The Lagoon

Bora Bora, French Polynesia

The vast, shallow, impossibly coloured lagoon at the island's heart, alive with rays, reef sharks and coral gardens. The reason to come.

Places in The Lagoon

Matira Beach snack bars Casual beach snack bars near Matira serve coffee, smoothies and light bites with the lagoon in view. Relaxed and scenic.
Resort café-lounges The overwater resorts' lounges serve coffee and cocktails over the lagoon, a serene spot at any hour. Upscale and beautiful.
Resort sunset bars (overwater) The luxury resorts' bars offer cocktails on decks over the lagoon with sunset views to Mount Otemanu. The quintessential Bora Bora drink.
Matira Beach sunset drinks The bars near Matira Beach are perfect for a cocktail as the sun sets over the lagoon, more relaxed than the resorts. Easy and beautiful.
Lagoon tour & snorkelling A boat tour of the lagoon to snorkel with reef sharks and rays, drift over coral gardens and stop at a sandbar for a picnic. The essential Bora Bora day.
Mount Otemanu & the island interior The jagged, cloud-wreathed volcanic peak that defines the island, admired from the lagoon or explored on 4x4 and hiking tours of the lush interior and WWII sites. Dramatic and lush.

Best time to visit: May to October (the dry season) for the sunniest, least humid weather and calmest lagoon — the peak season. November to April is warmer and wetter with occasional storms, but quieter and cheaper. The lagoon is beautiful year-round.
Getting around: Fly from Tahiti (Pape'ete) to Bora Bora's motu airport, then transfer by boat. On the island, resorts run boat shuttles; a hire car, scooter or bicycle circles the small main island (Vaitape). The lagoon itself is explored by boat, kayak and on foot.
Currency: CFP Franc (₣)
Language: French and Tahitian. English is spoken at resorts.
Timezone: TAHT (UTC-10)
Current trends: A wave of reimagined and new luxury overwater resorts; a focus on sustainability and lagoon conservation; elevated Tahitian-French-Asian fusion dining; and premium private-motu and lagoon experiences for honeymooners and celebrations.

Vaitape (main village) — The main settlement on the island, with the ferry dock, shops, a market, pearl boutiques and a few local restaurants. The island's practical hub.
Matira Point & Beach — The island's southern tip, home to Matira Beach — the only real public beach and one of the most beautiful in the Pacific. The heart of the main island's life.
The Motu (outer islets) — The ring of palm-covered islets around the lagoon, home to the overwater luxury resorts and pristine sandbars. Where most visitors stay and dream.