Bora Bora

⚠️ Timetables, opening hours, prices and access conditions may change without notice, for reasons beyond our control (season, weather, decisions by operators, venues or local authorities). Before every trip, check the information with the relevant authorities and service providers. Entry requirements and local rules (reserves, quotas) are subject to the same caveat.

Bora Bora belongs to the Leeward Islands, in the Society archipelago of French Polynesia. Lying 259 km north-west of Tahiti, this 38 km² volcanic island is dominated by Mount Otemanu (727 m) and surrounded by a lagoon fringed with some thirty motu, where many of the hotels stand. More than 10,600 people live here, mostly along the coast around the main village, Vaitape. Matira beach, ancient marae, Second World War remains and lagoon trips make up the core of a stay, about 50 minutes by air from Tahiti.

A high island in a lagoon dotted with motu

Bora Bora lies in the Leeward Islands, the western part of the Society archipelago, 259 km north-west of Tahiti. The volcanic main island measures roughly 8 km by 5 km; including its motu, the commune covers about 38 km². The highest point is Mount Otemanu (727 m), followed by Mount Pahia (661 m). A coral reef encloses a wide lagoon lined with some thirty motu, the low islets of sand and coral that host the airport and many of the hotels.

The island has more than 10,600 inhabitants. The main village, Vaitape, on the west coast, is home to the town hall, the quay where the airport shuttles dock, shops and rental agencies. The commune is divided into three associated communes, Nunue, Faanui and Anau; Faanui also administers the uninhabited atoll of Tupai, further north. Hotels on the motu are reached by boat, while guesthouses and smaller hotels are spread along the coast of the main island, particularly towards Matira Point.

From Vavau to the guns of Operation Bobcat

Settled by Polynesian navigators, the island was once called Vavau; the correct Tahitian spelling of its present name is “Pora pora”. More than forty marae, ancient places of worship and power, have been recorded here, and thirteen survive. The best preserved, Fare Opu, stands on Faanui Bay; Aehau-tai, Marotitini, Vaiotaha and Farerua are also part of the island's heritage. Like the rest of the Leeward Islands, Bora Bora came under French sovereignty at the end of the 19th century.

During the Second World War, the US military set up a supply base on Bora Bora, Operation Bobcat (1942–1946). It built French Polynesia's first airstrip on Motu Mute, today's airport, as well as Farepiti quay and several artillery batteries; eight 7-inch guns are still on the island. The sailor Alain Gerbault and the polar explorer Paul-Émile Victor both chose Bora Bora as their adopted home. The Heiva, with its traditional singing, dancing and sports, still sets the rhythm of cultural life.

Vaitape, marae and viewpoints on the main island

Exploring the main island usually starts in Vaitape, where the airport shuttles arrive and where you will find the Air Tahiti office, the “trucks” (local buses), taxis and rental agencies. From there, the coast road leads to the marae of Faanui Bay, including Fare Opu, and to the remains of Operation Bobcat: the East and South artillery batteries, Farepiti quay and the old American guns. Local operators run island tours by 4x4 or minibus that combine viewpoints, marae and Second World War sites.

For walkers, two peaks dominate the island. Mount Pahia (661 m) is climbed on a trail of about 7 km with slippery slopes and fixed ropes in places; a guide is recommended. For Mount Otemanu (727 m), whose name translates as “the peak that sucks in living beings”, Tahiti Tourisme indicates a climb of 2 to 3 hours, preferably with a guide. Trail access conditions can change: ask locally before setting out, and avoid hiking alone or in wet weather.

Matira beach, the lagoon and the motu

Matira beach, at the southern tip of the main island, is Bora Bora's busiest public beach. Named after a whaleboat that arrived in 1790, it hosts the finish of the Hawaiki Nui Va'a outrigger canoe race and has a picnic area. Elsewhere, sandy beaches are mostly found on the motu, reached by boat or from the hotels built there. The lagoon is best discovered on a day trip: private boat with a skipper, guided jet-ski, diving or snorkelling.

The lagoon is subject to strict protection rules. In French Polynesia, feeding sharks, rays or fish, or attracting them with gestures or noise, is prohibited, and harming protected species carries heavy penalties. According to press reports, a strict nature reserve, the Popora rahui, was approved in November 2025 on the reef south of Matira, banning motorised navigation, fishing and water sports; check its boundaries with the authorities. From July to November, humpback whales visit the Society Islands.

Getting to Bora Bora and moving between island and motu

From France, you first fly to Tahiti-Faa'a international airport, then a domestic flight of about 50 minutes takes you to Bora Bora. Air Tahiti advertises more than ten flights a day to the island and direct links with Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Huahine, Maupiti, Rangiroa, Tikehau and Fakarava; Air Moana also serves it from Tahiti, Moorea and Raiatea. The airport (BOB) is on Motu Mute: the Bora Bora Navettes lagoon shuttle reaches Vaitape quay in about 15 minutes and is included in the Air Tahiti ticket, while several hotels run their own transfers.

By sea, the Maupiti Express II links Bora Bora with Taha'a and Raiatea in about 2 h 20, with three round trips a week; tickets are sold on board or at the Vaitape counter. On the main island you can get around by “truck”, taxi or hired vehicle: car, electric buggy, scooter or bicycle, the latter recommended for a day out. Timetables and conditions may change independently of Dem-Tukki: check them with the operators and the relevant authorities before each departure.

Dry season, trade winds and budget

Bora Bora has a tropical climate, with temperatures of 20 to 30 °C all year round. The dry season, from May to October, brings more sunshine, lower humidity and trade winds; the wet season, from November to April, brings showers, mostly from December to February and usually brief. The lagoon water ranges from 27 °C (July to October) to 29 °C (January to April). High season runs from June to September, peaking in July and August, so it is best to book early for those months.

The currency is the CFP franc (XPF), pegged to the euro: 1,000 XPF is worth €8.38. Air travel weighs heavily on the budget, between the long-haul flight to Tahiti and the domestic hop: in October 2026, Air Tahiti listed return fares to Bora Bora from 40,246 XPF including tax, a price that may change. Accommodation ranges from large overwater resorts to family guesthouses near Matira. French citizens can enter with a valid identity card and no visa; a passport is recommended for everyone, and an ESTA is required if you transit through the United States.

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Nearby islands: Tahiti & its Islands, Moorea, Rangiroa and Fakarava.

Photo : The TerraMar Project, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons