Trying to figure out if buses and metros in Moorea take cards or if Ill need small cash. Any recent experiences?
Honestly, the bus system in Moorea isn’t great for visitors. I landed from the ferry, expecting something like a shuttle service, but the island bus was irregular, cash-only, and stopped running early in the evening. I had to use a taxi from the ferry to my pension in Papetoai, and it cost more than my hotel night. For budget travelers, the lack of card acceptance and sparse schedules are a pain. Renting a scooter turned out far easier.
Moorea isn’t built for structured public transport, but that’s part of its charm. I paid a few hundred CFP in coins to get from Vai’are Wharf to Haapiti, and the bus stopped right by my guesthouse. The driver was friendly and gave me tips on which fruit stands to stop at along the way. It’s slow and very local, but for a few rides, it was a pleasant way to see the island without renting a car.
I stayed in an Airbnb near Temae Beach and tried the island bus that runs between the ferry port and Afareaitu. It was cheap, but the driver laughed when I showed him a card. I ended up using coins I had left from a supermarket in Maharepa. The buses are fine for daytime trips, but after 6pm, nothing ran, and I had to hitch a ride with locals heading toward Cook’s Bay. Definitely a cash-and-flexibility situation here.
Moorea has no metro and only a limited bus system that circles the island along the coastal road. These buses are informal and cash-only. You pay the driver in CFP francs, and they often prefer exact change. No card readers exist on board. Services don’t run late at night, so if you’re staying in Haapiti or Papetoai, plan around the sparse schedules. Otherwise, most people rely on taxis (expensive) or rental scooters and cars.