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The
warm shallow water of Bora Bora's lovely lagoon is world famous for its
unspoiled beauty. An
almost unbroken expanse of warm, white sand surrounds the island,
providing it with a white collar of perfection for sun worshippers.
This
truly beautiful island lies 240kms north west of Tahiti in the Leeward
Society Islands. Home to more than 4,000 people, it is in the centre of a
multicoloured lagoon, surrounded by off-shore motu islets inside a
protective necklace of coral. As
you approach from the sea or air, you can't help but be awed by the basalt
obelisk of Mount Otemanu, a natural sculpture that towers majestically
over an island of intense emerald green.
Getting
to Bora Bora is easy. A launch takes you from the Bora Bora airport on
Motu Mute to the main island, crossing the lagoon to Vaitape Village. From
there Le Truck or mini-van transports you to hotels, pensions or camping
ground, and every accommodation type offers a host of tours and activities
including outrigger speed canoe excursions, scuba diving, picnics on a
motu, catamaran cruising, and barbeque parties. Visitors
to Bora Bora can explore the beautiful island by motor canoe, mountain
bike, landrover, or you can climb Mt Pahia on foot for a picnic.
You
can take a boat trip around the island doing some snorkelling and
exploring of small motu islets on the way, arriving in time to watch the
feeding of the sharks, where you can actually stand or float in about 4ft
of water and watch through a mask as several dozen hungry sharks are hand
fed, only a few metres away. Other
pastimes are walking on living coral, searching for graceful manta rays,
diving for the giant mussels buried in the white sandy lagoon bottom,
donning a mask and snorkel to view the fish and coral and just lazing at
the lagoon edge watching the sun sink below the ocean in the west. Deep
sea fishing off the sheltered waters of Bora Bora usually brings record
catches of marlin, yellowfin, tuna, sailfish, wahoo and mahi mahi.
The
archaeologically inclined will find several maraes, the temples of the
ancient Polynesian religion, dotting the island. The most important marae
is Marae Marotetini on the point west of Farepiti wharf, beyond a huge
banyan tree. The great stone ahu, 50 metres long and up to three metres
high was restored by Professor Sinoto in 1968 and is visible to
approaching ships.
There
is only one navigable pass on Bora Bora. It faces the principal village of
Vaitape. A partially paved road circles the island passing colourful
villages, archaeological sites, old Army bunkers and cannons left over
from World War 2 when 5,000 American GI's made a 'friendly invasion'. Bora
Bora's breathtaking beauty can best be enjoyed and photographed from a
helicopter. Flights over the island and lagoon are a real treat because it
is only from up high that you can appreciate the sheer beauty of Bora Bora
and her many motus which resemble jewels scattered upon the sea.
Another
way to see Bora Bora is soaring 300ft above the lagoon for twelve
breathtaking minutes parasailing.
On
the north side of Pofai Bay is a large white mansion built as the
residence of the governor of American Samoa in the Dino de Laurentis film,
'Hurricane', starring Mia Farrow.
From
Bloody Mary's Restaurant there's a spectacular view across Potai Bay to
the island's soaring peaks. An unmarked road near the restaurant takes you
to a TV tower with magnificent views as well.
The
boutiques in most of the hotels are well stocked with suntan lotion, film,
T-shirts, pareus, souvenirs and black pearls.
Hotels & Resorts on Bora Bora
The hotels on Bora Bora are either located on the southshore
of the main island, or on the motu's (small islands on the rim of the lagoon).
Also the airport is located on a motu, so for any hotel you need to take a
boattransfer (either straight to the hotel or to the wharf on the main
island).
For
more regional information
on Bora Bora, go to:
-
Maupiti
(neighbor
island of Bora Bora)
For
more general information
on French Polynesia, go to: |
