Bora Bora-the most beautiful Island in World | French Polynesia | Moorea and Tahiti | my personal experiences.
French Polynesia (118 Islands and Atolls):
A group of islands and atolls located in the South Pacific Ocean. The territory of French Polynesia is made up of five groups of islands, which are divided into five administrative subdivisions known as “archipelagos”.
What is an Atoll?
An atoll is a ring-shaped coral reef or island that surrounds a lagoon. Atolls are formed over long periods of time as coral reefs grow around the edges of volcanic islands that have sunk or eroded below sea level.
Picture from plane window.
Top 10 things not to miss when in Bora Bora:
Experience Overwater Bungalows (min of 4 nights recommended):
We stayed in ‘MaiTai’, which had the reviews of a top resort but at 2/3rd the cost. Waking every morning to a quiet expanse of beautiful Ocean is a memory to keep. Walk down the ladder from your room to warm crystal clear waters and enjoy the beauty.
2. Coral Gardens (Breathtakingly beautiful): Our tour guide took us for a 20 mins swim on top of the Coral Gardens.
3. Touching a Sting Rays: Allowed only with tour guides. We saw Sting Rays swimming all around us in waist deep water. It was an unbelievable experience!
The Tour guide had names for the Sting Rays in that region and seemed to genuinely like them. Here is my youTube video on the loving handling for Sting Ray named ‘Jessica’ https://youtu.be/Kmy_ZMt5U6M
4. Swimming with Black Tip Sharks (Never saw a shark this close and clear): Allowed only with tour guides. We were asked to keep a distance as these Sharks can attack, if provoked. Here is my youTube video on swimming with Sharks https://youtu.be/TrxN_8yvaFM
Top two operators for Snorkeling Tours with Sting Rays, Sharks other Sea life are: Reef Discovery (Coral Gardens, Finding a Manta Ray, Snorkeling with Sting Rays and Sharks) Lagoon Service — Along with above they have a snack stop at a sand bar. Duration is longer.
5. Watching a Manta Ray deep below (if you are lucky) — we saw one!
6. Scuba (if you up for it): The tour guides were exceptional in taking care of guests underwater. 7. Watch a Tahitian Dance and Dinner :Yacht Club was our best experience. They pick you up from your hotel and drop you back after the show.
Marina Beach: Shoals of fish can be seen in knee deep water.
8. Marina beach (the clearest waters I have seen anywhere): 9.Kayaking, Stand-up paddle boarding, Jet Skiing and swimming: Kayaks and Paddle boards are freely available at your resort. The resorts can arrange for Jet Skiing and other activities. We kayaked for an hour on all days and saw so much sea life is the shallow waters of the Lagoon.
10. High End Resorts: We took a day pass to Conrad. It is very beautiful. But we enjoyed the open Lagoon waters much more. Listed below are 4 High End resorts to consider.
Moorea Island
We stayed 2 nights in Moorea, while returning from Bora Bora.
Whale watching: Moorea is a great place to see humpback whales during the mating season between July and November. The tours usually last 2–3 hours and offer once in a life time opportunity to see these magnificent creatures up close.
Hiking: Moorea has many hiking trails that offer stunning views of the island and its surroundings. One of the most popular hikes is the Belvedere Lookout, which offers panoramic views of the island’s two bays, Opunohu Bay and Cook’s Bay.
We stayed 2 nights in Hilton Tahiti on our way back to SFO.
Hilton Tahiti: Very beautiful and newest Hilton in Tahiti, around 2 km from Papeete airport.
Papeete Market: Must visit place for some local shopping.
Roulottes (Food Trucks): Don’t miss having food at Roulottes in open air at night.
Island Circle tour in your rental car (5+ hours): Faarumai Waterfalls, Arahoho Blowhole, Papara Beach, also known as Plage de Taharuu — is one of the prettiest black sand beaches in Tahiti.
Teahupoo: known as surf break capital with waves reaching 2 to 3 m and sometimes up to 7 meters (23 feet).
Millennium Wave: Laird Hamilton is a key personality in the development of big wave surfing. On August 17, 2000, he rode one of the meanest and thickest waves on the planet, the Millennium Wave at Teahupoo.
Should you rent a car?
We rented a car from Avis for couple of days in Bora Bora, one day in Moorea and all days in Tahiti. We found the car driving in Tahiti pretty safe.
People:
People in Tahiti are very warm and welcoming to Tourists. The traditional Tahitian way of life, known as “fa’a’apu,” emphasizes community, family, and respect for nature.
Tahitian culture is rich in art, music, dance, and storytelling, and these traditions are passed down from generation to generation. The most famous of these cultural practices is the Tahitian dance, which features fast hip shaking movements and elaborate costumes. Tahitian music often includes the ukulele, guitar, and traditional instruments such as the nose flute and the pahu drum.
How many days to stay in French Polynesia:
It depends on what you want to experience. If you are looking to explore multiple islands, it is recommend staying for at least ten days. No matter which island you choose to visit, you are in for a magical experience that is unforgettable.
How to reach Bora Bora from USA?
The most common way is to fly to the capital city of French Polynesia, Papeete, and then take a connecting flight to Bora Bora. From Papeete, it takes about 50 minutes to reach Bora Bora by plane.
Take a cruise from the USA: Many cruise lines offer trips to French Polynesia, with stops in Papeete and Bora Bora.
Private yacht or charter flights: For those who prefer a more exclusive and personalized experience, private yachts or charter flights can be arranged to reach Bora Bora.
Tahiti Tourisme Official site of the Office of tourism of Tahiti and its islands.
Tahiti Tourisme (North America) North American site with information on the islands of French Polynesia: Tahiti, Rangiroa, Fakarava, Moorea, Nuku Hiva, Huahine, Manihi, Tikehau, Raiatea & Taha’a, Hiva Oa, and Bora Bora.
Thank you for reading. You comments/suggestions are so welcome!
