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How much does it cost to travel to Bora Bora? 'Spoiler': not cheap, but for its attractiveness it is justified

2023-05-28T10:51:15.134Z

Highlights: Bora Bora is the jewel of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity located in the southern Pacific Ocean. The most famous photos of this island are those of its villas built on the water of its lagoon. The island has no roads nearby and is completely surrounded by water, so you can only reach the accommodation by taxi-boats. It is an authentic aquarium and one of the must-see activities is to dive into its waters to swim with lemon sharks, blacktip sharks and rays.


A plane ticket of 2,000 euros, sleeping in a floating villa for the same price at night, an excursion through the lagoon for 600 euros ... The desire to know the jewel of French Polynesia is not suitable for all budgets, although it also offers more affordable proposals


It was seven o'clock in the morning when I opened the windows of the floating bungalow in which I was sleeping. The sun announced its rise behind the green silhouettes of the Pahia and Hue mountains and dimly illuminated the blue tones of the water. I took a visor, went down some stairs that gave direct access to the sea and dived. As if it were a morning gift, a line passed by me that followed its course calmly. Seeing myself in the middle of this scene, I realized that if it were not for the fact that I was living it, this story narrated by someone else would sound fanciful to me.

Bora Bora is the jewel of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity located in the southern Pacific Ocean, made up of 118 islands, of which 67 are inhabited. Of the Leeward Islands, in the western archipelago of the Society, the commune of Bora Bora stands out, a territory of volcanic origin that emerged 13 million years ago. Its islets, its impressive lagoon, an atoll formed by a ring of coral at water level and its mountains make up a perfect landscape that has given it the nickname of May Ti Pora, which means "created by the gods".

More informationThe most spectacular airports in the world to land

To get here you need to land at Tahiti Faa'a International Airport. My flight departed from Mexico City, but there are routes from Paris, Barcelona and other parts of the world operated by airlines such as Air France. On the way you stop in cities like Los Angeles and then reach Papeete, in Tahiti, the capital of French Polynesia. From this airport there are direct flights to Bora Bora with the local airline Air Tahiti. The price of air tickets varies depending on the destination and the season, but the total cost of my international and local flight was $ 2,149 (about 2,000 euros).

View of Mount Otemanu from Bora Bora Lagoon.

Polynesian culture has a great taste for flowers and plants, with which they make crowns and necklaces. The most important cause of the elaboration of this craft is to welcome its visitors, so when you get off the plane this was my pleasant welcome.

It is surprising to see that Bora Bora airport has no roads nearby and is completely surrounded by water, so you can only reach the accommodation by taxi-boats. While admiring the preamble of the landscape, I listened to a musician who entertained the transfer with a ukulele; This moment was a very special first impression.

This is what Polynesian floating bungalows are like

The most famous photos of this island are those of its villas built on the water of its lagoon. In my case, I chose Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts, a luxury resort that met my expectations and that in addition to floating villas has suites located in front of the sea. Opening the door of my bungalow was a discovery, starting with the foot of the bed: a fish tank from which the sea and corals are visible. Among its amenities is a large bed, a bathroom with whirlpool tub and a terrace with direct access to the sea. The night can cost from $ 2,137 (about 1,991 euros) and the rate includes breakfast in its restaurant.

As a bonus, I suggest hiring a breakfast in your bungalow. This room service is quite an experience because it involves a special ritual orchestrated by two Polynesians who transport your food in a canoe and serve it at the table on your terrace. The price is $ 110 per couple (102 euros). It's completely worth it!

Of course, Bora Bora has more affordable accommodation alternatives, these are conventional hotels located on the mainland that have prices from $ 170 per night (158 euros) and even platforms such as Airbnb offer camping options from $ 50 (47 euros). My recommendation is that despite how expensive it is to stay in a floating bungalow, consider living the experience for at least one or two nights and the rest of the days opt for something that suits your budget.

What to do in this piece of heaven?

Bora Bora is an authentic natural aquarium and one of the must-see activities is to dive into its waters to swim with lemon sharks, blacktip sharks and rays. These marine animals are harmless, they are used to inhabiting coral reefs and it is amazing to see how familiar they are with bathers and divers.

Mariel Galán snorkeling in the coral reefs of the Polynesian island.

There are different agencies that offer shared excursions and water activities such as snorkeling, paddle surfing, Polynesian canoeing, sailboat and jet ski, among others. My choice was a private tour I did with Teriifehau Herenui, a local guide and worthy representative of Polynesians thanks to his joy, his multiple tattoos and his passion for the ukulele. The tour with his agency, Tamatoa Excursion Bora Bora, consisted of navigating the entire lagoon in his boat, snorkeling and visiting a virgin beach located in front of the majestic Mount Otemanu, a volcanic peak that measures 727 meters high and is the postal symbol of this island. The private tour includes unlimited food and drinks and costs $650 for two people (605 euros). In case you prefer a shared tour with other tourists, there are excursions to the lagoon from 250 dollars (233 euros).

The author of the blog Mariel de Viaje with a local guide on a private tour of the island. ADRIÁN VÁZQUEZ

What is the best season to travel to Bora Bora?

April to September is the best time because the temperature is warm and the season is dry. It is its high season, but I believe that there are destinations where it is preferable to choose the best climate, since nobody likes to travel to the beach with inclement weather. The months that should be avoided are between November and March, due to the rains.

Bora Bora is a destination that confirmed to me why it is the most sought-after island in French Polynesia and the favorite destination of European royalty. The price of traveling to this paradise is proportional to its beauty and how epic it can be to travel its landscapes. It has become my favorite island, and if I had a good sum of money in the bank, I would return every summer.

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Source: elparis

All news articles on 2023-05-28

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