Guide to Bora Bora Cruises Vacation Travel Guide
Bora Bora is a stunning tropical island in the French Polynesia, and is known for its high end holiday facilities, popular with honeymooners and the rich and famous. This beautiful island has a lot to offer visitors and is surrounded by several other equally lovely islands including Taha’a, Raiatea and Huahine, and makes the perfect destination for a cruise around the balmy, tropical South Pacific Ocean.
Things to Do One of the main reasons to visit Bora Bora is the simply stunning white tropical sands and turquoise blue lagoons, and a day spent relaxing on the beach is high on the agenda for most visitors. There are also plenty of other activities on offer, and there are facilities for snorkelling and scuba driving in the gorgeous clear waters around the island, and one of the best ways to get around is by bicycle which are widely available for hire, and you can easily get around the whole island in just a few hours, or take it slowly and stop to see some of the sights along the way. There are also a number of excellent shops and boutiques in the many resorts around the island, and there are many exceptional handicrafts on offer from hand painted Pareos (silk wraps) and the regions famous black pearls. Dining out in Bora Bora is a real treat and a night out at the Island’s the famous Bloody Mary’s Restaurant and Bar is a must do, as this fun, relaxing joint has some amazing views out over the water and some great classic dishes from cheeseburgers through to fresh island fish. Another favourite is La Bounty, which offers a great selection of Italian and French dishes at very affordable prices.
Getting Around You can hire a car to get around the island more easily and both Avis and Europcar on the Vaitape pier, and there is also scooter and cycle hire. There are also public buses to some destinations on the island, but these can be a bit irregular and don’t run on Sundays as a rule. Taxis are the best option if you are only visiting for a day excursion, and a shuttle service operates between the pier and the main beach for $5 per person. The main languages of the island are French and Tahitian, but English is commonly spoken in all of the main tourist areas.
Cruise Stops Cruise ships typically anchor near the main town Vaitape in Pofai bay, and you will get a tender across to the dockside. If you are only stopping in Bora Bora for a few hours then Vaitape makes the perfect destination, as there are shops and restaurants and you can also take excursions from here to the rest of the island. It is important to note that a lot of the shops and restaurants in Vaitape are closed on Sunday evenings, so make sure you have some alterative arrangements if you are visiting at this time, and it is also quite expensive here for dining out and hiring cars compare to some of the other destinations on the islands.