Discover Bora Bora Tour: History and Culture through Land & Sea Excursions

Lush emerald leaves spread across the exotic rainforest terrain at the heart of Bora Bora. Turquoise, indigo, and sapphire waters shimmer against white sand beaches. Women wear hand-dyed sarongs that match the tropical colors of the blossoming hibiscus and frangipani. The scent of coconut, mango, and pineapple overtake the semi-sweet aroma of the South Pacific Sea. Your flight lands at Bora Bora Airport and a private transfer will be there to escort you across the gorgeous lagoon to your luxury resort. The private dock leads over the ivory, powdery sands of the shoreline. You settle into an overwater bungalow, an iconic image of comfort in the island paradise.

The thatched roof and wooden frame pay homage to the Polynesian architecture found around the Pacific islands. You can hear the water lapping against the wooden posts supporting the suite. You return to the lobby to meet your guide who is eager to take you on an introductory tour along the coastal roads. Tiare Tahiti blossoms with delicate fragrance around the edges of the rainforest and coconut palms cast slivers of shade over the beaches. You’re guided to the northwest coast to find the restored historic religious center of Marotetini Marae. More than a millennium ago, the large stone base supported a temple where priests performed rituals, including sacrifices.

In the morning, the sea breeze rustles through the thatched rooftop. The calm water ripples against the posts of your bungalow and the scent of mango and guava hang in the air. Indulge in a refreshing, frothy cappuccino before meeting your guide in the lobby for a full-day 4x4 jeep safari around the center of Bora Bora. You cross the lagoon and board the jeep in Vaitape. The Central Market brims with activity and each produce stand dots the coastal road showcasing luscious pineapple, bright lychee, and sweet passion fruit.

You find a bread vendor offering delicious banana bread made from the fruit harvested on the island. You reach an outlook at Taharuu Marae Point for a stunning view of the lagoon. The trees frame the vista around the naval guns introduced to the island by the US Navy at the onset of World War II. The guns shine through the rusted metal, drawing attention with their dramatic figures looking out the sea. It is easy to imagine Imperial Japanese ships on the horizon speeding closer to the shores of Bora Bora and French Polynesia.

You continue deeper inland into the Faanui Valley. You find a workshop that produces pareu, handmade sarongs. The staff welcomes you inside with wide smiles and shows you how they weave the cotton into prints when crafting the sarongs. A nearby plantation harvests coconuts and mangos from trees growing at the edges of a village. You travel along the ridges of Mount Otemanu to reach the shoulders supporting the basalt summit of the extinct volcano. The peak reaches a stunning point atop steep cliffs at nearly 2,400 feet above sea level.

The morning light washes over the bright indigo and turquoise hues of Bora Bora’s lagoon. The white sands begin to glisten against the quiet sea sweeping over the beaches. Cows and sheep graze on the small farms at the heart of the island, and orange trees offer a sweet citrus aroma, cutting through the fragrant sea breeze. After breakfast, you board a speedboat and set out on the lagoon to begin your private snorkeling tour in search of fabulous coral gardens.

The water mists into the air at the hull of the boat. The wind carries sea spray onto your cheeks before the boat drops anchor at your first stop. You jump into the water to find a warm, inviting temperature. Salt crystals form on your shoulders. You look down to find the remarkable reef which creates a garden-like ambiance below the surface of the water. Pillar coral resembles cacti and columns sprouting from the calcite mounds rising from the seafloor. Sporadic sea fans wave with the gentle motion of the water.

A moray eel emerges from a small cave hidden by the purple coral. Moray eels can grow to nearly 10 feet long and are predators of the smaller fish along the reef. Plate coral protrudes from the mounds in stacks. Clownfish peek their heads from the tendrils of sea anemones, and the long dorsal fins of bright bannerfish dance in the water as the school swims in a flowing formation. You continue to the drop-off to find giant manta rays and blacktip reef sharks, both an important part of the ecosystem.

In the morning, the tranquil sounds of the ukulele rouse you from sleep. The lapping water offers a peaceful, rhythmic background to the strumming strings. You step out onto your private deck to find a traditional Polynesian canoe drifting closer to your overwater bungalow. Flowers symbolize festivities due to their natural, vibrant colors and their cycle of rebirth, and gorgeous petals from orchids and frangipani decorate the canoe. Step aboard the vessel for a private cruise around the edges of the lagoon and relax in the refreshing morning air and calming melody of the water. Return to the deck of your bungalow to find your own luxury breakfast awaiting, with the scent of guava fading beneath the fragrance of fresh, creamy cappuccino.

After your beautiful meal, the remainder of the day is yours for a deeper indulgence into the splendors of Bora Bora. Enjoy a bike ride around the coastal roads of the main island or dip your toes into the hot sands on the hidden shores of Eden Beach. In the afternoon, you board a Polynesian outrigger canoe to sail around the edges of Bora Bora. Sip an effervescent glass of sparkling wine as the sun begins to set. You can spot sergeant majors, and bannerfish swimming around the fringe reefs as the sinking sun casts streaks of pink, purple, and orange across the sky. The amazing colors shape the unforgettable ambiance before you reach a seaside restaurant filling the air with fragrant coconut, garlic, and lime.

Paddleboarders take to the quiet waters of the lagoon in the morning, enjoying the gentle wake and soft sunlight. The twin peaks of Otemanu and Pahia tower above the island shores, striking an ever-present dramatic pose from every angle. You have learned to take your time in Bora Bora. You’ve become accustomed to reveling in the little pleasures of island life, from the luscious scent of coconut to the herbaceous and sweet perfume of frangipani. After breakfast, you make your way to the marina at Vaitape to visit the Lagoonarium, an open aquarium framed by a small island on the outer ring of the lagoon.

The crystal clear turquoise water magnifies the beautiful fauna grazing around the edges of the small island. The fish and marine life have become accustomed to people, making them more curious than timid when you enter the water with a snorkel. The majestic colors of the tropical fish glint in the sunlight piercing the surface water. The bright coral along the seafloor spells out “I Love Bora.”

Manta rays glide beneath you, nearly touching your hands as you float atop the water. The rays can grow to 23 feet wide, with wings that help them to cut through the current or fly with the water’s movement. A sea turtle passes beneath you and begins to graze on algae. They can grow up five feet long and weigh more than 400 pounds. Their neck is attached to their giant shell, and their snout is short with an unhooked beak. Your guide leads you to a private shore for a barbecue picnic in view of the active marine life of the Lagoonarium.

After breakfast, venture into the heart of Bora Bora for a more intimate interaction with the rainforest terrain. Your guide leads you on the winding dirt trail. The dense trees shade you from the sunlight. Exotic flowers blossom on the branches and around the ferns. The fronds resemble large fans waving in the tropical heat. Coconut palms yield luscious drupes, and mango trees shine orange and yellow from their dangling fruit. Frangipanis bloom amidst the verdant underbrush. The pathway takes you into the Valley of the Kings, named for the historic remnants of the historic Polynesian civilization that once resided in the rainforest.

Artifacts dating back more than 2,000 years continue to hide in the underbrush and beneath the canopy. Ancient lava stones used for cooking lead to petroglyphs shaded by an abundance of leaves. You continue along the trail leading to the plateau of Mount Pahia. The basalt stone peeks through the trees and glistens silver against the emerald hues of the forest. The summit reaches a height of more than 2,150 feet above sea level. You look past the peak of Mount Otemanu to find the bordering indigo, sapphire, and turquoise tones of the lagoon and the South Pacific. The pristine and rugged splendor of this scene brings the adventurous day to its zenith in the form of an unforgettable panorama.

The waters of Bora Bora continue beckoning to you in majestic manners, from the reefs teeming with tropical fish, to the soothing warmth of the water that wraps around you when you plunge into the lagoon. At breakfast, the scent of fresh coffee helps rejuvenate you after the previous day’s adventure to the top of Mount Pahia. After the meal, you leave behind the shores of your resort to begin your half-day jet ski adventure around the lagoon. The ride quickly makes your heart pound with excitement. You speed over the surface of the glassy waters as coconut palms rustle in the breeze along the sands of the quiet islets.

The towering peak of Mount Otemanu grows and shrinks as you maneuver around the picturesque lagoon. Your guide leads you along the shores of Bora Bora to arrive at a fruit plantation. You meet with locals happy to demonstrate the different ways to husk a coconut. They drive a stake into the ground and use the sharp edge to peel the husk away from the delicious fruit and then smash the coconut over a rock, slicing the fruit clean in half. They offer you a sample of the milk, and the subtle coconut flavor fills your palate. You return to the marina by jet ski before boarding a boat from which you will take to the sky for a tranquil parasailing tour.

Lounge in the morning light that washes over the water and the landscape and highlights the azure shades of the lagoon. The white sand layers the coastline with color, adding a stretch of ivory between the blue of the water and the verdant canopy of coconut palms. Breathe in the aromas of passion fruit and custard apple during your final breakfast at the resort. You embrace the serene song of the tide gently breaking against the wooden posts of your bungalow and the walkway leading back to shore.

French Polynesia is famous for pearls, and the island of Bora Bora offers an abundance of stunning gems to admire before you make your way home. You stop at a small, locally owned shop to find a gorgeous array of black pearls glinting in the soft light. The owner welcomes you like a family friend and introduces you to the jewels, inviting any questions you may have. The polished gleam of a single pearl on a gold chain catches your eye. You continue to the Bora Bora Airport for your flight home, carrying with you unforgettable memories and the simplistic beauty of an individual pearl.