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If you’re looking for a tropical getaway that is safe, luxurious, and uncrowded – this is your spot.
As a teenager I remember having a poster collage of all the places I wanted to travel to when I grew up. Front and center was a photo of Bora Bora torn from a magazine, complete with its stunning turquoise waters, overwater bungalows, and Mount Otemanu.
It took more than 30 years, but I finally made it. Was it what dreams are made of? Absolutely. Is 6 days in paradise enough? No, but it will renew your spirit, leave you refreshed, and most likely planning a return trip.
Bora Bora is a small island in French Polynesia, located in the heart of the South Pacific – about 160 miles northwest of Tahiti. It sits within the Society Islands and covers roughly 12 square miles, what it lacks in size, it makes up for in beauty.
It is said Hawaii gets the same number of visitors throughout a single weekend as French Polynesia sees over an entire year – and this was apparent over our stay. We didn’t wait in line for restaurants, the excursions were curated and intimate, and the shops were bustling but not overrun. Most importantly, the warmth of the people there is genuinely unlike anywhere I’ve ever been.
Getting there
Travelers coming from Texas will find several direct flights to Papeete, Tahiti out of LAX and San Francisco. Once in Papeete, you will take an inter-island flight on one of the regional carriers. The views alone on this 45-minute journey are worth the connecting leg. Upon landing, you’ll find the Bora Bora airport is connected to a dock where you’ll be greeted with fragrant flower leis and led to a boat that delivers you to your final destination.
Where to stay in Bora Bora
There is one place in Bora Bora that consistently sets the standard for everything else: Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora. Set upon Bora Bora’s surrounding coral atoll, the property is a vast tropical grove of coconut palms, pandanus trees, and meandering channels of warm turquoise water that wind from the main beach to hidden lagoons and secluded alcoves.
The 108 overwater bungalow suites and seven beachfront villa estates are extraordinary. The bungalows perch above the inner lagoon at one of its most serene points with decks that step directly into the water. The beachfront villas offer private infinity pools and expansive indoor-outdoor living, ideal for families or groups. Included in every stay are paddleboards, kayaks, snorkel gear, activities, and five-star service.
What to do
Swim with sharks and rays
We spent a day on a shark, snorkel, and rays adventure with Lagoon Service Bora Bora. Our captain picked us up at the resort dock and we then circled the island, stopping in shallow turquoise shallows to swim alongside stingrays and in the famous reef to drift through schools of thousands of tropical fish. The finale was a crossing into open water to swim among blacktip and nurse sharks.
Help restore the reef
Who says you can’t do good on vacation? In partnership with WiseOceans, Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora employs a resident marine biologist whose office is, quite literally, the lagoon. We spent an afternoon with him and found salvaged coral fragments (broken, but still alive) to secure at their onsite coral nursery. After two years of growth, they will be replanted on the reef. You get to name your coral and receive photo updates long after you’ve returned home.
Look up at the stars
The resort offers guided night sky tours that take advantage of the lagoon’s mirror-flat surface, creating a double canopy of stars above and below. Our guide walked us through a colorful history of his ancestors as well as the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere and how they’ve been used to navigate waters and farming for thousands of years.
Say goodbye to your stress
For those heading to Bora Bora to decompress, the resort offers guided meditation and sound bath sessions at the water’s edge. The sound of the lagoon provides a natural acoustic backdrop for Himalayan singing bowls and gentle breathwork. Book for after breakfast and then spend the afternoon lounging by the infinity pool or floating in the lagoon.
Explore like a local
We took a short boat ride to Vaitape, Bora Bora’s main village, where local shops, pearl vendors, and open-air markets offered a genuine view into island life. Artisans sell handmade monoi oils, black Tahitian pearl jewelry, and traditional pareo fabrics in vivid tropical colors. Ask about traditional Polynesian weaving or ukulele, and you’ll likely find a local delighted to show you.
Where to eat
This signature fine dining restaurant is a study in understated elegance — overwater, candlelit, with unobstructed views of the lagoon and the mountain beyond. The menu leans into French Polynesian ingredients with items like fresh reef and lagoon fish, Tahitian lobster, locally grown root vegetables and island fruits. The sommelier led us through a French wine list that would feel at home in Paris.
Fare Hoa Beach Bar and Restaurant
Set right on the sandy shore of the lagoon, Fare Hoa is Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora’s relaxed, toes-in-the-sand option — and honestly, their fresh poke bowl was my favorite meal in all French Polynesia. Save room for the sundae which includes Tahitian vanilla ice cream, house-made chocolate and caramel sauces, caramelized pecans, fresh caramel popcorn, cookies, and whipped cream.
If you want to dine on a deck above the water serving wonderfully local fare and unobstructed views head to Saint James in Vaitape. The setting is relaxed and beautiful, the cocktails are inventive, and the kitchen delivers fresh French Polynesian fare that honors local ingredients without pretension. We went for a long lunch, ordered several amazing starters, the catch of the day, and a bottle of local Tahitian Rose.
Six days in Bora Bora will feel like both a lifetime and the blink of an eye. We took a pretty balanced approach between relaxing and adventure, but for those looking for more activity there are several options including jet skiing, hiking, scuba diving, and ATV rentals. Just be sure to build in time to lay in a hammock and read a good book.
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Cover photo courtesy Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora
Lesa Linster has spent over 25 years driving strategic growth and awareness for products, individuals, restaurants, destinations, and initiatives nationwide. A publicist by day, her focus lies in the world of lifestyle and hospitality. She spends her free time eating, drinking, and traveling with her husband and three kids.
