If you’re looking for Bora Bora travel tips, look no further! Having been fortunate enough to visit Bora Bora twice, we’re excited to pass on all the insights we’ve gained from our adventures. Keep reading as we reveal the nuggets we’ve discovered during our stays on this enchanting island.
About Bora Bora
Bora Bora, a small island in French Polynesia, is renowned for its breathtaking beauty and luxurious resorts with overwater bungalows. Surrounded by a turquoise lagoon protected by a coral reef, the island offers stunning views of Mount Otemanu, a dormant volcano at its center. Bora Bora is a top destination for honeymooners and travelers seeking a tropical escape. The island, surrounded by sand-fringed motus, offers crystal-clear waters, vibrant marine life, and serene beaches make it a true paradise on Earth.
How to get to Bora Bora
Getting to Bora Bora typically involves a few steps and many hours, as there are no direct international flights to the island, but well worth it. Here’s how you can get there.
Step 1: Fly to Tahiti (Papeete). The journey begins with a flight to Tahiti’s Faa’a International Airport (PPT), located in the capital city of Papeete. Tahiti is the main gateway to French Polynesia and is accessible via direct flights from major cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, Tokyo, and Auckland. When we have gone, we have flown via LA, which is about an 8 and half hour flight.
Step 2: Fly to Bora Bora. From Tahiti, you’ll need to take a domestic flight to Bora Bora. Air Tahiti operates several flights daily, with a flight time of about 50 minutes. The Bora Bora Airport is located on a small motu.
Step 3: You will need to take a boat to your accommodations. After landing at the Bora Bora Airport, most resorts provide boat transfers to their locations. These boats will take you across the lagoon to your accommodation, which could be on one of the island’s motus or the main island itself. Air Tahiti offers passengers a free shuttle boat between the airport and Vaitape as part of Bora Bora flights.
Given the remote location, plan your travel well in advance, especially if you’re coordinating flights with multiple airlines.
Getting Around
Unless you are staying on the main island, you don’t need a rental car. If you are staying on an outer motu in Bora Bora, the only way to get to the main island is by boat transfer. If you are at a resort, they may have free shuttles back and forth, or will definitely be able to help you with booking one.
On the main island, yes you can rent a car, but bicycles are a great way to get around. A bicycle can be rented or even included with your stay as many of the hotels and villas. The 32km (19 miles) ring road around the main island is paved and maintained, making it usable by cyclists. You can realistically get around the island within a few hours, and if you start early you can even include sight-seeing stops and a dip or two in the water.
Accommodations
Bora Bora is known for its luxury resorts, but there are plenty of other options to fit most budgets. Airbnb and Vrbo offer apartments, villas and over the water hut options and for the more adventurous even houseboats.
During both of our visits we have stayed a the wonderful St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, but it’s pricy just like the other luxury resorts in the area. If you are a member of a hotel loyalty program, Bora Bora is a great location to look into using points to help make it a more affordable vacation.
Fun Fact: The movie Couples Retreat was filmed in Bora Bora, primarily at the St. Regis Bora Bora Resort.
Activities
In French Polynesia, and Bora Bora specifically, a lot of the activities revolve around taking advantage of the calm lagoon waters. From scuba diving or snorkeling, to jet skiing and sailing, you aren’t likely to find a much better setting to experience all of these.
Weather
Bora Bora enjoys a tropical climate with warm temperatures throughout the year. But, they do have periods of the year where rain is more likely.
The Dry Season, from May to October, has average daily temperatures from 75°F to 85°F (24°C to 29°C). During this time, lower humidity, less rainfall, and plenty of sunshine. The trade winds during this period provide a refreshing breeze. And, the waters are calmer.
The Wet Season, from November to April, has average daily temperatures from 77°F to 88°F (25°C to 31°C). During this time, higher humidity, more frequent rain showers, and the possibility of tropical storms. Rainfall is typically heavy but short-lived, often followed by sunshine. And, the waters are rougher, but the lagoon remains calm.
Overall, Bora Bora is a year-round destination, but the dry season is considered the best time to visit for the most pleasant weather. In our experience, we visited both times in December, the weather was mostly sunny with a total of a few hours of rain during our stay.
Where to Eat
During our first visit we did eat mostly at the resort since breakfast and dinner were included. With five restaurants on-site, all of them serving fantastic food, there really wasn’t wasn’t a reason to leave the resort. However, as part of some of the activities that we did book, lunch was included so we did get to enjoy local food.
During our second visit, we weren’t much more creative and ate all our meals on resort. To be fair, the St. Regis Bora Bora does have some of the best rated restaurants on the island.
One thing to note, is that alcohol is quite pricy. Our tip is to stop by the duty free on your way there and purchase alcohol to bring with you. Make sure to check to double check the restrictions. I believe that the limit, last time I checked was that each adult visiting can bring 2 liters of alcohol.
Finally, if you are looking to additional Bora Bora content, linked below are other posts that might interest you.
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