Bora Bora, located about 160 miles northwest of Tahiti and approximately 2,600 miles south of Hawaii, is an island in the Leeward group of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.
Interestingly, in the local Tahitian language there is no "B," so its actual name is then Pora Pora, meaning "first born".
The island is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef. In the center of the island are the remnants of an extinct volcano rising to two peaks, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu, the highest point at 727 m (2,385 ft).
Bora Bora's main attraction is its calm and crystal-clear lagoon offering the full array of nautical activities, the most famous being the Shark and Ray Feeding Excursion. There are also land excursion, such as by 4x4 up the hills to see the old WWII cannons and get a bird's-eye-view of the multicolored lagoon.
Bora Bora is famous for snorkeling and scuba diving in and around its lagoon. Many species of sharks and rays can be seen in the transparent water. There are a few dive operators on the island offering manta ray dives and shark-feeding dives.
Public transport on the island is limited, consisting of a single bus that goes halfway around the island and back approximately every hour. Bicycles are the recommended method of transport for tourists. There are also small fun-cars for hire in the little town of Vaitape.
Facts and Figures
Official Name: Bora Bora, part of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France, originally claimed in 1843
Languages: French (official), Tahitian
Official Currency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc
Land Area: 44 sq km (16.9 sq miles)
The summer months (November - April) are hot and humid, with many sunny days. The balance of the year is slightly cooler and drier. Cooling trade winds buffet the island throughout the year, and the months of June, July, August and October are widely considered to be ideal times to visit.
Matira Beach
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