Bora Bora: a perfect slice of heaven on earth! In this blog, we will tell you all you need to know about travelling to Bora Bora in French Polynesië! Things to do in Bora Bora, how to get there, and information on nice (and budget-proof) hotels and restaurants! We share all of our own backpacking experiences in this travel guide.
Bora Bora in French Polynesia
Many people are unfamiliar with French Polynesia, but when you mention Bora Bora, a bell rings! Bora Bora is the most visited island of French Polynesia, a tourist destination and especially popular for honeymoons. And to be honest, for us, Bora Bora lived up to the expectations. It is the most beautiful island we have ever seen!
We cycled around the island and made a boat trip where we swam with sharks and rays and enjoyed the beautiful blue water. The island of Bora Bora is a large extinct volcano surrounded by a reef with small islands on it (motus). These small islands most often house luxury resorts and have the most beautiful beaches. But the main island is a lot of fun, too. Most of the locals live here, often in the capital city of Vaitape. 
How many days do you need for Bora Bora?
We recommend you to stay 3-4 days in Bora Bora. This gives you plenty of time to explore this pretty island and all the different shades of emerald the sea has to offer. If you have more time, then you will love spending that here too, just keep in mind Bora Bora is the most expensive island of French Polynesia.
Is Bora Bora an expensive destination?
Bora Bora is not a cheap or budget destination! Many people visit Bora Bora to stay in a luxury resort and overwater bungalow. Most often, these resorts are beautiful but extremely expensive (the starting rate for 1 night is often around €500). These resorts are often on their private island/ motu, meaning that most of your meals will also be taken there. For a meal in a luxury resort, you must account for around €40- €50 a meal. On top of this also come your flights, which are not cheap! Activities booked at an overwater bungalow resort on Bora Bora are also highly priced. So if you travel to Bora Bora for a luxury vacation, then yes Bora Bora is very expensive.
Budget travel in Bora Bora: backpacking!
But luckily, there is a big BUT! We did manage to travel to Bora Bora and French Polynesia on a budget! Yes, we went backpacking in Bora Bora! By staying in homestays or budget hotels on the main island of Bora Bora, you can save a lot of money! On average, we spent about €80 a night. Furthermore, we did our grocery shopping and cooked many meals ourselves (€5 a meal). Activities we booked locally, and since we stayed on the main island we could bike to the other parts of Bora Bora to explore!
All of this saved us a lot of money; however, do keep in mind that a trip to French Polynesia and Bora Bora is budget-wise still not comparable to, for instance, South East Asia. Are you backpacking to Bora Bora? Then this Bora Bora travel guide will help you stay penny-wise!
Curious about what we spend on our trip to French Polynesia? Read more in our French Polynesia budget blog!
Where is Bora Bora located?
Bora Bora is one of the islands of French Polynesia. French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of France, composed of over 118 islands. You can find French Polynesia in the Pacific Sea, sort of midway between New Zealand and the United States.
All 118 islands of French Polynesia are spread out over an area larger than 4000 square kilometres. This means that if you would want to travel from the most eastern located island to the most western located island, this covers about 2000 kilometres. The same distance as to travel from Amsterdam to Athens! These 118 islands are divided into 5 groups. Bora Bora is part of the Society Islands group. From Papeete (the capital city of French Polynesia) on the island of Tahiti, it is just a short 50-minute flight to Bora Bora.
How to get to Bora Bora?
As mentioned before, since Bora Bora is part of the Society Islands group and lies close to Tahiti, it is easiest to first fly to Tahiti (at the airport of Papeete) and then take a transfer flight to Bora Bora. Depending on where you are from, it might take a while to fly to Papeete. From Papeete, it is 50 minutes to Bora Bora.
Click here for the most recent flight deals to Bora Bora!
When you arrive at the airport of Bora Bora, which is located on a separate island, you will take the free ferry to the main port. If you stay at one of the luxury resorts of Bora Bora, then most often there is a pick-up service from your hotel at the airport.
Are you planning to include Bora Bora in your itinerary? Then read our French Polynesia itinerary blog for the perfect 2-week itinerary!
Things to do in Bora Bora: our 6 favorite activities
Besides relaxing and enjoying the perfect blue water, Bora Bora has some other cool activities to offer. Below are our 6 favorite things to do on Bora Bora.
1. A lagoon tour on Bora Bora: snorkeling with sharks and stingrays.
One of the scariest and coolest things I have ever done in my entire life: swimming with sharks and stingrays! During a lagoon tour, we explored the beautiful waters around Bora Bora, went to different motus, and swam with sharks and stingrays. In the shallow waters around Bora Bora live many black tip reef sharks. For humans, they are not dangerous at all. The animals are completely white and about 1 meter long. Another sea animal that lives here is the stingray. They are also harmless, although there are rare cases of them stinging their poisonous tail.
As you can imagine, going into the water with these creatures is both exciting and scary, but after a while, I relaxed and enjoyed it. Going under water and snorkeling around them was cool.
Next to this experience, a Lagoon tour is a great way to see Bora Bora and the beautiful volcanic hills from a distance. And then I haven’t even talked about the 1000 different shades of turquoise of the sea. If there is just one thing you can do in Bora Bora, a Lagoon tour would be it! We ended the tour with a delicious lunch on a motu.
Click here for more information on a Lagoon tour!
2. Diving in the lagoon of Bora Bora
The waters of Bora Bora are filled with fish. When diving, you can expect to encounter nurse sharks, reef sharks, hamerhead sharks, mantarays and stingrays, and occasionally, whales or dolphins.
Tip: Don’t forget that it should take several hours before it is safe to fly again after diving. If your plane is leaving the next day, then diving is not recommended. And that’s exactly why we did not have the time to dive on Bora Bora (instead, Ries made some dives in Rangiroa).
3. Cycle around the island of Bora Bora
The perfect way to independently explore Bora Bora is by bike! Around the whole main island of Bora Bora is a good asphalt road of about 32 km long. Along the road, you will continuously have the most beautiful views of the paradisal island and the motus. Cycle to the south for beautiful beaches, to the north for nature and tranquility, and to the east of the island to go off the beaten path. You can rent a bike for about €12 for a whole day.
Tip: Make sure to bring enough sunscreen! While cycling, you burn quickly, I can say from experience.
4. Mountain climbing or hiking in Bora Bora
Bora Bora is an island based on the remnants of a volcano. This is visible: when seeing Bora Bora from a distance, you can notice a steep mountain with two peaks: Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu. The highest peak is Mount Otemanu, with 727 meters above sea level.
Mount Otemanu is too steep to climb, but it is possible to visit Mount Pahia. This is for experienced mountain climbers. We are no climbers but prefer hiking. On Bora Bora, there are multiple walking trails. According to locals, the Valley of the Kings track is one of the most beautiful ones. Be aware that for your safety, it is recommended to take a local guide on these hikes and to only hike in dry weather. Ask around in town for a local guide. In the capital city of Vaitape you have the best chance of finding one. 
5. Whale watching on Bora Bora!
Between July and October, you can find humpback whales in the waters around Bora Bora! These beautiful creatures are here to breed and give birth to baby whales (calves). It is possible to witness whales in Bora Bora since they come close to shore. The best chance of seeing them is around September. Unfortunately we visited Bora Bora in February and therefore did not have the chance to see whales. But it is one of our dreams to go back during summertime and witness this nature spectacle.
There are multiple tours with which you can go whale watching. We do urge you to always engage respectfully with these animals. Please join a tour that is animal-friendly and sticks to the eco and environment rules concerning distance to these wild animals.
6. Enjoy the beautiful beaches of Bora Bora!
Bora Bora has many beaches. Especially on the motus (the small islands around the main island, where most of the luxury resorts are), you will find soft sand and the most perfect turquoise and emerald colored water. On the mainland of Bora Bora, there is just one public beach: Matira Beach.
Matira Beach – Bora Bora
This popular beach is the only public access beach of Bora Bora. It is located at the southernmost point of Bora Bora. You will find some restaurants here. Many locals come here, too, which creates a cool vibe! Click here for the location.
Private beaches Bora Bora
To visit the other (private) beaches, you will need to stay in the resort where the beach is from. Some of the most beautiful beaches can be found at the following resorts:
1. Beach at the Four Seasons Bora Bora
2. Beach at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui
3. Beach at the Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa
4. Beach at the St Regis Bora Bora
Tip: When you are backpacking in Bora Bora and don’t have the budget to stay in one of the luxury resorts but still want to enjoy pretty beaches, then have a look at the water tours that are offered. Many of them stop for lunch at a pretty beach on one of the motus. This way, you get to experience pretty beaches in Bora Bora on a budget!
Nice restaurants on Bora Bora!
Food, mostly being transported from France to Bora Bora, is one of the most expensive things here (aside from the overwater bungalows). Most travelers staying in a luxury resort in Bora Bora take all their meals on the resort itself. However, Bora Bora’s mainland also has some nice restaurants to eat at. Here is a selection of restaurants in Bora Bora, including some budget options.
Roulletes – food trucks in Vaitape
In the centre of Vaitape, near the ferry terminal, you will find from 6 pm onwards food trucks opening for business. These roadside stalls offer cheap and delicious food, perfect for a budget meal. Prices for a main course range from €8 to €12.
Iaorana Gelato – ice cream
After biking, we cooled off with a delicious ice cream at this gelato place! Click here for the location of this ice cream parlor on Bora Bora.
Bloody Mary’s – cocktails near the beach
Bloody Mary’s is a cocktail bar and restaurant close to Matira Beach. It is famous for its clientele, which consists of many different types of celebrities. The food is fairly affordable; a dish during lunch is between €12 and €18. In the evening mains start at €25. Click here for the location of this restaurant on Bora Bora.
St James restaurant – fancy dining
St James restaurant is easy to miss; it’s in Vaitape, behind a seemingly desolated shopping mall. However, it’s a real hidden gem. This waterfront restaurant has good food, friendly service, and a nice ambiance. Mains start from €33. Click here for the location of this restaurant on Bora Bora.
Also nice: St James offers yoga classes on the deck during the mornings combined with a brunch.
Bora Bora Yacht Club – fancy dining!
The Bora Bora Yacht Club, north of Vaitape, is perfect for fine dining. Out on the deck, looking at the sunset, is the perfect ending to a romantic day in Bora Bora. The restaurant is famous for its tuna, so don’t miss out on it. Mains start from €35. Click here for the location of this restaurant on Bora Bora.
Cool and budget-proof hotels in Bora Bora!
Bora Bora is a large volcano surrounded by a reef with small islands on it (Motus). The most expensive overwater bungalow resorts are located on these small islands. However, what most people don’t know is that Bora Bora also has affordable accommodations on the main island! Are you backpacking in Bora Bora? Below are our favourite budget hotels for Bora Bora:
Oa Oa Lodge €€
Looking for an affordable overwater bungalow? Then, this is your spot! The lodge is located on the beach and also has its swimming pool! You can rent a bike and book island excursions here. You sleep here for €162 (two persons).
Fare o’Eden €€
This villa is a short walk from the beach but has a large garden with a beautiful view of the mountain tops of Bora Bora. Everything is available to cook yourself. You can rest and relax here! From €160 per night (two persons).
Bora Bora Bungalove €€
These lovely bungalows are within cycling distance of the capital and are located directly on the sea. We stayed here for three wonderful nights. You have your kitchen and a beautiful terrace. From €169 (two people).
Luxury travel: The best overwater bungalows of Bora Bora!
Are you definitely not traveling on a budget and looking for that once-in-a-lifetime experience of sleeping in an overwater bungalow on Bora Bora? Then, check out the luxury overwater bungalows on Bora Bora below!
InterContinental €€€€
The Intercontinental overwater bungalows of Bora Bora each have a private pool! And look at that amazing water! Who wouldn’t want to stay here? From €925 (2 persons).
Four Seasons Resort €€€€
The Four Seasons resort has these amazing overwater bungalows with multiple layers, private swing pools, and more. Incl. beautiful designs and luxury outdoor areas! From €1600 a night (2 pers).
Looking for more inspiration for budget hotels and overwater bungalows in the rest of French Polynesia? Then read our French Polynesia hotels blog!
Click here for more blogs about French Polynesia!
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Nice blog with useful insight.
Love it! Super useful!
Enjoyed this write up the pictures were super cute too!
Thanks so much!