🏝️ Bora Bora: a complete guide to the island paradise

What associations does Bora Bora evoke in you? Surely, pictures of beaches from the Bounty advertisement, blue skies and tall palm trees come to mind. This extinct volcano, which rose above the surface of the water, attracts thousands of tourists around the world every year , including the main Hollywood stars.

Bora Bora is much more than just a beach holiday away from bustling cities. We tell you how to prepare for your trip to Bora Bora and make it unforgettable.

Tips before traveling to Bora Bora

• Despite the fact that the island of Bora Bora is located in the South Pacific Ocean, it is actually part of French Polynesia. However, the rules for entering Bora Bora differ from the requirements of France.

• Citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area, Switzerland, Andorra, San Marino and Vatican City will not need a visa to Bora Bora. If you are not on this list, you can apply for a visa at the French Embassy. At the same time, do not forget to indicate that you are planning a trip to French Polynesia.

• Bora Bora is a tropical area. You can never go wrong with the temperature: on average it stays between 27-31°C throughout the year. Rain can ruin your travel experience. By the way, the water temperature stays within 27-29°C all year round.

• Winter on the island lasts from April to October, summer – from November to March. The best time to travel to Bora Bora is from June to October. During this season, the weather is the most comfortable and the island receives the least rainfall.

• When traveling from November to March, take with you not only a pair of open summer shoes, but also a closed, waterproof “change” and a raincoat. During this period, those same tropical showers come to power in Bora Bora. 

• The only public transport to Bora Bora Atoll is a bus, which runs every 1-1.5 hours. If you want to see the island of Bora Bora, but don’t have time to wait for the bus, you can take a taxi or rent a bicycle or scooter.

• The main languages ​​spoken in Bora Bora are French and Tahitian. If you speak English, there will be no difficulties.

What should you take with you?

To prevent your holiday in Bora Bora from turning into a race to buy essentials, we advise you to re-read the items on our list. Solve any unpleasant situation with them, and the trip will leave only pleasant moments in your memory:

• sunscreen;
• headdress;
• charger adapter (type C or type E);
• bottle for water; 
• sleep mask, eye drops and sheet masks to look fresh after a long flight.

How to get there?

Be prepared for the fact that it will take a long time to get to the island. But the journey will pay off in full as soon as you take your first step on the sands of this paradise. We offer the two most profitable flight options to Bora Bora:

• on flights of JAL (Japan) or Aeroflot (Russia) airlines via Tokyo to the island of Tahiti;
• through the USA (New York or Paris + Los Angeles), but remember that you will need a transit visa for this.

The destination of both flights is Tahiti, from where you can easily reach Bora Bora by ferry or a 50-minute flight to the local Motu Mute Airport.

Where to live?

When on vacation in Bora Bora, you can stay in full-service hotels that offer almost all famous resorts. Often there are already private beach areas, bars and swimming pools. Travelers can explore the island on excursions and tours offered at hotels. We advise you to pay attention to The St Regis Bora Bora Resort, InterContinental Bora Bora & Thalasso Spa, an IHG Hotel, Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora.

If you want to feel the full flavor of local life and merge with the nature of Bora Bora, book bungalows that are located throughout the island. Here you can admire the crystal clear water and marine life at any time of the day. For example, this accommodation option is offered by Maitai Bora Bora. These and other lodging options can be found on Trip.com. If there is no desire to organize a trip, then you can use the selection of a tour.

If you are considering Bora Bora for a long period or for digital nomadism, then in this article you will find all the information you need for this.

What to see?

Bora Bora is a real natural aquarium. The island's waters are home to rare species of turtles, tropical fish and stingrays. You can often find reef sharks here. What are the coral reefs that frame the lagoons?

We invite you to diversify your holiday in paradise and tell you about the most memorable ways to spend your time. You'll love these things to do in Bora Bora.

Go snorkeling with sharks

Diving with sharks in warm tropical waters is a serious challenge and a departure from your comfort zone. You dive with a mask and snorkel to a shallow depth and, if necessary, can stand on your feet. Before meeting the sharks, you can swim in the area with stingrays, watch their life and even feed them.

After diving with stingrays, feel free to move on to snorkeling with sharks. They, like stingrays, can not only be seen at arm's length, but also fed. Blacktip reef sharks live in the waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Often the chance to see them so close comes only once in a lifetime.

All participants swim under the supervision of an instructor, and sharks and rays are not dangerous to humans. Ready to take a chance and try snorkeling? 

Try to conquer Mount Pahia

The two main peaks of Bora Bora – Otemanu (727 m) and Pahia (661 m) – are the main attractions. Climbing Otemanu is more suitable for experienced and physically trained hiking enthusiasts. The conquest of Pachia will pay off in full when you see the magnificent landscapes that open to the gaze of the traveler from the mountain.

The route to Pahia is considered easier than to Otemanu. Don't be put off by the peak's relatively low height: getting up here requires effort. The trail starts near the center of Vaitape – the main town on the island – and passes through jungle and some steep sections. Here, travelers can use special fixed ropes to make climbing easier. 

We recommend that you contact a guide who can guide you to the top of the mountain and ensure the safety of hiking. As a rule, locals always know a little more about the island than tourists, and will be able to discover secrets that guidebooks are silent about.

This is a real challenge to strength and discipline. Ready to check off another item on your Bora Bora to-do list?

Spend a day at Matira Beach

Yes, we wrote that we would show the island of Bora Bora from an unusual side and would not talk about the beaches. Matira Beach is a treasure not only of Bora Bora, but of the whole world. In 2017, the American CNN channel gave this beach eighth place in its ranking of “100 Best Beaches Around the World.” What makes Matira such a special place in Bora Bora?

This is a 1.5 km long public beach of Bora Bora, which is located in the southern part of the island. Just imagine how from the first moments you fall under the spell of the warm white sand filling the shore. Delicate azure water envelops you with lightness and tropical coolness. Multi-colored fish swim in large schools near the picturesque coral reefs. Landscapes that were previously seen only on the screen of a phone or computer are becoming a reality.

Another argument in favor of such a holiday: it is free. All you need is a towel, swimsuit, bottle of water and a beach mat. 

If you decide to spend time here, remember that the best way to get to the beach is by taxi. The trip from the center of Vaitape takes 10 minutes and costs $15-20. Another transport option: local bus. It only runs once an hour, so don't be late and keep an eye on the time.

Plan a trip to Bora Bora Turtle Center

The Turtle Center is a non-profit project created in collaboration with the Bora Bora Ministry of the Environment. This is not just a place where turtles live. Here they are rescued and brought back to life. Since 2000, injured sea turtles have been brought to the center, treated and monitored until they are ready to return to their natural habitat. 

In the reserve you can find an internal lagoon where several species of tropical fish swim. Both children and adults will enjoy watching them. This is a great alternative to diving if you don't want to snorkel.

Here you can look after the turtles, clean their shells and feed them. If you want to know a little more about animal rehabilitation, the center’s staff will answer all your questions. The most enjoyable part of a trip to such a reserve is the opportunity to swim with turtles. This excursion will be remembered for a long time!

Set sail around the lagoon on a paddleboard or boat

Rent a paddleboard or boat and explore the lagoon on your own. You will be able to see marine flora and fauna, sail at a comfortable pace and not worry about not having time to take a photo as a souvenir. This is not an organized excursion with a strictly scheduled time. You can stay in the lagoon as long as you want.

Rare species of stingrays and turtles, reef sharks and corals – you can see all this on your own while sailing on boats. This activity is equally suitable for young people and those who have retired, because everyone can row oars at a comfortable pace. Such an exciting adventure will surely make you feel like you are in a movie about life on an island. Ready to rewatch The Blue Lagoon?

If you have already managed to redo all the items on our list, then in this text we have collected a number of more activities.

National cuisine of Bora Bora: what and where to try?

The most popular local dish is poisson cru. It is prepared from raw tuna, which is marinated in lime juice and coconut milk. This item is on the menu of almost every establishment on the island. Some cafes and restaurants offer tourists a new take on a familiar dish and replace tuna with lobster, octopus, sea urchin, shrimp and other seafood. The taste of poisson cru will be strongly associated with Bora Bora!

For drinks, we recommend trying local beer. Yes, yes, you heard right, beer! Traditionally, since 1995, the Hinano variety has been brewed in Bora Bora. A locally produced drink will cost you much less than an imported product. The price for it is formed taking into account high taxes. The bitterness of Hinano attracts some connoisseurs and repels others, but it’s worth trying the beer at least to determine your attitude towards it. There is one thing: you can drink alcohol in Bora Bora at least 21 years old.

When choosing an establishment, be sure to check out Bloody Mary’s. This restaurant hosted many Hollywood stars! The establishment offers a menu for lunch and dinner.

For lunch, order quesadillas, buffalo wings, burgers and sandwiches, sashimi and salads. If your goal is to try the freshest seafood, book a table for the evening! By the way, the establishment always has positions for vegetarians, so no visitor will be left without signature dishes.

The restaurant has its own yacht club. So a water cruise can be complemented by dinner in a great place.

What souvenirs should I bring?

And he won’t forget about shopping. The main gift you need to bring from a trip to Bora Bora is black pearls. There are entire farms on the island that grow it. 

There are special shops in Vaitape that sell exquisite jewelry at high prices. You can go to the pearl market and learn how future jewelry is grown and sorted. A large selection will satisfy the needs of every visitor.

A trip to Bora Bora is a unique opportunity to see one of the most beautiful islands that comprise French Polynesia. Here you will not find either coffee or croissants during breakfast, but relaxing among the blue lagoons, marine fauna and tropical air will repeatedly make you want to return to this paradise again.