Do you dream of waking up one day in paradise? When God created the Earth, He poured half of His beauty into the island of Bora Bora. The name comes from Tahitian “Pora pora mai te pora,” which translates to “created by the gods.” A perfect atoll with a dazzling turquoise lagoon, the color transitions of which even the best painter couldn’t replicate. We fulfilled our dream of French Polynesia on the second try and will try to send you a piece of this paradise in our article. And maybe one day you will fulfill this dream too 🙂
Detailed Google map with attractions
Practical tips
- Flights to Bora – round trip from Tahiti (Papeete) to Bora starts from €350 and is only slightly cheaper than the base Air Tahiti Pass, which allows you to travel to Bora and several other islands. Choose one of these current passes:
- Bora Bora Pass = Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Maupiti (from €434)
- Bora-Tuamotu Pass = Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Maupiti, Bora Bora, Rangiroa, Tikehau, Fakarava (from €584)
TIP: If you are looking for flights from Europe to Tahiti, read our comprehensive article: French Polynesia – tips and tricks
- Where to stay on Bora Bora – the accommodation options can be divided into 3 categories:
- Resorts on the coral reef (highest class) – these are the most luxurious 5-star resorts with overwater bungalows and views of the main island. Names like Four Seasons, Conrad (Hilton), InterContinental, St. Regis (Marriott), where prices start from 1000€ / night / person with breakfast included
- Hotels and apartments on the main island (middle class) – these are 3*+ hotels or apartments that are still sufficiently comfortable and, most importantly, have their own beach. Prices start from 100€ / night / person with breakfast included
TIP: Our accommodation recommendation: Hotel Royal Bora Bora 3* - Guesthouses on the main island (lowest class) – these are accommodations run by locals, also found near Matira Beach. If you don’t mind a shared bathroom and being without air conditioning, this is a budget-friendly option. Prices start from 50€ / night / person without breakfast
- Transportation from the airport – the airport on Bora Bora is on a separate island, Mute Island, part of the coral reef. Here comes the first benefit: if you have accommodation on the main island, the boat ride from the airport to the main town of Vaitape is free, whereas people staying on the reef have to pay for a hotel taxi boat. The 15-minute boat ride through the lagoon to Vaitape is an experience in itself and we have included it in the TOP 10 attractions.
- Transportation around the main island – in our opinion, the best option is to rent a car; we found a good price through Europcar. The roads do not have bike lanes and the traffic, especially near Vaitape, is heavy, which is why we opted for a car. As cyclists, we would not have felt safe at all. The eastern and northern parts of the island are less congested. We had a car for 2 days to explore the island and then moved around Matira on foot.
TIP: Some taxi drivers can be contacted directly via Whatsapp, our good contact on Bora was Taxi Jerry +689 87769930
1. Arrival at Bora Bora
The most powerful experience was when our jaws dropped from the airplane’s propellers when this paradise on Earth began to reveal itself. We could only manage to say “Holy shit, we have never seen anything so perfect in our simple lives”. And this is coming from us who visited the Maldives a few years back. Goosebumps, tears, and incredible joy and excitement… At the same time, we tried not to forget to take photos and videos. To have the perfect view, you must have windows on the left side of the plane. These seats, of course, fill up quickly, so try to board among the first. Check if the window is not foggy or scratched.
2. Matira Beach
Matira Beach is the only public beach on the main island, and all the attention is focused around this beach. It is the southernmost tip of the island with white sandy beaches and turquoise lagoons. When looking for accommodation on the main island, the choice is simple – you want to stay near this tip. That’s what our 3-star Hotel Royal Bora Bora (about a 10-minute walk) provided. The beach is perfectly clean with white sand, and you can snorkel with rays here. There’s no need to fear them; they are very shy, and if you start getting close, they will swim away. There are also two buffets by the beach where you can enjoy fresh fish or a hamburger.
3. Viewpoint on Matira
The view of the whole Matira is not officially marked on the map. We discovered it by chance along the ridge while searching for remains from the Second World War. So, try following our GPS route, and the secret lookout will be yours alone. The colorful transition of water from turquoise to blue is a feast for the eyes, you won’t want to leave from there. From the panoramic viewpoint, you can see the entire coast of Matira, the Sofitel island, as well as a part of the coral reef with luxury hotels. As a bonus, you have a view of the nearby Maupiti island, which is like Bora Bora in the 50s – not yet marked by mass tourism.
GPS route:https://www.strava.com/activities/7241130827
4. Snorkeling at Royal Bora Bora Resort
What if we also praise our resort where we stayed. This selection had a truly excellent price/performance ratio. A private beach with a view of the islands and a fantastic coral reef just a few meters from the shore. We saw plenty of corals, little fish, and even a spotted eagle ray. Don’t forget to bring a waterproof case or a GoPro camera for some fun filming underwater. Organized shark-watching trips depart from the pier, but since we had already seen them in Moorea, this mesmerizing snorkeling was enough for us.
5. Sailing from the airport to the town of Vaitape
Arriving at Bora Bora in style already starts during the flight, further amplified by the perfect sail from the airport island. Someone even had the creative idea that the sign “Aeroport de Bora Bora” would hang on a separate little island between two palm trees – a perfect welcome. If you are staying on the main island, a complimentary high-speed catamaran with outdoor and indoor seating will be waiting for you. Of course, choose outdoor seating on the roof, where you can enjoy the silhouette of the main island and the turquoise lagoon with bungalows at full speed. We disembark in the main town of Vaitape, where we pick up our car.
GPS route: https://www.strava.com/activities/7250144306
6. Driving around the island
We reserved a whole day for driving around the island. It’s only 30 kilometers around the island, but due to the dozens of stops and viewpoints, it takes at least half a day. Make sure to bring a power bank with you on this day 🙂 The stops we made included Pāopāo Point, Salón del Reino de Los Testigos de Jehovå, Finger Of God, Outuareho Point, Puhia Point, Tā’ihi Point, WWII Guns Faanui, Eglise de Fa’anui. We quickly changed our plans for the guided tour to the Grotte d’Anau cave or the Fa’anui ridge hike due to the heat and humidity. The last stop to cool off is Matira Beach, which is the only beach on the island, but its beauty surpasses ten beaches combined.
7. Kayaking to Sofitel Island
The Royal Bora Bora Resort has two islands nearby – one private with the Sofitel hotel and the other uninhabited Motu Piti. Right by the Sofitel, there is a location marked as the Aquarium Snorkeling Location, where the conditions for snorkeling are excellent. We kayaked there from our hotel in approximately 15 minutes. We jumped into the crystal clear water and started snorkeling. It’s worth mentioning that snorkeling there is more challenging than by the shore, as there can be larger waves.
GPS route: https://www.strava.com/activities/7245561744
8. Viewpoint near InterContinental Hotel
This viewpoint is not marked on the map, but we liked it so much that we are adding it to our tips. You can get here by the main road to the very end of the Matira Point. The view of the turquoise lagoon, bungalows of the Intercontinental hotel, and the silhouette of the main island is magnificent. The highest peak of the island, Mt. Otemanu (narrow and pointed), reaches an altitude of up to 727 meters. The second lower peak, Mt. Pahia (broad and flat), is 661 meters high. These two peaks look completely different from every side of the island.
9. World War II relics
As a result of the Pearl Harbor bombing in 1941, an American military base was established on Bora a year later. A total of eight cannons were installed around strategic coastal areas, with seven still remaining. One of the more easily accessible ones is located in the northern part of the island and can be found under the name WWII Guns Faanui. From this spot, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the lagoon or the resort bungalows on the coral reef. Since the island was not a target during the war, the base closed in 1946, while the airstrip served as the only international airport in French Polynesia until the opening of the international airport in Faa’a, Tahiti, in 1960.
10. Restaurant Bloody Mary’s
Bloody Mary’s is the most famous restaurant on Bora Bora, where you’ll see the infamous wall with a list of celebrities who have dined there. You’ll find names like Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Buzz Aldrin, Johnny Depp, Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, Cameron Diaz, and Pamela Anderson. Sit on a chair made of a palm trunk, sip on a Tahitian cocktail, and soak in the tropical surroundings.
Believe me, this list could be even longer, but this time I’m taming my maximalist talent. It’s better to see at least once than hear about it a hundred times. So if you have the chance, splurge on plane tickets and look forward to one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
