Whale watching tour in Moorea

We are a passionate team and organize humpback whale watching tours in Moorea.

Prices from €84

Whale diving next to the catamaran from Moorea Eco Tour

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Humpback whale tour with Moorea Eco Tour

Daily excursions

Half-day excursions

Departure and return

Tiahura Public Beach

Small groups, max. 6 swimmers and 6 observers

Duration: 4 hours – Half-day

Whale watching tour summary

From mid-July to mid-November, we run two expeditions per day, with departure times at 7:30 AM or 12:30 PM. Return is scheduled around 11:30 AM or 4:30 PM, depending on the tour.

We accept a maximum of 6 swimmers and 6 observers on board. We head out to sea in search of humpback whales. Occasionally, other species may join: other cetaceans such as Stenella dolphins, pilot whales, and, more rarely, oceanic whitetip sharks, as well as little tunas, swordfish, and marlins.

The likelihood of seeing humpback whales with Cata Manu is very high but not guaranteed, as it depends on weather conditions.

Depending on the whales’ behavior, the group of swimmers may spend 10 to 90 minutes in the water, whether calm or choppy, either just beyond the reef barrier or out in the open ocean. You will need to swim (with fins) in the open sea, stay close to your guide, and cover at least 85 meters.

If you do not meet the required level or if the physical effort feels too intense, challenging, or overwhelming, you may put yourself at risk and negatively impact the group. In that case, we may recommend either returning to the boat or staying on board. From there, you can still observe surface behaviors that swimmers may not see.

Whale watching tour rates

Maximum 6 spots
From 12 years old
Strong swimming skills required

Maximum 6 observers on board

From 1 to 12 passengers, with no age limit.
Customizable experience.
We can shorten the ocean portion of the tour and return to the lagoon whenever you wish. You may choose to visit (or skip) the rays, sharks, and turtles.
Everyone will have a chance to get in the water in turns, respecting the limit of 6 swimmers at a time.

High Season for Whale Watching (Mid-July to Mid-November)

Private tour:

We retain a 20% deposit if cancellation or date change is made after 30 days before the tour.
100% of the amount is retained if cancellation occurs within 14 days before the tour.

Shared tour:

We retain 25% of the payment if cancellation or date change occurs between 14 and 2 days before the tour.
100% of the payment is retained if cancellation or date change is made within 48 hours before the tour.

Low Season (November to July)

Private tour:

We retain 25% of the payment if cancellation is made between 14 and 2 days before the tour.
100% of the payment is retained if cancellation occurs within 48 hours before the tour.

Shared tour:

We retain 25% of the payment if cancellation occurs between 7 days and 1 day before the tour.
100% of the payment is retained if cancellation is made within 24 hours before the tour.

Tour information

Tour description

We depart from Tiahura Public Beach, PK 27, next to Hotel Hibiscus. Google Maps location: Plage Publique de Tiahura.

The gate is open from 7:25 AM to 5:30 PM. Free parking is available and monitored by a security guard. A path will lead you to the beach, passing by public restrooms and showers, ending at a railing and a staircase.

You can wait for the boat at the top of the stairs, in the shade, there are benches and a table available. The boat will dock on the right side, in the lagoon, between the small stone jetty and the last staircase near the locked gate. You’ll board via the ladder, and we’ll head through the pass to exit the lagoon and reach the open ocean.

Once whales are spotted, the boat must maintain a distance of 100 meters from them. Observers can take out their binoculars. At the guide’s signal, only experienced swimmers with fins may quietly slip into the water and approach up to 15 meters. Then, we wait, resisting the urge to follow the whales. They will decide whether to come closer, and they usually do.

On the way back, if time allows, we may stop at the sandbank to see stingrays and blacktip reef sharks. This stop is possible, but not guaranteed, our priority is the encounter with whales and other cetaceans.

At the end of the tour, we will return you to the starting point.

This tour is recommended by a leading travel blog as the must-do of the season: Whale watching in Moorea.

Moorea Eco Tour

At Moorea Eco Tour, we are passionate about creating sustainable and unforgettable marine experiences.

Prices from €84

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More than 90 five star reviews

Best Whale Experience Ever. - When I tell you I swam with whales--- I am not exaggerating when I say that the baby humpback that was investigating us was less than ten feet away. The water clarity was spectacular, and the event was life changing, to say the least. Maire was one of the first to take folks out to slip into the water with the whales. He knows whale behavior and can see the resting whales hundreds of feet down in the water. I would recommend this tour to anyone interested in spending time with the whales, whether in the water or on the boat, observing them from above. This is a local, family-run business. They are professional and very good at keeping everyone safe.

DeniseOlenak
October 13, 2024
Bucket list trip fulfilled - Wonderful experience. Knowledgeable and skilled operators who care about the whales, ocean and environment. Facilitated breathtaking, memorable experiences with the whales and other ocean life. Comfortable boat and friendly family.

skbmjh
October 11, 2024
We'll book again - We went with Maire on four tours in September.

All four tours were very different regarding to communication and the whale experiences.

Regarding communication we were missing a bit at the first tour. How to act in the water and how the tour was going to be.
This was not the case on the other tours and we did learn to just ask if we were en doubt of anything. Or to let them know if we needed anything.

Regarding the whales they managed to find the whales all four days, which was excellent.
This company know the whales and they know when to keep extra distance in order to not disturb mom and calf. They don't bother the whales if there too many other companies in the water. Just being respectful.

All in all we had really good times and we'll book again for sure.
Maire was very friendly and helped us out even after our tours were finished. We really appreciate that.

Our advice to people going on the whale tour:
- Bring your own mask and fins. When you have gear they fits you 100% you'll have a better experience. They do have stuff to borrow but it might not fit you.
- Let them know if you are in doubt of anything.
- Be quick to get into the water and be close to the guide the guide.

winniea933
October 7, 2024

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Choose the date that suits you best, and we’ll take care of the rest. Maire is looking forward to showing you Moorea and providing you with an exceptional experience.

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