Moorea Whale Watching from the Boat (No Swimming)

About This Experience

Moorea Expedition runs this half-day trip for people who want to see humpbacks from the deck and not from the water. The listing is clear: this is a non-swimming tour, and it cannot be upgraded to the swimming version once booked. At $144 per person it is the cheapest Moorea whale tour on this site.

The meeting point is signposted from the road with a large sign reading "Coco Beach restaurant" and "Whale watching", and pickup is also available. The boat heads outside the reef to look for whales and possibly dolphins. If the whale encounters go well and there is time left, the crew adds a snorkel in the lagoon where blacktip reef sharks and stingrays gather.

It holds a 3.8 rating from 21 reviews, the lowest of the Moorea whale tours on this site, and the reviews split sharply. Happy guests saw two groups of whales and four breaches, or two mothers with calves and a male. The one-star reviews come from people who felt the trip was designed for swimmers and left watchers waiting, and from a family of five who were told by Viator the boat took six and called the listing completely misleading. Another guest complained about the captain's behavior on board while praising the guide.

It suits non-swimmers, older travelers and families with young children. Infant seats are available, strollers are fine, and the listing says all fitness levels can join. One family booked it because their son was under 12 and was happy with it. If there is any chance you will want to get in the water with the whales, book a swimming trip from the start, since this one cannot be changed.

The price is from $144 per person, with water and fruit juice on board and snorkeling gear for the lagoon stop. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start.

Highlights

• Whale watching from the deck, with no swimming at all
• Cheapest Moorea whale tour on this site, from $144 per person
• Possible dolphins as well as humpbacks
• Lagoon snorkel with blacktip reef sharks and stingrays if time allows
• Reviewers report breaches and mothers with calves on good days
• Open to all fitness levels, with infant seats available

What's Included

• ✓ Half-day small-group whale watching trip from the boat
• ✓ Water and fruit juices on board
• ✓ Use of snorkeling equipment for the lagoon stop
• ✓ Pickup available, or meet at the start point
• ✓ Specialized infant seats

Not Included

• Swimming with whales (it cannot be added after booking)
• Reef-safe sunscreen
• Towels
• Seasickness medicine

What to Bring

• Reef-safe sunscreen, hat and sunglasses
• Towel and swimsuit for the possible lagoon snorkel
• Seasickness tablets, taken before boarding
• A light layer for the ride back
• Camera with a zoom lens

Good to Know & Caveats

• Licensed whale tours can run only from 20 July to 20 November, between 07:30 and 17:30; outside those dates no operator can take you to the whales.
• Sightings are never guaranteed, and the lagoon snorkel happens only if the whale encounters go well and there is time.
• This is a non-swimming tour; it cannot be upgraded to a whale swim once booked.
• The listing says the trip suits all physical fitness levels; infants can ride in a stroller, and specialized infant seats are available.
• Licensed boats must stay 100 m from a whale, so how close you get depends on the whales.
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.

Meeting Point

Follow the map pin to the large road sign reading "Coco Beach restaurant" and "Whale watching" on Moorea; pickup is also available.