Our planet has so many beautiful places; it’s impossible to visit them all in a single lifetime. Even so, you can make your own “bucket list” with some of the most exciting travel locations on the globe, and you can promise yourself to do your best to visit every one of them. When I travel, I love to choose any island as a destination because every time I’m on an island, my imagination flies away to unknown territory every time I look into the faraway horizon. And this time, I’m sharing my experience in Bora Bora.
Bora Bora is a “must-see” place for anyone in love with travels, water, and nature. Located in French Polynesia, Bora Bora is generally depicted as one of the most beautiful and romantic locations for a summer vacation! Resorts and spas populate this island, and everywhere you look, you will see rental houses suspended over the water.
The official languages of Bora Bora are French and Tahitian, but all locals involved in tourism speak English at a conversational level. In the Tahitian language, Bora Bora (or Pora Pora) means “firstborn”. Thus, another famous name is “Mai te pora” or “Created by Gods”.
The main occupation of the inhabitants is tourism. Therefore, they have developed activities to reconcile the most melancholic and dreamy visitors, but they also have enough activities for adventure and adrenaline junkies. In Bora Bora, you will always find something interesting to do.
The Road to Bora Bora
In the first phase of planning a nice vacation to Bora Bora, you need to establish your budget. First, you should know that this travel destination is far away from cheap, and you will not find a guest house under $200 per night.
Even if you look for Bora Bora deals, you still have to pay between $250 and $3000 per night for a beach house rental. Once you have made the reservation, it’s time to look for a flight because the only way to get to Bora Bora is by air.
The island has a small airport, but the air traffic here is pretty intense.
To get to the island, you have to change planes at least twice, depending on the route you choose to get there. First, you must find a way to get to Tahiti. From here, Air Tahiti has around six flights per day to Bora Bora and other islands.
The cost of a flight is at least 14 000 XPF (Polynesian franc), meaning about $160 or €120. Transportation on the island is quite tricky. You will find a public transportation system here that rounds the island in about an hour, but if you have a large budget for this trip, you can rent a 4×4 car that will successfully cope with the rocky terrain.
If you want to go cheaper, you can rent a bike, a solution that is more suitable for most occasions.
Bora Bora Accommodations
The island offers many accommodation possibilities for tourists. If you want luxury accommodation, you can stay at one of the 4- or 5-star hotels to raise expectations. Once the choice is made, most tourists are surprised to discover the unique layout of the rooms, which are separated by water.
Hotel complexes consist of small bungalows located above the sand or water, which allows you to take a refreshing swim as soon as you wake up in the morning. The cost of the rooms varies depending on the hotel: St. Regis, Intercontinental, Sofitel and Le Meridien Bora Bora. Whatever your choice is, you must be prepared to pull out of your pocket about 1000 dollars for one night.
A viable alternative to hotels or hostels are family camps, where prices are considerably lower, and you will get the same stunning views. If you are not accommodated at a luxury hotel that features a private beach, you can opt for a local beach that is picturesque and sometimes wild.
Having fun in Bora Bora
The cheapest way to have fun in Bora Bora (maybe not as exciting) is to admire the landscapes. Further, the activities could be divided into multiple categories: down to earth fun, fun in the air or underwater fun.
If you love water, you have several options, for the island has enough raw material: a snorkelling trip that involves a small promenade among brightly coloured fish and corals. In the category of water sports, you can opt for jet ski or scuba diving.
Finally, if you want to do something fascinating, you can choose the aqua safari, where you go underwater down to a depth of 35 meters to discover the surprising coral walls.
If you want to go the extra mile, you can have fun with activities involving feeding sharks or swimming among hungry sharks (protected by a cage). A safer alternative to this activity is to visit the local Zoo and swim among domesticated sharks.
For a great view of the island, you can take a helicopter tour or try parasailing, an activity that is cheaper but not necessarily safer. If you are a fan of adventure movies, you can go on a reconnaissance trip on the island, which hides in its centre remains of an ancient crater. To get there, you need to rent a 4×4 Bugster car to travel over that rocky terrain.
Naturally, a human guide is indicated in such a daring enterprise. Other low-budget options involve renting bikes and touring the island on foot. Even if it doesn’t sound like much, if 2-3 friends accompany you, you will have plenty of fun.
Bora Bora Souvenirs
No such trip can find its end without choosing souvenirs for your home, those small things that you will never forget of the time spend on this Paradise island.
French Polynesia is famous for cultivating pearls, making them the obvious option if you plan to buy a Bora Bora souvenir.
In general, souvenir prices are pretty high, but the market is very developed, allowing you to buy things at prices that will not ease your pockets. Besides pearls, tourists love to buy shells of various sizes and colours or TIKI statuettes believed to ward off evil spirits. As soon as you expose these items in your home, you will be surrounded by the island’s vibe, and they will not let you quickly forget that once you have stepped into Paradise.
Conclusion
Many books were written about Bora Bora, and it was described in sound epithets such as “Pearl of the Pacific”, “Paradise”, or “The most beautiful place on Earth”. But, for many people, Bora Bora is just a distant dream that can become real as long as we work hard and as long as we remain focused on our goal: to travel around the World, to meet beautiful people, to see extraordinary places.
