PF
Bora Bora
The South Pacific’s iconic lagoon paradise
The South Pacific’s iconic lagoon paradise
Bora Bora’s crowning glory — a vast, luminous turquoise lagoon, far larger than the island itself, ringed by reef and dotted with sandy motu. Simply the bluest water you’ll ever see.
💡 A half-day lagoon boat tour is the essential Bora Bora experience.
Bora Bora invented the overwater bungalow, and its luxury resorts perch villas on stilts above the lagoon, with glass floors and steps straight into the sea.
💡 Even if you don’t stay in one, a resort day pass lets you sample the magic.
The dramatic 727-metre volcanic peak at the island’s heart, its sheer basalt face rising above the greenery — the unmistakable silhouette of Bora Bora.
💡 Otemanu can’t be summited, but 4×4 and hiking tours reach superb viewpoints.
Matira, the island’s main public beach, is a gorgeous stretch of soft white sand and shallow warm water, while the outer motu hide idyllic private strands.
💡 Matira Beach is free, stunning and perfect for a sunset swim.
Snorkel and dive with manta rays, reef sharks and turtles, kayak beneath the peaks, paddleboard, jet-ski or take a sunset cruise — the lagoon is a playground.
💡 Snorkelling with rays and blacktip sharks is a highlight — and safe with guides.
Bora Bora’s cuisine blends French finesse with Polynesian tradition and the bounty of the sea. The island’s signature dish is poisson cru — fresh raw tuna marinated in lime and coconut milk with vegetables, the Tahitian cousin of ceviche. Expect superb seafood, tropical fruit, French-influenced fine dining at the resorts, and the traditional ahima’a feast cooked in an underground oven. Beyond the (expensive) resort restaurants, the main village of Vaitape has more affordable local eateries, and the island’s beloved roulottes (food trucks) serve tasty, well-priced meals from grilled fish to steak frites and crepes. Sip a fresh coconut, a Hinano (the local beer) or a rum cocktail as the sun sets over the lagoon. Note that nearly everything is imported, so dining is pricey.
You reach Bora Bora by a short, scenic flight from Tahiti (about 50 minutes), landing on an airport built on a motu — from where a boat transfer carries you across the lagoon to the main island or your resort. There is one road circling the island, served by a few taxis and rental options; many visitors hire a bicycle, scooter or small car, or rely on resort boat shuttles. On the water, everything is done by boat, and resorts run scheduled transfers to Vaitape and the airport motu. Distances are small but transfers add up, so factor them into your budget and timing. There is no public bus network to speak of, so plan transport in advance.
Arrive, soak up your resort or bungalow, and swim at gorgeous Matira Beach.
A full-day boat tour snorkelling with rays and sharks, with a motu picnic.
A 4×4 island tour or hike for Otemanu views, then a sunset cruise.
Bora Bora is one of the world’s priciest islands — almost everything is imported.
May to October is drier, sunnier and ideal — the peak (and busiest) window.
The rays, sharks and coral gardens are the real magic — don’t just stay poolside.
You fly from Tahiti and boat from the airport motu — build transfers into your plans.
Quick answers to the questions travellers most often ask before visiting Bora Bora.
Its spectacular turquoise lagoon, the dramatic volcanic peak of Mount Otemanu, and its luxury overwater bungalow resorts — Bora Bora invented them. It’s one of the world’s most famous honeymoon and romance destinations, prized for snorkelling, diving and sheer natural beauty.
You fly first to Tahiti (Papeete) — the main gateway to French Polynesia — then take a roughly 50-minute domestic flight to Bora Bora. Its airport sits on a small motu, from where boats transfer you across the lagoon to the main island and resorts.
The dry season from May to October brings sunnier, less humid weather and is the ideal (and busiest) time. November to April is hotter, wetter and more humid, but quieter and cheaper. The lagoon is warm and swimmable year-round.
Yes — it is one of the most expensive destinations in the world, with luxury resorts, pricey dining and costly transfers, since nearly everything is imported. Budget travellers can cut costs with guesthouses (pensions), food trucks and self-catering, but it remains a splurge.
Two of French Polynesia’s most beautiful Society Islands — the iconic lagoon of Bora Bora and its greener, wilder sister Moorea.