La Orana (Tihitian for Hello)! The crystal-clear water, abundant aquatic wildlife, and luxury hotels make Bora Bora a place to escape from the rest of the world. This Island has some of the most exclusive resorts and beautiful beaches in the world! Here is your must-do list when traveling to Bora Bora!

Bora Bora’s location:

Bora Bora is in French Polynesia and is surrounded by the South Pacific Ocean. Getting to Bora Bora takes a little planning. Most tourists fly into Tahiti and then take the 1-hour flight from Tahiti to Bora Bora. If you are traveling from the U.S., I recommend flying into Tahiti and staying one night near the Tahiti airport, then catching a morning flight to Bora Bora the next day in case of flight delays.

After the short flight to Bora Bora, hotels usually pick up their guest (and give them colorful lei necklaces) via boat to take them to their hotel destination. Some hotels are located in the central part of the island near Faanui or Pt. Matira. Other hotels are more remote and located on one of the smaller outer islands, like Tavairoa or To’opua. I visited Tevairoa, which had breathtaking views of Mt. Otemanu from across the water!

A Must-Do List for Bora Bora

1. Treat yourself and stay in an overwater bungalow

When visiting Bora Bora, I stayed at Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts. This hotel is near Tavairoa, which is a short boat ride (about 10 minutes) from the main island. Le Bora Bora has to be one of the most beautiful hotels in the world!  We stayed in an overwater bungalow for 3 nights, and it was worth every penny! 

My favorite thing about staying in an overwater bungalow was the décor. The lower part of the bed was glass, which made for phenomenal, late-night views of fish, sharks, and rays swimming under the bed. The most impressive feature of the hotel was the ambiance. From the dimmed lights to the beautiful wall art, glass shower, and stocked refrigerator, this hotel felt exclusive, private, and iconic. In addition, the hotel has four restaurants and a private dining experience for guests. While staying at Le Bora Bora, I ate at three of their restaurants and had them arrange a private dining experience on the beach. The food was delicious and the staff were very accommodating to ensure no detail was overlooked.

So, if you are contemplating staying in a regular hotel room or a bungalow, book the bungalow! After all, who doesn’t want to see fish swimming under their bed?!

2. Snorkel or Dive

Bora Bora is surrounded by a reef and a lagoon, which is why there are minimal ocean waves that have a vibrant teal color. Stingrays, small sharks, and colorful fish fill the Lagoon making Bora Bora a wonderful place to see aquatic animals. Snorkeling from the beach is fun and convenient, but for the best experience, a snorkeling trip is a way to go! Boats offering snorkeling trips often know the best places to see sharks and stingrays. However, be cautious when booking a snorkeling trip, as sadly, some of the boats still feed the underwater wildlife, which can be dangerous and harmful to the animals.

3. Explore the Island with an E-Bike:

A great way to see Bora Bora at your own pace is to bike it! There are a few rental shops on the main island that rent cars, bikes (including E-bikes), and scooters. The perimeter of Bora Bora is about 18 miles, so if you want to exercise while being surrounded by scenic views, a bike ride won’t disappoint! Our hotel provided transportation from Tevairoa to Vaitape, which entailed a short 10-minute boat ride, followed by a 10-minute taxi ride to the Avis rental company. I biked around the perimeter of Bora Bora (starting in Vaitape) in July and captured some stunning views of the beaches, fruit, and shops. Additionally, the road was well-paved, and people were respectful of bikers, which made for a pleasant bike ride!

4. Go Paddle Boarding and Enjoy the Beach

Since Bora Bora typically doesn’t have big waves, it’s a great place to paddle board! When I visited Bora Bora, our hotel offered complimentary paddle boards, and a staff member showed us how to use them. It took a few tries to figure out how to use the paddles correctly, but after a little practice, propelling over the waves was refreshing and exhilarating. After an hour of paddle boarding, having a cocktail on the beach is the perfect post-workout treat!

Also check other sources for events’ and hotels’ hours, availability, closures, and contact information before making plans. None of my recommendations for Bora Bora were sponsored or discounted and, as always, reflect my honest opinion.