Bora Bora travel essentials, explained

Is Bora Bora in Fiji or Tahiti?

Neither, strictly. Bora Bora is its own island in French Polynesia, about 260 km northwest of Tahiti. Fiji is a separate country about 3,274 km to the west.

French Polynesia has 121 islands and atolls in five archipelagos. Tahiti is the largest island and home of the capital, Papeete. Bora Bora belongs to the Leeward Islands, the western group of the Society Islands. People say "Tahiti" for the whole country, which is where the mix-up starts.

Fiji is an independent republic in Melanesia, with Suva as its capital. The airport-to-airport distance from Bora Bora to Nadi is about 3,274 km.

How do you get to Bora Bora?

Fly to Tahiti Faa'a, the international airport, then take Air Tahiti to Bora Bora: about 50 minutes nonstop. A free boat links the airport islet to Vaitape.

Air Tahiti runs several flights a day from Tahiti. Tahiti Tourisme gives 50 minutes nonstop, or up to about 1 hour 30 with a stop, and about 8 hours by boat. The airport sits on Motu Mute, an islet on the northern reef. It began as the US air base in WWII.

From the airport, the Air Tahiti shuttle boat reaches Vaitape in about 15 minutes, and the fare is included in your air ticket. Luxury hotels usually meet guests with their own boats. On the way home, the shuttle leaves Vaitape quay 1 hour 30 before the flight.

Do I need a visa for Bora Bora?

Not for US or UK tourists staying up to 90 days. French Polynesia has its own entry rules, separate from the Schengen area, and no ETIAS applies.

The UK Foreign Office says British visitors can stay up to 90 days without a visa, with a passport valid for at least three months after departure. The US State Department says US citizens generally need no visa for up to 90 days in a six-month period, asks for a return ticket and lists six months of passport validity. Other nationalities should check with the French authorities. A yellow fever certificate is needed if you arrive from a risk country.

Do I need vaccines for Bora Bora?

No vaccines are required for most visitors. Health advice suggests being up to date on routine shots, and dengue is present, so pack repellent.

Tahiti Tourisme says most visitors need no vaccines. The French Polynesia health service, the DSP, asks for proof of yellow fever vaccination only from travellers who were in high-risk countries in the previous 15 days, and recommends flu, Covid-19 and hepatitis B shots. The US State Department suggests considering hepatitis A and typhoid, and Norway's public health institute advises hepatitis A for most travellers.

• Dengue: use repellent, morning and evening.
• Leptospirosis: avoid wading barefoot in muddy water after rain.
• Ciguatera: take care with lagoon fish; ask locally what is safe to eat.

Is it safe to go to Bora Bora right now?

Yes, by the official measures: the UK does not advise against travel, and the US lists French Polynesia at Level 1, "exercise normal precautions".

The UK Foreign Office reports no recent terrorism and asks visitors to avoid isolated areas, including beaches after dark. It also notes that dive schools may not always meet safety standards, so choose an established one. Check the latest advice close to your trip.

The dangers most visitors meet are natural: strong sun, dehydration, coral cuts, and cyclones from November to April. Serious medical cases are flown to Tahiti, and the ambulance number is 15. Travel insurance with evacuation cover is a sensible buy. On the water, follow the guide: the jet ski rules guide and the sharks guide cover the rest.

What currency is used, and what drives the cost of a Bora Bora trip?

The CFP franc (XPF). The cost of a trip comes down to where you sleep, the flights, the boat transfers and the activities you add.

The CFP franc is issued by the IEOM and has a fixed parity guaranteed by the French state. Tahiti Tourisme says cards are accepted in hotels, restaurants, shops and supermarkets on the main islands, and there are cash machines on the main islands. Check your bank's card fees and exchange rate before you go.

What makes a week on Bora Bora cost more or less:

• Where you sleep: an overwater bungalow at a motu resort or a guesthouse on the main island is the biggest single choice.
• Flights: the long-haul flight to Tahiti, plus the domestic flight to Bora Bora.
• Boat transfers: motu resorts run their own boats, often charged per person. Jet ski tour pickups are on the main island.
• Meals and activities: resort dining adds up; a day tour with lunch included covers a meal.

Is Bora Bora LGBTQ friendly?

French law applies: same-sex marriage has been legal since 2013, and the US State Department reports no legal restrictions on same-sex relations.

French Polynesia is part of the French Republic, so the 2013 French law on same-sex marriage applies there, per Wikipedia. The State Department notes no legal restrictions on same-sex relations. The UK Foreign Office page on French Polynesia is the place to check for current advice.

Bora Bora, Tahiti, Fiji, Maldives, Bali or Hawaii: what is the difference?

They are different places on different oceans. Bora Bora is a high volcanic island inside a wide lagoon; the Maldives are low coral atolls; Tahiti is the big gateway island; Fiji, Bali and Hawaii are separate countries or states.

Which is nicer is a matter of taste. Bora Bora's mix of a mountain and a lagoon is what people travel for. Tahiti has more towns, roads and hikes. Moorea is 17 km from Tahiti, with a narrow lagoon and several passes. The Maldives are flat atolls with no peaks. On cost, the same drivers apply everywhere: your flights, where you sleep and how you get around.

Distances are airport to airport. Facts from Wikipedia and airportdistancecalculator.com.

Six hours on a safari boat: rays and blacktip reef sharks, a coral garden and a Polynesian picnic on a motu, with drinks, a towel and snorkel gear.

6 hours · Boat safari, motu picnic

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