Read More: Trips and tours in Bora Bora
Bora Bora Vacation and Travel Attractions
Introduction
Even
those who aren’t familiar with the exotic islands and
don’t know where is French Polynesia have heard the name
“Bora Bora" and immediately link it to an exotic
vacation on a magical island.
Indeed, Bora Bora is the most famous and popular
island in French Polynesia. The island is famous for its
amazing hotels, which have cabins on the water. As you
can see on the map this is an island only a few
kilometers long surrounded by a coral reef and smaller
islands alongside where most of the hotels and the
airport were built.
The map of Bora Bora and the hotels
The water between the reef and the main island is a quiet lagoon all year round (like a giant swimming pool). The lagoon water is an amazing turquoise color. All this beauty is surrounded by the scenery of green mountains with rich tropical vegetation.
Cabins on turquoise water:
The island’s tallest mountain, “Mount Otemanu”, has a unique look with two green prominent peaks and it’s seen from a distance throughout the island.
The lagoon water is
clean and warm all year round and is filled with
colorful fishes and spectacular corals.
You can go snorkeling right from the entrance of the waterfront cabins.
No wonder that this magical island is
called “the Pearl of the Pacific”. The island has been
chosen several times by known tourism magazines as the
most popular of island resorts around the world and the
world’s best tropical island.
It is important to
emphasize that Bora Bora is expensive: accommodations,
food and of course traveling to the island – are
expensive in comparison to many destinations around the
world – but there is no doubt that the value you receive
justifies the investment.
In all of the hotels
(including the most luxurious), the roofs of the cabins
are made of dried leaves resembling straw from the
pandanus plant. This is a very common plant in French
Polynesia and it’s very useful. In the past, the
pandanus plant was used in building canoes.
All the
tourist service providers (in fact, most of the islands’
residents) speak excellent English and therefore it is
easy and friendly to get along in Bora Bora without
speaking a word of French, the official language in
these islands. It is preferable to only know the two
most used words in Tahitian:
“Mauruuruu” – thank you
“Ia ora na” - good day
See a video I took while swimming in the turquoise water near the cabins on the water.
Weather
The weather on the island is
perfect most of the year and there isn’t any season that
is unsuitable for a visit and a vacation there. The
weather is tropical but the trade winds cool and
moderate the temperatures.
The average daytime
temperature ranges between 28 C in the “cooler” months
to over 31 C in the warmer months while at night the
temperature ranges between 22-24 C. The sea water
temperature is 27-29 C.
November to April are the
hottest, most humid and wettest months, especially
January – February, while during May to October, there
is very little rain and the weather is less humid but
the winds are stronger.
This is a wonderful
destination to celebrate a honeymoon, gold and silver
anniversaries or just a romantic vacation at the far
edge of the world.
A honeymoon in Bora Bora:
How to get there?
Bora Bora is an island from the chain
of the Society Islands of French Polynesia. Because it
is a relatively small island, there isn’t an
international airport, only a field for local flights
between the country’s islands. You need to fly to
Tahiti, the largest and most populated island in French
Polynesia and from there take an about 45 minute flight
with “Air Tahiti” to Bora Bora.
Even the airport in
Bora Bora is located on a small island (not on the main
Bora Bora island) and from there you sail to the
different hotels in boats.
The largest hotels have a
private boat service from the airport directly to the
hotel. The airport provides a free transport in a large
boat to the main village of Vaitape, from there you can
take a taxi to one of the hotels on the main big island.
The port and the boats at the airport:
The hotels
are spread out all over the island. Some of them are
located on the main big island in the center of Bora
Bora and some of them spread out around on a nearby
small islands by the reefs. One of them for example is
on the eastern side of the island and is called: MOTU
PITI A’Au.
All the hotels have sandy beaches with
golden sands. Bora Bora (unlike Tahiti) is one of the
oldest islands in the chain of islands and therefore
it’s rich with wonderful sandy beaches.
Each of the
major resorts looks like a picturesque postcard with a
warm reception including a fragrant flower necklace and
a natural tropical juice, you’ll feel you’ve arrived in
heaven.
Bouquets of flowers to the hotel's guests at the airport on the island of Bora Bora:
Hotels in Bora Bora
The most popular hotels in Bora Bora are the hotels with cabins on the water. Every self-respecting hotel has in addition to cabins and rooms on the beach also cabins on the water. All the large chains are represented here: Hilton, Meridien, Sofitel, Intercontinental etc. The range is wide, from simple room cabins to the more luxurious and equipped room cabins. There are also cabins on the water with several rooms and even a private swimming pool for whomever doesn’t want to jump into the ocean by the bungalow! The prices are according to the size and amenities.
The Sofitel chain has two beautiful hotels in Bora Bora. Their hotels are in the southern part of the island:
Sofitel Bora Bora Private Island
One of them is on the private island, Sofitel Bora Bora Private Island, also called Sofitel Motu
Sofitel Motu on the private island:
Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach
The other is located across from this island on the major island and is called Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach
Sofitel Marara:
Between
these two locations there is a boat service belonging to
the hotel and it’s free for the hotel guests on the
island and leaves when the guest requests it. The hotels
have also a private boat shuttle from the airport to the
hotel (it’s free to the private island, and there’s a
fee to the Marara). The hotel guests are greeted by the
hotel representatives at the airport with a fragrant
bouquet of flowers and when they arrive at the hotel the
receptionist serves the guests moist towels and a
coconut filled with natural coconut juice.
In each
of the two Sofitel hotels, there are luxurious cabins,
both on the water and on the beach.
Some of the cabins on the beach on the private island are on top of a mountain with a beautiful view of the lagoon and the cabins on the water, and some are close to the waterfront. On the private island, there’s a hiking trail leading to the top of the hill and from there you have a great view of the lagoon and the hotels around as well as the sunset and sunrise. At the top of the hill there’s also a sitting area and a bar that serves guests that come to watch the beautiful sunset, definitely a romantic place!
A drink and a romantic sunset:
Sofitel Motu:
On the private island, there are less than thirty cabins and therefore the stay is very intimate and unique. The hotel guests on the private island have in their room snorkeling masks, fins you can get in the booth on the beach and those who are interested can row a kayak or a stand up paddleboard free of charge. In the rooms, there’s a mini bar with soft drinks and complimentary beer which is free refiled every day as well as a coffee machine with complimentary capsules. Near the island there’s a coral reef rich with fish and corals that are amongst the most beautiful on the island.
Fish while snorkeling
The snorkeling tours on the
island also reach this reef. On the island, there are
sandy beaches in addition to the clear pleasant waters
for swimming around the cabins.
In the Marara hotel
on the main island the cabins on the water have private
and large tanning balconies and a ladder to the water as
well as a wide window overlooking the lagoon from the
room. The rest of the cabins are on the shoreline with
the view of the lagoon or near the sandy beach and
they're more internal with a view of the gardens. The
hotel has a sandy beach and a beautiful “infinity” pool.
The beach of the Sofitel Marara
In both hotels, breakfast is usually included in the price and there are luxurious high end restaurants. Almost every day at the Sofitel Marara there is dance performance and Polynesian music free of charge. The hotel guests on the private island can enjoy for free the hotel Marara’s facilities but the guests of the Marara can visit the island only with extra charge.
The two most
luxurious hotels (and of course expensive) in Bora Bora
are located in the east of the island side by side:
Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora
In the hotel spreading over a huge area, there are 105 spacious cabins, including cabins with two bedrooms and a lounge intended for 6 people. In the large cabins on the water, there’s also a private swimming pool. The hotel has an “infinity” swimming pool, a tennis court and four restaurants.
The St Regis Bora Bora Resort
This hotel also spreads over a huge area and includes 100 luxurious cabins, some have two bedrooms and it also has some cabins with private swimming pools. The main hotel has two swimming pools and four restaurants.
Near these two hotels, on the eastern island, there is
also the hotel:
Le Meridien Bora Bora
Which is
one of the oldest hotels on the island, and also has a
Sea Turtle Rescue Center. The hotel has 99 rooms, an
infinity swimming pool, and two restaurants.
All the
major hotels offer a variety of sports and recreational
opportunities including: various kinds of sailing,
guided snorkeling, etc (part of the service is included
in the price and some is with an additional charge).
All of them have a spa for a considerable additional
cost, tour booking services, transportation and
restaurants.
The service is of the highest quality,
personal and relaxed.
Trips and tours
Bora Bora offers avariety of tours and trips like: Jeep Tour, Boat tours, Dive, ATV, Snorkeling, Paragliding, and Jet ski. More details can be found in my article: Trips and tours in Bora Bora .
Between activities it is recommended you enjoy the
wonderful hotels, sit down on the balconies on the
water, be excited by the scenery, tranquility and the
good air, dip in the clear warm water and feel that you
have won! This is the good life!
More articles on French Polynesia:
Trips and tours in Bora Bora
Vacation on Moorea island
A trip to Tahiti
Guided Tours in Tahiti