Moorea lagoon family guide: ages, boats and time in the water

Only the helmet walk gives an age: children join from 6 years old, and its listing calls it a perfect experience to share with your family. The kayak tour says it allows children to observe animals and may ask for proof of age, but names no minimum. The scenic cruise calls itself perfect for families and adventurers alike.

The other nine say nothing about age, so on a Moorea lagoon family trip ask the operator before you pay. Parents in the reviews took children along. Allyson from the United States on the sea scooter tour: «My kids age 10 eight and five and my husband really enjoyed being able to snorkel in the stronger current using the sea scooters.» Jacqueline from the United States on the kayak: «This is also a great activity to do with kids. My 7 year old had a blast!»

On a Moorea lagoon snorkeling family trip, swimming level changes the choice more than age. The glass-bottom boat is the one listing written for mixed groups: it is friendly for all swimming levels, and whoever stays aboard watches through the glass panels. Sandi from New Zealand: «Our whole family including 2 non snorklers thought the day and our guides fantastically marvelous».

The helmet walk needs no scuba or snorkeling experience, only being comfortable on and in the water. The sea scooter tour suits beginners to experienced snorkelers. The small-group and private boats ask that guests be comfortable in water. Several stops are called shallow: the rays and sharks stop on the lagoon and reef boat, the first stop of the floating lounge, the sandbank of the private boat. No listing gives those depths in feet.

With small children, hours matter. The helmet walk is the shortest at 2.5 hours, with about 30 minutes underwater after a 10-minute boat ride. The kayak, floating lounge and private boat run 3 hours; the whale swim and sea scooter tour 3.5. The glass-bottom boat runs 5.5 hours and the canoe day 6. The lagoon and reef boat and the small-group boat run 4 to 6 hours, and the cooking cruise 3 to 6, without saying what decides it.

Lunch is in the price on two tours. If the Moorea family beach lagoon day you picture is palms, sand and a long meal on a motu, the glass-bottom boat serves raw fish salad with coconut milk, chicken kebabs, grilled fish and fruit on a family’s motu; the canoe day has a barbecue lunch on a motu. The lagoon and reef boat offers lunch on an islet as an option, and the small-group boat with its premium option. The cooking cruise teaches poisson cru on a motu, with braiding demonstrations and how to tie a pareo.

Four tours include pickup: the helmet walk (from the pier or your hotel), the canoe day, the scenic cruise and the cooking cruise, which collects from your hotel or the ferry. The sea scooter tour offers it as an option. The other seven meet at a set point: Tiahura for the lagoon and reef boat, the small-group boat and the kayak; Paopao for the whale swim; Papetoai for the private boat; a roadside flag for the glass-bottom boat. No tour includes the ferry from Tahiti.

With children of 6 and up, book the helmet walk at $99: the only listing with a stated age, 2.5 hours, pickup included, rated 4.9 by 78 reviewers. For mixed swimmers and a full day, the $160 glass-bottom boat with lunch on a motu. For pickup and a shorter boat day, the $148 scenic cruise. For kids who like to paddle, the $90 kayak, with your own masks. On a budget, the $83 cooking cruise.

A Moorea lagoon family vacation rarely needs more than one or two of these days. Start with the age your youngest can manage and how happy everyone is in the water; then pick by hours and lunch.