Beach resorts with easy access to prime sites
To call Moorea’s sparking turquoise water inviting would be an understatement. The island is surrounded by coral fringed lagoons filled with colorful tropical fish and vibrant reefs. Some of the best snorkeling sites can be found right off hotel beaches and among the pilings of overwater bungalows. Here are three top picks for travelers who want to enjoy top notch snorkeling at a first class resort.
InterContinental Moorea Resort & Spa
Set between two bays and sprawling across more than 40 waterfront acres on Moorea’s north coast, the InterContinental offers a variety of snorkeling experiences. There is a fully-enclosed lagoon where youngsters and beginners can build confidence, a network of small, interconnected islands surrounded by shallow coral heads, and a beach that opens to an expansive reef and a tidal channel. Guests can enter and exit the water at numerous points, and spend hours skirting the shore or venturing across the channel to a large area of coral heads that extend to a barrier reef. The resort is also home to a dolphin research and rehabilitation program and a turtle rescue center, and offers daily boat trips to a small, uninhabited island surrounded by reefs. Serious snorkelers can also book excursions for stingray and shark encounters with Top Dive Sports, which has an on-site facility.
Bungalows at the InterContinental Moorea Resort & Spa sit on the shores of a collection of small islands. Snorkelers can spend hours exploring the shores and lagoons. Photo: InterContinental
Bungalow-style accommodations line the shores of the InterContinental’s island cluster, and are nestled into the garden-like grounds, which hold more that 200 species of tropical plants and trees. The resort is more family- friendly than many other properties in Moorea, and some bungalow classes provide separate living areas with additional bedding to accommodate young guests. Three on-site restaurants offer fine dining, casual options or buffet convenience, and the staff can coordinate a number of unique private dining experiences. Also on the grounds is the award-winning Hélène Spa, which was the first full-service spa in French Polynesia.
At the InterContinental, a dolphin research facility provides guests with an opportunity to observe and interact with marine mammals in a natural setting. Photo: InterContinental
Hilton Moorea Lagoon
Many consider the waters surrounding the Hilton to have the best snorkeling reefs in Moorea. The property sits on a point of land between the clear waters of Opunohu and Cook Bays, and corals begin just a few yards from shore, and extend into the shallows underneath the pilings of the resort’s extensive collection of overwater bungalows. Snorkeling is best when waters are relatively shallow, and the Hilton provides acres of sea bottom that is four to five feet deep, and home to more than two dozen species of coral and hundreds of varieties of tropical fish. More adventurous snorkelers can roam farther afield to arrive at a barrier reef on the edge of blue water, or follow the edge of a deeper tidal channel for a chance to see eagle rays and small blacktip reef sharks.
Scattered coral heads cover the shallows at the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort, where guests can begin snorkel trips from shore or the deck of an overwater bungalow. Photo: Hilton
With just over 100 rooms, the Hilton is relatively small in comparison to other properties in Moorea, but it offers all the amenities one would expect from a top-rated beach resort. Guest amenities include a fitness center, infinity pool, tennis courts and a range of complimentary water activities. The resort’s two restaurants serve traditional Polynesian and international cuisine, and the Toatea Lounge is the only overwater bar in Tahiti. Rooms are divided between overwater bungalows, beachfront bungalows, and garden bungalows, and most have most with private pools. All units come with plush beds, minibars, sleek bathrooms with stand-alone tubs and separate showers, and furnished outdoor spaces.
Reef fish gather among the corals at the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort. This area benefits from the tidal flows that nurture corals and support a variety of marine life. Photo: Hilton
Sofitel Ia Ora Beach Resort
Guests who stay in Ia Ora’s overwater bungalows can catch a preview of snorkeling activity by simply looking through the glass viewing windows set into bedroom floors. Entering the liquid realm is equally easy, as steps lead from private decks right into the water. But excellent snorkeling opportunities aren’t confined to the premium overwater accommodations. A large patch of coral begins right in front of the main beach, allowing guests who stay ashore in the garden bungalows to begin their in-water explorations without having to make a long swim. The barrier reef that flanks the shoreline creates calm conditions for snorkelers, and the lagoon holds an abundance of tropical fish.
The Sofitel Ia Ora Beach Resort sits at the sheltered upper end of a sheltering lagoon. Corals grow close to the beach, and extend outward to a barrier reef. Photo: Sofitel
Ia Ora sits on one of Moorea’s best beaches. The setting is private and quiet, but also convenient to the airport, and to off-property shopping and dining. The resort itself boasts two premier restaurants and an award-winning spa that specializes in traditional Polynesian treatments. The hotel grounds are nicely landscaped, and deliver an ambiance that is a blend of French elegance, Polynesian hospitality and tropical island relaxation. Rooms are finished in a sleek, contemporary décor that showcases rich natural materials and ushers in an abundance of ambient light. Beach time and water sports are the primary focus, and guests can enjoy a range of activities that include paddle sports, sailing, fishing and cruises to small, uninhabited islands within the lagoon.
A snorkeler explores coral formations that begin just off the shores of Sofitel Ia Ora. The resort’s lagoon offers calm conditions and clear water. Photo: Sofitel
