Although the area of Bora Bora is no more than 11.31 square miles, this French Polynesian island has plenty of attractions that tourists are not likely to find anywhere else. Tourism is the island’s main source of income, and it depends on an extensive selection of unique sights to draw in more and more visitors from other countries.
Vaitape would be a good place to start. Aside from being one of two main ports of entry and exit for tourists, Vaitape is Bora Bora’s largest city and contains nearly half of the island’s population of almost 9,000. Vaitape has a variety of shops, cafes, and restaurants but the main point of interest is the wharf that lines the city. You can see seagoing vessels of all shapes and sizes going in and out of the wharf every day, from the small boats that are the linchpins of the local fishing industry to the larger ferries and cruise ships that transport passengers and freight to and from neighboring Tahiti.
Being an island, Bora Bora has its share of beaches where travelers can relax and do all sorts of recreational activities. Matira Beach is the most popular among these, being the only public beach on the main island. Take the two kilometers of pristine white sand and clear blue water, add the cool trade winds of the South Pacific, and you have the makings of a tranquil experience replicated in only a very few other places on Earth. Go snorkeling or ride a glass-bottom boat in Matira Beach and you are sure to find plenty of colorful tropical fish among the nearly 700 different species that make the waters surrounding Bora Bora their home. Not included in this already vast number are the giant manta rays and sharks native to the region.
Another very popular tourist attraction in Bora Bora is the Lagoonarium. Imagine a large outdoor aquarium with plenty of marine life but instead of watching it all from beyond a wall of clear glass, you are right there in the water, swimming along with the fish, turtles, sharks, rays and many of the other aquatic species native to Bora Bora and the surrounding islands. Experienced guides are always present to help you better interact with the different marine life therein, but swimming in the Lagoonarium is safe for all ages as well as enjoyable. After all, what could be a better way to experience the wonders of the world beneath the waves than to get up close and personal with them?
Bora Bora has a long and proud history dating back by millennia. Ancient Polynesians who once lived on Bora Bora put up open-air temples built from stone and coral and known as maraes. Most of the stone slabs have carved petroglyphs of turtles since these were the sacred animals of the ancient Polynesian religion. Many maraes still exist today to serve as concrete reminders of Bora Bora’s early history, and they are literally all over the island. Rent a car or a scooter and simply stay on the island’s coastal road because you’ll be running into a number of maraes on the roadside as you go along.
If you’re a World War 2 history buff, Bora Bora has something just for you. Somewhat surprisingly, one of the main attractions on the island is a battery of seven 20-foot coastal guns installed by the United States Army along with various other support facilities shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack. Bora Bora became a major supply base for the Americans during the war, and the long-range guns were originally put in place to help the local garrison defend the island from attacks coming from the sea. The huge guns, however, were never fired in anger as Bora Bora never came under any real threat, which may explain why they are so well-preserved even after nearly seventy years of sitting unused and exposed to the elements.
Although smaller than a host of other inhabited islands around the world, Bora Bora indeed has something for everyone. Words don’t do justice for the many attractions one can find there. It is best to visit the island yourself and experience everything in all its glory.
Being an island, Bora Bora has its share of beaches where travelers can relax and do all sorts of recreational activities. Matira Beach is the most popular among these, being the only public beach on the main island. Take the two kilometers of pristine white sand and clear blue water, add the cool trade winds of the South Pacific, and you have the makings of a tranquil experience replicated in only a very few other places on Earth. Go snorkeling or ride a glass-bottom boat in Matira Beach and you are sure to find plenty of colorful tropical fish among the nearly 700 different species that make the waters surrounding Bora Bora their home. Not included in this already vast number are the giant manta rays and sharks native to the region.
Another very popular tourist attraction in Bora Bora is the Lagoonarium. Imagine a large outdoor aquarium with plenty of marine life but instead of watching it all from beyond a wall of clear glass, you are right there in the water, swimming along with the fish, turtles, sharks, rays and many of the other aquatic species native to Bora Bora and the surrounding islands. Experienced guides are always present to help you better interact with the different marine life therein, but swimming in the Lagoonarium is safe for all ages as well as enjoyable. After all, what could be a better way to experience the wonders of the world beneath the waves than to get up close and personal with them?
Bora Bora has a long and proud history dating back by millennia. Ancient Polynesians who once lived on Bora Bora put up open-air temples built from stone and coral and known as maraes. Most of the stone slabs have carved petroglyphs of turtles since these were the sacred animals of the ancient Polynesian religion. Many maraes still exist today to serve as concrete reminders of Bora Bora’s early history, and they are literally all over the island. Rent a car or a scooter and simply stay on the island’s coastal road because you’ll be running into a number of maraes on the roadside as you go along.
If you’re a World War 2 history buff, Bora Bora has something just for you. Somewhat surprisingly, one of the main attractions on the island is a battery of seven 20-foot coastal guns installed by the United States Army along with various other support facilities shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack. Bora Bora became a major supply base for the Americans during the war, and the long-range guns were originally put in place to help the local garrison defend the island from attacks coming from the sea. The huge guns, however, were never fired in anger as Bora Bora never came under any real threat, which may explain why they are so well-preserved even after nearly seventy years of sitting unused and exposed to the elements.
Although smaller than a host of other inhabited islands around the world, Bora Bora indeed has something for everyone. Words don’t do justice for the many attractions one can find there. It is best to visit the island yourself and experience everything in all its glory.
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