Tahiti Whale Watching Boat Tour

About This Experience

Tahiti by Boat runs this whale trip off Tahiti itself, so it suits you if you are staying on Tahiti and don't want to take the ferry to Moorea. The boat carries up to 12 passengers, and guides speak English, French and Portuguese. Hotel pickup is included only for bookings of four or more people (and for private tours of any size), from seven listed hotels: Hilton Hotel Tahiti, InterContinental Tahiti, Te Moana Tahiti Resort, Hotel Tahiti Nui, Hotel Sarah Nui, Royal Tahitien and Tahiti Lagoon Resort. Email the operator after booking to confirm your pickup, or, for smaller bookings, where to meet.

The crew searches for humpbacks and watches from the boat first. When conditions allow, guests go into the water in two small groups with a guide, taking turns; one guest describes a swim of about 100 meters in open water to reach a mother, calf and escort. The itinerary also lists snorkeling and dolphin watching, and the boat serves water, local fruit juice and fresh fruit. Morning trips start early, with guests mentioning meeting times between about 6:15 and 6:45 am.

At 4.0 from 89 reviews it rates below most whale tours on this site, and the low reviews share a few themes. Several guests describe late starts, from the crew or guide arriving 20 to 45 minutes after the meeting time to long waits for late passengers. Some say the trip ran about 3.5 to 4 hours when they expected 4.5 to 5. Others report rough seas and seasickness without warning, days with no swim or no whales, commentary mostly in French on English bookings, pickup mix-ups, and a second swim group that ran out of time before its turn.

The five-star reviews, which are the majority, praise the same guides for calm, respectful swims with mothers and calves, and one guest swam near five whales. Book it if you are based on Tahiti, swim well in open water and can live with an uneven track record. If getting to Moorea is easy for you, the higher-rated Moorea trips on this site are the steadier choice.

Prices start from $219 per person, and you can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund.

Highlights

• Whale trip that starts on Tahiti, with no ferry crossing needed
• Swims taken in two small groups with a guide, when conditions allow
• Guests report sightings of mothers with calves and escorting males
• Itinerary also lists snorkeling and dolphin watching
• Guides speak English, French and Portuguese
• Boat limited to 12 passengers

What's Included

• ✓ Hotel pickup and drop-off at seven listed Tahiti hotels (bookings of 4 or more, and private tours)
• ✓ Water and local fruit juice
• ✓ Fresh fruit on board
• ✓ Fins, mask and snorkel
• ✓ Guide in the water for whale swims when conditions allow
• ✓ Snorkeling and marine life stops

Not Included

• Towels
• Hotel pickup for bookings of fewer than 4 people

What to Bring

• Towel
• Swimwear
• Sunscreen
• Seasickness tablets, taken before boarding
• GoPro or waterproof camera

Good to Know & Caveats

• Licensed whale watching and swimming is only allowed from 20 July to 20 November.
• Whale encounters depend on the animals and are never guaranteed; some guests saw none.
• Pickup is only included for bookings of 4 or more (any size for private tours); email the operator to confirm it is arranged.
• The open ocean off Tahiti can be rough, and several guests were seasick.
• Swims can involve about 100 meters of open-water swimming, so you need to be a strong swimmer.
• Morning meeting times are early; one guest missed the boat after heavy traffic into Papeete, so allow extra time if driving.

Meeting Point

Hotel pickup from seven listed Tahiti hotels for bookings of four or more; for smaller bookings, email the operator to confirm the departure point.