How much does it cost to swim with whales in Moorea?
Moorea whale swim prices from $179 to $393 per person, private boats per group with the per-head math, Tahiti prices, the ferry, and what changes the price.
A shared half-day tour with the chance to swim with whales in Moorea costs from $179 to $393 per person on this site, and seven of the twelve swim-capable shared tours fall between $225 and $312. The lowest prices belong to Enjoy Boat Tours at $179, Native Mozcean at $180 and the Moorea Activities Center half day at $182 (4.6 from 211 reviews). A watch-only boat starts at $144. A private boat costs $1,269 or more for a group of up to six.
Every price here is a “from” figure in US dollars as Viator or GetYourGuide quoted it in September 2026. The live price is on the booking page, and no price buys a guaranteed swim.
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Moorea Half-Day Whale Tour (Moorea Activities Center)
- 4.6/5 (211 reviews)
- 4 hours
- Free cancellation
- Operated by Moorea Activities Center
Includes Four-hour boat trip beyond the reef with a captain and guide · Guided swim entries when conditions allow · Loan of …
You'll choose your date and complete the booking on Viator. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
The Moorea whale tour price ladder
| Level | Tour | From | Basis | What stands out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watch only | Moorea Expedition, no swimming | $144 | per person | No water entry; 3.8 from 21 reviews |
| Entry swim | Enjoy Boat Tours, watch or swim | $179 | per person | Most-reviewed, 4.9 from 327; lagoon snorkel after |
| Entry swim | Native Mozcean, watch or swim | $180 | per person | Leaves from Vaiare |
| Entry swim | Moorea Activities Center | $182 | per person | Hydrophone; drinks; children from 5 |
| Mid-range | Tama Tours half day | $225 | per person | Certified guide |
| Mid-range | Lagoon Vibes | $231 | per person | Tea and coffee; swimmers 15+ |
| Mid-range | Ariki Tours swim and snorkel | $250 | per person | 6 per group |
| Mid-range | Moorea Sea Experience | $254 | per person | 6 guests; snacks and drinks, alcohol included |
| Mid-range | Mori Ora | $260 | per person | 6 people; snacks |
| Mid-range | Moorea Expedition swim | $289 | per person | Swim-focused, since 1984 |
| Premium | Temoana Tours | $312 | per person | Pickup available |
| Premium | Pacifik Attitude | $347 | per person | Transport, breakfast and lunch; 3 hours |
| Premium | Moorea Moana Tours | $393 | per person | Wetsuit, hotel pickup, biologist on board |
| Private | Aimeho private boat | $1,269 | per group, up to 6 | About $212 a head for six |
| Private | Tama Tours private | $1,559 | per group, up to 6 | About $260 a head for six |
All of these run about four hours except Pacifik Attitude, which runs three.
What changes the price
Inclusions make the biggest difference at the top. The $393 Moorea Moana trip includes a wetsuit, hotel pickup, snacks, drinks and a biologist who decides when to enter the water, and the $347 Pacifik Attitude trip includes transport, breakfast and lunch. At the entry level you get the boat, the guide, snorkel gear and water or drinks. Enjoy Boat Tours, for example, does not include a wetsuit, though its swim option comes with a snorkeling life jacket.
Group size matters too. The six-guest boats (Moorea Sea Experience, Mori Ora and Ariki Tours) sit in the $250 to $260 band. For that you get a boat where everyone can swim at once, since the rules allow seven people in the water per boat, guide included. On larger boats swimmers may take turns.
Swimming itself changes the price only a little. The one watch-only boat is $144, only $35 less than the cheapest trip with a swim option. If you are not swimming, an observer place on a watch-or-swim boat such as Enjoy Boat Tours is often the better buy, because its reviews are much stronger.
Other Experiences
Other experiences you might enjoy
More Moorea whale and lagoon tours, each with its own page and booking link.
The same tour can cost more on one platform
Several operators sell the same trip on both Viator and GetYourGuide, at different prices:
- Native Mozcean: $180 on GetYourGuide against $289 on Viator.
- Tama Tours half day: $225 on Viator against $284 on GetYourGuide.
- Moorea Expedition swim: $289 on Viator against $284 on GetYourGuide.
- Wild Explorer Tahiti: $226 on Viator against $222 on GetYourGuide.
Check both before you pay. Our tour pages show both where a twin exists.
Private boats: the per-head math
Divide the price by your group before deciding. The Aimeho private trip at $1,269 for up to six works out at about $212 a head for six, less than most shared small-group boats. For four it is about $317 each, and for a couple about $635 each. The Tama Tours private encounter at $1,559 is about $260 a head for six and about $390 for four. Tama Tours also sells a GetYourGuide version at $1,701 for up to four, about $425 a head.
So a private boat makes sense for a family or group of five or six, who pay about the same as a shared small-group boat and get to set the pace. For a couple, a six-guest shared boat such as Moorea Sea Experience at $254 each costs far less. Compare the options on our private whale watching in Moorea page, or read our breakdowns of Aimeho and Tama Tours private.
What it costs on Tahiti
Tahiti boats cost about the same or less, and you skip the ferry if you are staying there:
- Tahiti Ocean Explorer, from Marina Taina: $121 per person, 4.8 from 42 reviews, with an in-water option. It is the lowest-priced whale tour on this site.
- Tahiti by Boat: $219 per person, 4.0 from 89 reviews, with hotel pickup for groups of four or more.
- Wild Explorer Tahiti, from central Papeete: $226 per person, 4.8 from 93 reviews, six guests at most, wetsuits included.
If you are staying on Tahiti and want a Moorea boat, add the ferry. A Vaeara’i ferry ticket on Viator starts at $18 per person, plus a taxi or transfer on the Moorea side unless your tour picks you up. The Tahiti or Moorea guide covers the crossing.
Costs the price does not cover
- Wetsuit: included on some trips (Moorea Moana, Wild Explorer Tahiti), excluded on others (Enjoy Boat Tours). Operators require a life jacket for swimmers who do not wear one.
- Towels and sunscreen: excluded on most listings, so bring your own.
- Transport: several Moorea trips are meet-at-the-dock. Moorea Moana, Pacifik Attitude and some others include pickup.
- Tips: gratuities are excluded where listed, and tipping is not expected in French Polynesia, though good service is appreciated.
- Currency: the platforms charge in US dollars. On the island, prices are in CFP francs (XPF), which are pegged to the euro.
A lower price does not mean a lower chance of whales. Every boat works the same waters under the same rules, from July 20 to November 20. The best time to see whales matters more to your odds than the price you pay.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to swim with whales in Moorea?
From $179 to $393 per person for a shared half-day tour with the chance to swim, as quoted on Viator and GetYourGuide in September 2026. Most trips cost $225 to $312. Private boats start at $1,269 for a group of up to six, about $212 a head if six share it.
How much does it cost to swim with whales in Tahiti?
The three Tahiti whale tours on this site start at $121, $219 and $226 per person. The $121 Tahiti Ocean Explorer trip from Marina Taina has an in-water option, and Wild Explorer Tahiti from Papeete includes wetsuits and takes six guests at most.
How much does it cost to swim with whales?
In French Polynesia, a shared half-day whale tour costs from $121 per person on Tahiti and from $179 on Moorea, as listed on this site. Premium trips with meals, pickup or wetsuits reach $393, and private boats cost from $1,269 per group.
Is a private whale swim in Moorea worth the extra cost?
For a group of five or six, often yes: Aimeho’s $1,269 private boat is about $212 a head for six, similar to a shared small-group trip, and you set the pace. For a couple it works out at about $635 each, so a six-guest shared boat at $254 is the better value.
How much is the ferry from Papeete to Moorea?
A Vaeara’i ferry ticket on Viator starts at $18 per person. Add a taxi or transfer on Moorea unless your whale tour includes pickup.
Ready to compare? Read which Moorea whale tour is right for you, our Moorea Activities Center breakdown, or see every tour on the site.
Look for Humpbacks With Six Guests on Board
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Moorea Half-Day Whale Tour (Moorea Activities Center) from $182 per person.
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