fusion of French, Chinese, and Polynesian cultures in the region is especially evident in the cuisine of Mo’orea, and no visit to the island is complete without trying a Chow Mein Sandwich.