Bora Bora - a Cruising Guide on the World Cruising and Sailing Wiki (2024)

From CruisersWiki

Bora Bora

An online cruising guide for yachts sailing to Bora Bora.

Bora Bora, sometimes known as the Pearl of the Pacific, is supposed to be the most beautiful island in the Pacific. Opinions vary on this of course but nonetheless it is a very pretty island with an attractive lagoon.

Passages

List popular passages/routes, timing, etc.

Islands

List Islands

• Motu Toopua, large motu containing the sheraton resort, the far side of which (from the main island) contains some good snorkelling spots.
• Motu Tapu, private motu just north of Motu Toopua.
• Motu Tevairoa
• Motu Mute, contains the airport
• Various motus on the north/west side of the island, including Motu Omei, Motu Ome and Motu Piti Aau. You need a decent dinghy to visit these, the depths are not sufficient to get a keelboat around to the west side of the main island and in any case anchoring in the area is not permitted

Communication

There are no radio nets specific to Bora Bora.

Navigation

Any navigation notes here. If this section does not apply remove it.

Entrance

Bora Bora is a port of entry although complete formalities need to be completed in Papeete. Check in and check out is done with the gendarmes in Vaitape. At last check (May 2014) none of the gendarmes in Vaitape spoke any English.

Berthing

Ports

List larger ports and harbors. If there are more then 2 paragraphs for a given port, create a dedicated page in the list for it (Port/Stop Template).

Note: Please indicate which ports are a port of entry.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

• Bora Bora Yacht Club has moorings, a way north of Vaitape. Opinions vary as to the stability of these moorings, some reports suggested that they are overdue for maintenance while others indicate that they are good holding. Limited information is available about services on shore
• MaiKai Marina -- has (cold water, outside) showers, toilet facilities, a bar and a restaurant as well as a fresh water pool that is available for visitors. Moorings cost cfp2000 for the first night and cfp1000 for subsequent nights. Water is available from the wharf, no electricity. This has the advantage of being close to Vaitape including supermarkets and a small marine store
• Although it's not a marina as such, Bloody Marys, a Bora Bora institituion, has free moorings available for visitors. In one visit in 2014 the mooring line that I was on broke free of the mooring block and I drifted almost to the reef however I am led to believe that this is an isolated incident (I guess that the chain at the base of the mooring rope parted company with the mooring block, the chain dragged along the bottom to a certain extent but then stopped when it snagged on coral). There are a limited number of these, please check at the restaurant for availability

Anchorages

• There is some anchoring room on the far side of Motu Toopua. This is probably the best free anchorage although it's far from Vaitape
• Holding elsewhere in the lagoon is reported not to be particularly good. It's possible to anchor almost anywhere, but holding can be variable and depths are usually greater than 20 metres

Yacht Services and Repairs

List services. If no services are available on the island write "None" and remove all the subsections (Marine Stores, & Repairs/Yards, & Fuel, Water, & Electricity.

Also see each Port.

Marine Stores

There is a small chandlery of sorts, on the north side of Vaitape, near the MaiKai marina. Staff there spoke no English and the range appeared to be limited however some items may certainly be found.

Repairs/Yards

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel

Give details on fuel

Water

Give details on water

Electricity

Give details on electricity

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

List places of interest, tours, etc.

Grocery & Supply Stores

Eateries

Internet/WiFi

Available?

Laundry

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Garbage Disposal

?

Transportation

List transportation (local and/or international.)

Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forums

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

Links

• Bora Bora

References

The tourist information office near the wharf in Vaitape has a number of free publications, which anyone can walk in and pick up a copy of. Many of these are of course sponsored by the various tourist resorts and other activities on the island, but there are a number which are quite handy regardless. Of course most are in French but some are in English or are bilingual:

• Bora Bora Map -- just a fold-out handy sized copy of the large map you see on various signs around the island. Bilingual, French/English
• Bora Bora Activities Guide -- contains a small handy map and a bunch of advertisem*nts for various activities ashore and in the lagoon
• Huanine - Raiatea - Taha'a - Bora Bora - Maupiti Visitors Guide -- bilingual publication covering all of the Leeward Islands, again with a map of each one and a list of places to stay and things to do
• Bora Bora Information -- published in various languages including English, as separate publications. Contains a handy list of general information, telephone dialling information, phone numbers for doctors and other services, some historical information and maps of the island

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.Personal experiences?

• Chiara Stella - Bora Bora blog post.

Verified by

Date of member's last visit to Bora Bora and this page's details validated:Date of member's visit to this Island & this page's details validated:

This page has an outline in place but needs completing. Please contribute if you can to help it grow further. Click on Comments to suggest further content or alternatively, if you feel confident to edit this page, click on the edit tab at the top and enter your changes directly.