Motu Ofetaro March 3, 2026 (First day in Raiatea)
- A Wandering Doc
- Jun 23
- 5 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Meet me in Billboard onboard at 8:45 for a prompt walk off the ship at 8:50
Motu Ofetaro Participants
Motu Ofetaro is located a stones throw from where the ship will dock in Raiatea. It’s a very small island (motu) with no amenities. Super Rustic. Viator and Trip Advisor say there is a shower and toilet, but neither were working in 2024 or 2025. Even if the toilet is working, you bring your own toilet paper (did I mention it’s rustic?).
You may see some bad reviews of the island and this is almost always from people who buy a 'tour' from viator and have different expectations. This is a small water taxi with bench seating. You can see the island from the boat. The water taxi ride is maybe 10-15 minutes tops. But, there are no amenities once you get here (did I mention it's rustic?). If you read the viator/trip advisor description they say there is a bathroom (there's not) and showers (they don't work) and fruit punch (no clue where they got that from unless they expect people to climb a tree for their own coconut).
For me, this is the perfect first day in French Polynesia because it's like a something you picture in a movie set (a rustic movie set). It's very inexpensive and you don't have to book ahead of time in the event that the ship does not make it to Raiatea on time. It's a long distance from Hawaii to Raiatea and in both 2024 and 2025 we had to turn around after a day or two and head back to Hawaii for a medical evacuation causing us to miss Fanning island (which is skipped 50% of the time anyway due to water conditions). Plus, don't forget that last year Holland America totally switched around every single day in French Polynesia so tours had to be cancelled and rebooked on different days. This day is easy peasy lemon squeezie ~if the ship is late into Raiatea no biggie.
There are just a few cement picnic tables (see photo above) and they go super fast, so best to plan on laying your things in the sand. Lots of locals and a really lovely sandy beach with some snorkeling on the other side of the motu. I did snorkel in 2024, but the snorkeling wasn’t as great as what you will find elsewhere as this motu is very popular with locals and I suspect the reef has been damaged by population density. I made it just a beach day in 2025 and could not have been any happier! (Remember people, it's rustic).
You can pre-purchase tickets through Viator or Trip advisor, but there really isn’t a need and the viator description is very misleading. The water taxi ticket booth is located just outside of the ship and the water taxi runs fairly frequently. They say the water taxi runs every 10 minutes but that was not our experience. More like every 30-45 minutes. Last year the cost for the water taxi was $25 round trip. I was able to do a quick negotiation because we had a group of people who walked off together and they dropped it to $20.
You will get a little ticket that you have to keep for the ride back (this is the most difficult part of the entire day). Bring water, maybe water shoes to explore the island (no need in the beach as the sand is just perfect) and towels. In other words, bring everything you need because it's (as you may guess)..... rustic.
I’ll meet everyone who wants to walk off together in Billboard Onboard at 8:45 am for a prompt walk off the ship at 8:50 a.m. No need to walk off with me if you want to go earlier/later, as it's easy to do this alone too. The water taxi station to buy tickets is right there at the dock and there isn’t a reason to walk off as a group unless you just want company (or to maybe save $5 a person, I'll try for a group discount again next year if there is a group of us but no guarantees). Some people like the comfort of me knowing where to go to buy tickets and where to go to pick up the water taxi, but its very easy. If you want some entertainment, I usually do something ridiculously stupid along the way that’s good for a laugh or two (last year I fell head first off Bruno's boat trying to clean my shoe. Believe me, falling off that boat is a difficult thing to do, but I managed).
It also poured rain in the afternoon both years so might want to pack your rain gear. We missed the rain in 2025 by heading back to the ship around 2:00 (it seems to rain every day around 3:00). You may want a rain coat, or just tilt your head back, open your mouth, and enjoy the warm water shower.
It will be nice to have a small group again to watch each others things on the beach while others are swimming. If you would like to be included in the group that walks off the ship together on day one in Raiatea, please respond in the comments below with your first names and I’ll keep this list updated.
I'm finding it MUCH easier to keep track of people who wish to be placed on the list if you actually join this blog and comment below. I don't want people thinking I'm pushing them to join the blog; remember I'm not a professional blogger and I don't make a cent off your membership (there aren't even advertisements). This Blog is a just much more condensed way to view the activities I'm organizing (they get buried and hard to find on CC and Facebook) and the blog acts as my diary too :).
If you are opposed to joining the blog and commenting below, you can comment on CC or Facebook and I'll do my best to get you on the list (but it's easy to miss on those platforms so you may need to remind me several times).
Mitch and Patty for the beach please.
Oops. Jocelyn = Caliope
Please add Jocelyn.....and maybe Taylor to your list. THANKS!
We would be interested in joining day one in Raiatea - Tim & Julie Vick
Please add Linda and James Hamilton. CC handle: (LongLeggedTraveler)