The lagoon, stop by stop
The Moorea lagoon is the shallow water held in by the reef around the island: sand bars, coral gardens and the small islets called motu. Twelve tours on this site work these waters, from a kayak to a whale-season boat. This guide shows which part each one reaches and what the price covers, from $83 per person.
Quick answer
The short answer. To see the most of the Moorea lagoon in one day, take the $113 lagoon and reef boat from Tiahura: a shallow stop for rays and sharks, a turtle stop, and a run outside the reef, with 171 reviews at 4.9. For the two bays, the $129 canoe day. If you would rather not swim, the $160 glass-bottom boat. From August to November, our top pick is the $247 whale boat.
Inside the reef
Most tours stay in the shallows. A few go to the reef edge and past it.
The lagoon is the water inside the coral reef. Within it, the listings describe shallow sand, coral gardens and motu, the small islets where several tours stop for lunch or a rest. Outside the reef is open water, and two listings say so plainly: one heads «outside the coral reef», another to an «outer reef drop-off» in «open water».
Most tours stay in the shallows. The few that add the reef edge suit confident swimmers: the small-group listing says its tour «involves swimming in open water».
The mountains are part of the trip too. The floating lounge listing invites you to «admire Moorea's majestic mountains from the lagoon», and that is the Moorea volcanic peaks lagoon view: the island seen from water level. No listing promises the weather; the private boat warns that «weather conditions may affect the itinerary». So pick the part of the Moorea lagoon you want to reach, not a view on a given day.
Where the boats stop
These stops come up again and again in the listings. Here is what each one is, in the operators' own words.
In searches it is the Moorea stingray lagoon; in the listings it is «a spot for rays and sharks where the water is shallow». Seven tours name a separate stop where stingrays and blacktip reef sharks gather; the $83 cruise says they are «often seen».
Named by the canoe day, the floating lounge, the cooking cruise, the private boat and the kayak, which snorkels «in the middle of a coral garden between the motus». On the floating lounge you explore it «at your own pace».
The glass-bottom boat serves lunch on the family's «private Motu», the canoe day has a barbecue on a motu, the cooking cruise holds its poisson cru class on one, and the south-west tour stops on «a picturesque white sandbank».
The glass-bottom boat starts in a «turtle sanctuary» with «about 20 of them»; the lagoon and reef boat returns «to the lagoon to dive with sea turtles». From the kayak, you «observe sea turtles passing under your glass-bottomed kayak». Wildlife is never promised.
The lagoon and reef boat heads outside the reef for «blacktip reef sharks or lemon sharks»; the small-group boat spends 20 minutes at the outer reef drop-off. One listing adds that «a deep-sea trip may be included».
The canoe day sets out to «Discover Cook Bay and Opunohu Bay», so you see the Moorea Cook's Bay lagoon and the Moorea Opunohu Bay lagoon in one day. The $83 cooking cruise heads to «Cook's Bay or Opunohu Bay», one bay or the other.
From the water
If the Moorea tropical beach lagoon you have in mind is palm trees over shallow water, on these tours that is a motu stop.
Coconut palms and green scrub over a narrow sand beach, with shallow green water in front.
A weathered wooden picnic table stands in shallow water, its benches half under the surface.
From the bow of a small boat, dark coral patches show through turquoise water below a green ridge.
Getting on the water
Three starts in Tiahura, four pickups, and one ferry pickup.
Three tours start on the Tiahura Moorea lagoon shore: the $113 lagoon and reef boat from a restaurant dock on the beach, the $141 small-group boat from a restaurant car park, and the $90 kayak from Tiahura Public Beach. The private boat leaves from the public boat dock of Papetoai, and the whale boat from the tourist office in Paopao.
Four tours include pickup: the canoe day, the helmet walk, the south-west tour and the $83 cooking cruise, which offers «pickup from your hotel or the ferry». The sea scooter tour has pickup as an option. The rest meet you at a fixed point, and two ask you to come early: 30 minutes for the floating lounge, 10 for the small-group boat.
The ferry from Tahiti is not part of any tour price. If you come over for the day, the $83 cruise is the one listing that names the ferry for pickup.
Every tour, current fare
All twelve, by price. Prices are per person; what the price covers is taken from each listing.
| Tour | Price | Price is for | Length | What the price covers | Where it starts | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lagoon cruise with cooking class | $83 | per person | 3 - 6 hours | One bay, coral gardens, poisson cru class on a motu, fruit and drinks | Pickup from hotel or ferry | 4.8 · 21 |
| Glass-bottomed kayak | $90 | per person | 3 hours | Coral garden snorkel, fruit juice; bring your own mask and snorkel | Tiahura Public Beach | 4.9 · 77 |
| Helmet walk | $99 | per person | 2.5 hours | About 30 minutes underwater at 12 feet; from 6 years old | Pickup included | 4.9 · 78 |
| Lagoon and reef boat | $113 | per person | 4 - 6 hours | Ray and shark stop, turtles, outside the reef; drink and snack | Restaurant dock, Tiahura | 4.9 · 171 |
| Floating lounge | $113 | per person | 3 hours | Snorkel gear, ray and shark stop, coral garden, fruit and drinks | Operator's gate, 30 minutes early | 4.9 · 56 |
| Canoe day | $129 | per person | 6 hours | Canoe for up to 12, both bays, coral garden, barbecue lunch on a motu | Pickup included | 4.8 · 82 |
| Small-group boat | $141 | per person | 4 - 6 hours | Up to 6, sandbar, outer reef, turtles; cocktail and fruit | Restaurant car park, Tiahura | 5.0 · 23 |
| South-west lagoon tour | $148 | per person | 4 hours | Up to 9, white sandbank, refreshments | Pickup included | 4.8 · 54 |
| Sea scooter tour | $159 | per person | 3.5 hours | Sea scooter and snorkeling equipment, up to 7; food not included | Resort marine centre, pickup as an option | 4.9 · 101 |
| Glass-bottom boat | $160 | per person | 5.5 hours | Turtle sanctuary, tiki statues, sand bar, lunch on a private motu | Roadside, by the orange flag | 4.9 · 87 |
| Whale boat, our top pick | $247 | per person | 3.5 hours | Up to 6; whale swims August to November; lagoon stops if time allows | Tourist office, Paopao | 4.6 · 142 |
| Private boat | $336 | per person | 3 hours | Ray and shark sandbank, coral garden, fruit, underwater photos | Public boat dock, Papetoai | 5.0 · 1 |
Whale season
One tour on this site swims with humpback whales: our top pick, «during the season (August to November)». The listing does not say what the tour offers in other months.
A Moorea lagoon August booking falls in the first month of that season. Emma from the United Kingdom, 31 August 2025: «We saw whales pretty much right away and had plenty of time in the water with them.»
A Moorea lagoon September day sits mid-season by the listing's dates. Emma from Italy, 11 September 2025: «…two beautiful moments first with whales and then in the lagoon with sharks and rays.»
Moorea lagoon October dates are still in the season, which the listing ends in November. Antje from the Netherlands, 12 October 2025: «I was not expecting to get so close to the whales.»
The last month the listing names for the season. Isabel from Guernsey, 24 November 2025: «Despite not seeing any whales (end of the season), we saw lots of dolphins…»
Our verdict
For the most of the Moorea lagoon in one day, book the $113 lagoon and reef boat from Tiahura: the shallow ray stop, turtles, the reef edge, a drink and snack, and 171 reviews at 4.9, the most on this site. From August to November, our top pick is the $247 whale boat, with the lagoon added if time allows. On the lowest fare, the $83 cooking cruise with pickup. If you would rather stay dry, the $160 glass-bottom boat.
Book direct
Our top pick for whale season, the lagoon and reef boat with the most reviews, the glass-bottom boat and the lowest fare. All four are priced per person.
★ 4.6 · 142 reviews
★ 4.9 · 171 reviews
★ 4.9 · 87 reviews
★ 4.8 · 21 reviews
Before you book
A few minutes on the listing saves surprises at the dock.
Two listings ask that you be «comfortable in water». If you are not, the glass-bottom boat is «friendly for all swimming level».
The kayak asks you to bring «mask, snorkel and water shoes». The floating lounge lists mask, snorkel, fins and life jacket; the sea scooter tour lists snorkeling equipment.
Lunch is in the price on the glass-bottom boat and the canoe day, and an option on the lagoon and reef boat and the small-group boat. The sea scooter tour does not include food.
All twelve offer free cancellation. Check the deadline on the booking page before you pay.
Common questions
Three start in Tiahura: the lagoon and reef boat, the small-group boat and the kayak. The private boat leaves Papetoai, and the whale boat Paopao. Four tours include pickup, and the sea scooter tour offers it as an option.
Seven name a separate shallow stop: the lagoon and reef boat, the glass-bottom boat, the canoe day, the floating lounge, the small-group boat, the $83 cooking cruise («often seen») and the private boat.
The listings say only «shallow» and give no figure. Jaise from the United States, on the canoe day, wrote: «The water at the sand bar is about 4.5 feet.»
The whale boat, our top pick at $247, gives it as «during the season (August to November)». It is the only tour here that swims with humpback whales, and its listing does not say what the tour offers in the other months.
Yes, on the $160 glass-bottom boat: the listing calls it «friendly for all swimming level», and those who stay aboard watch through the glass panels. The $99 helmet walk needs no experience, from 6 years old, but you must be comfortable in the water.
The ferry is not part of any tour price, and ferry times are not in the listings. The $83 cooking cruise offers «pickup from your hotel or the ferry». Reviewers on four other tours mention the ferry, but those listings do not promise it.
Go deeper
The stop with stingrays and blacktip reef sharks, and which tours include it.
Coral gardenThe coral garden stop: what lives there and how long tours stay.
Whale seasonSwimming with humpback whales in the season, August to November, and what the listing says.
Mountains from the waterThe peaks and bays you see from the boat, and which tours go past them.
Getting thereReaching Moorea from Tahiti, and where the tours start on the island.
Moorea Shared Boat Tour Whale Swimming and Snorkeling
★ 4.6 · 142 reviews · 3.5 hours