Bora Bora is a single emerald peak ringed by a lagoon in every shade of blue, sheltered by a necklace of palm-covered motu islets. The extinct volcano of Mount Otemanu rises straight from the water, while overwater bungalows perch above coral gardens teeming with rays and reef sharks.
Life here moves at the pace of an outrigger canoe, between the white sand of Matira Beach, sleepy Vaitape village and picnics on deserted sandbars. It's smaller and quieter than you expect — pure lagoon, light and room to breathe.
Ease in with a morning on Matira Beach, the island's best stretch of sand, wading out over the shallow turquoise flats. Rent a bike or scooter to explore Vaitape village, browse black-pearl shops and grab lunch at a roulotte, then watch the sunset from Matira Point.
Spend the day on a boat tour of the lagoon, snorkelling the Coral Gardens and swimming alongside stingrays and blacktip reef sharks in the shallows. Break for a Polynesian barbecue picnic on a deserted motu before drifting back across the water.
Take a 4x4 safari or hike into the jungled slopes beneath Mount Otemanu, passing WWII cannons and viewpoints high above the lagoon. Finish with a stand-up paddle or kayak over the coral before a farewell dinner watching the peak turn gold.
The only major public beach on Bora Bora, a long ribbon of soft white sand shelving into a warm, shallow lagoon. Come at sunset, when the water turns pink and the peak of Mount Otemanu glows behind you.
The jagged 727-metre basalt remnant of an extinct volcano that crowns the island and can't be summited, only circled and admired. Hike or take a 4x4 safari up its lower slopes for sweeping views over the lagoon and motu.
In the shallow lagoon you can stand waist-deep among gliding stingrays and harmless blacktip reef sharks on a guided tour. It's the island's signature thrill — calm, clear and utterly unforgettable.
A shallow snorkelling site off the motu, where clouds of tropical fish swarm over coral bommies in bath-warm water. Drift with the gentle current and let the reef parade past just below the surface.
Bora Bora invented the overwater bungalow, and a night in one — with glass floors and a ladder into the lagoon — is a bucket-list splurge. Even if you don't stay, you can sip a cocktail at a resort bar built out over the water.
The sandy tip of Matira, where the lagoon wraps around you on three sides and the sunsets are the island's best. Wade out onto the shallow flats at dusk for uninterrupted views back to Mount Otemanu.
The island's finest stretch of white sand, tapering to a shallow point where the lagoon glows turquoise at sunset. It's the one truly public beach on Bora Bora, lined with a few resorts, snack shacks and swaying palms.
The main village and arrival point, where the ferry docks and life ticks along around a small market, the church, pearl shops and casual eateries. Not scenic in itself, but the place to stock up, rent a scooter or catch a lagoon tour.
The ring of low, palm-covered coral islets encircling the lagoon, home to most of the luxury overwater resorts and postcard-perfect sandbars. Reached only by boat, they're where you go for barefoot beach days and snorkelling straight off the sand.
The wild, jungled heart of the island beneath its 727-metre basalt spire, laced with 4x4 tracks and hiking trails. Come for viewpoints over the lagoon, WWII cannons and a glimpse of Bora Bora away from the water.
Raw tuna marinated in lime juice and coconut milk with cucumber, tomato and onion, Tahiti's national dish. Fresh, cool and served everywhere from roulottes to resort tables.
Chicken slow-cooked with taro leaves in coconut milk until meltingly tender, a Polynesian comfort classic. Look for it at family-run tables and Sunday feasts.
A silky baked pudding of mashed banana, papaya or pumpkin thickened with starch and drenched in coconut cream. Sweet, sticky and the island's favourite dessert.
Tahiti's easy-drinking golden lager, named after the fragrant flower of the pandanus and stamped with a Polynesian vahine. Order it ice-cold with your toes in the sand.
The dry season from May to October is the sweet spot: warm, sunny days, calm water and lower humidity, ideal for snorkelling and lagoon tours. The wet season (November–April) is hotter and stickier with short tropical downpours, though still swimmable. Aim for the shoulder months of May or October for good weather and fewer crowds.
There are no public buses, so getting around means boats, bikes and a bit of walking. From the airport on its own motu, a free resort shuttle or ferry carries you across the lagoon to Vaitape, and hotels run their own boat transfers. On the main island you can rent a bike, scooter or car to circle the 32-kilometre coast road, but the lagoon itself is the real highway — book boat tours or water taxis to reach the motu and snorkel spots.
A realistic daily budget per person, in three styles.
Bora Bora is known for its high cost of living and luxurious offerings.
