Moorea 🏝️🏝️ – Travel Buddies: Pete & Joan

Moorea, a small island jewel in the vast South Pacific, has been compared to James Michener‘s mythological island of Bali Hai. Craggy volcano peaks rise like a sharks jaw from the islands basaltic base. The lush mountain slopes are covered with rainforest of pineapple, plantations and white sand beaches border crystalline lagoons.

Moorea is surrounded by a stunning coral reef, which creates a protected lagoon filled with turquoise waters. The lagoon is home to diverse marine life, including colorful fish and coral gardens. I got this aerial pic from the web to get an idea of the heart-shape of the island with the surrounding coral reef. This has got to be one of the more beautiful places on earth!

This coral reef eco-system actually consists of 3,000 separate reefs formed when half of a monolithic volcano crumbled to the blue-green sea. The result of that crumble is breathtaking natural beauty, lush landscapes, turquoise lagoons, and one of the most iconic features….. its jagged mountain range.

We had two occasions to visit this exquisite heart-shaped island …or as some call it….paradise found! Since Moorea is a close neighbor to Tahiti (just 27 miles), we took an early morning ferry to meet a tour provided by Enjoy Moorea.

2/17/2024. Eight of us piled into this truck for a tour designed to introduce us to the best-hidden spots in Moorea! We visited a private beach, local waterfalls, magic mountain, and other attractions off the beaten path.

Moorea…the Pineapple center of French Polynesia.

Copra and vanilla were essential crops in the past, but today, pineapple growing is the most important. Our first stop was to view these lush mountain slopes covered with pineapple plantations. Polynesians apparently eat pineapple the way we eat chicken drumsticks! In addition to export, a factory on the island also turns this crop into fruit juices and liquors.

Pineapple cultivation in Moorea benefits from the island’s tropical climate and fertile soil.

Pineapples grown in Moorea are known for their sweetness and flavor,.

This is our guide, Pierre. telling us about how small-scale pineapple farms dot the landscape of Moorea, with farmers employing traditional cultivation methods to grow this tropical fruit.

With over six hundred acres of farmland and rich volcanic soil, Moorea produces most of the Queen Tahiti pineapples, And the fields have beautiful backdrops like this!

Belvedere Lookout

The Belvédère Lookout, situated high in the volcanic peaks of the island, is a breathtaking vantage point. We took scenic drive along Moorea’s very winding mountain roads, passing through dense forests and verdant hillsides. The Lookout offered panoramic views of Moorea’s stunning landscape, including lush green valleys, jagged mountain ridges, and the sapphire-blue waters of Cook’s Bay and Opunohu Bay.

We are looking at Magic Mountain, which will be our next stop. Unfortunately, the top is shrouded in clouds!

Magic Mountain

Magic Mountain is a popular hiking destination…but today we were driven to the top to take in the stunning panoramic views of the island’s lush landscape and surrounding turquoise waters.

From this vantage point, we could truly appreciate the natural splendor of Moorea, with its lush valleys, cascading waterfalls, and vibrant coral reefs. The beauty of the landscape is breathtaking, evoking a sense of wonder and awe. How lucky are we to see all of this already, and we have not even started our cruise yet!!

This is a “pass” through a coral reef….. a natural opening or gap in a coral reef system that allows water to pass between the open ocean and the lagoon or inner reef area. These passes are significant features in reef ecosystems because they facilitate the exchange of water, nutrients, and marine life between the relatively protected lagoon and the open ocean. Our boat captains often used these passes on various islands we visited. There is a definite change in the water’s color and clarity. The turquoise-blue hues of the shallower lagoon waters contrast with the deeper, darker shades of the ocean beyond the reef.

Moorea Tropical Garden

Tastes and smells were part of our next stop! This was a beautiful and well-maintained garden full of orchids, tropical plants and fruit trees.

The garden is known for its vanilla plantation, where we saw vanilla orchids growing. Our guide talked about the labor-intensive process of vanilla cultivation and harvesting, which requires careful attention to detail and specific environmental conditions.

Vanilla is propagated using cuttings from mature plants. Typically, these cuttings are 1 to 1.5 meters long and are planted in the soil. Vanilla is a climbing orchid that needs support, such as trees, stakes, or trellises, to grow vertically. The vines are trained to climb the support structures, and their growth is managed by pruning to encourage flowering. Each flower must be hand-pollinated.

The garden sells homemade jams, jellies, and honey made from local fruits and flowers. We did not buy any, but we were able to get a tasting!

In addition to experiencing Moorea’s botanical diversity,….we had stunning landscapes and insight into local agriculture and culture.

A Little R & R!

Our next stop was a private atoll….where we enjoyed walking the picturesque coast along Opunohu Bay.

All this touring makes one hungry! The main course was ceviche.…homemade on the spot!

Waterfall Hike

Our last activity for the day was a somewhat challenging hike to a waterfall. Unfortunately, the guide identified Joan as someone who should not take the hike! My first occasion of being called out for my age or (balance!)…so I stayed back while the others proceeded through some challenging terrain!

Afareaitu Waterfalls

Glass Bottom Boat Day!

2/20/2024

Our final Moorea activity immersed us in the marine world aboard the Honu Kea, a glass-bottomed boat in the Moorea Lagoon. Moorea’s stunning coral reef creates a protected turquoise lagoon home to diverse marine life, including colorful fish and coral gardens.

We started at the Turtle Sanctuary of Moorea, where we swam among the large sea turtles (while hanging on to a rope behind the boat because of the swift current!). More than fifteen turtles are in this sanctuary, along with leopard rays, stingrays, and reef sharks.

Swimming with the Sting Rays! Wow, this was an awesome experience! Unfortunately, we have no pictures of ourselves surrounded by a dozen sting rays competing for attention! But here is our guide who was leading the way!

We followed him out there, hesitant at first, but then we felt the soft skin of the rays as they snuggled up to us. Interacting so closely with these graceful creatures in their natural habitat is an exhilarating experience. Who knew they would be so friendly and curious!!

On our way to our next stop, we viewed many of the “bungalows” that are so common in the South Pacific.

Next up was a visit to a private family motu (a motu is a smaller type of island or islet that is typically part of a larger atoll.) Turquoise lagoons, white sand beaches, lush, landscapes…..just what we imagined these islands would be!, We waded in the limpid, warm water of the vibrant lagoon, full of fish who were happy to nibble on our toes for their dinner!

On this small desert island paradise, we were served a delicious Tahitian lunch of fresh fish skewers, barbecued chicken, and an assortment of fresh sides. And, of course, Moorea’s local rum and pineapple juice

After lunch, we walked among the hibiscus flowers, crystal clear lagoons, and palm-fringed beaches.

One among us chose the bench for part of the time!!

This was our last day in Moorea….it leaves an indelible mark on one’s soul… awe, gratitude, and a yearning to preserve and cherish the natural and cultural treasures of this tropical paradise.

2/2024