Facts about Bora Bora

Helpful information and facts about Bora Bora island in French Polynesia

GEOGRAPHY:

• Location: Pacific Ocean
• Area: 29.3 km² (11.3 sq mi)
• Highest elevation: 727 m (2,385 ft)
• Highest Point: Mount Otemanu

WEATHER:

• Dry months: April through October (Winter)
• Wet months: November through March (Summer)

COUNTRY:

• France
• Overseas collectivity: French Polynesia
• Administrative subdivision: Leeward Islands
• Largest city: Vaitape (population 4,927 inhabitants)
• Island population: 8,800 as of 2007 census
• Postal code: 98730
• Telephone country code: 689

HISTORY:

The island was first inhabited by Polynesian settlers around the 4th century AD. Jakob Roggeveen made the first European sighting in 1722. James Cook sighted the island in 1770 and landed that same year. The London Missionary Society arrived in 1820 and founded a Protestant church in 1890. Bora Bora was an independent kingdom until 1888 when its last queen Teriimaevarua III was forced to abdicate by the French who annexed the island as a colony.

In World War II the United States chose Bora Bora as a South Pacific military supply base, and an oil depot, airstrip, seaplane base, and defensive fortifications were constructed. Known as “Operation Bobcat,” it maintained a supply force of nine ships, 20,000 tons of equipment and nearly 7,000 men. Seven artillery guns were set up at strategic points around the island to protect it against potential military attack.

However, the island saw no combat as the American presence on Bora Bora went uncontested over the course of the war. The base was officially closed on June 2, 1946. Only one former US serviceman, Fred Giles, returned to the island. The World War II airstrip, which was never able to accommodate large aircraft, was French Polynesia’s only international airport until Faa’a International Airport was opened in Papeete, Tahiti, in 1960.

More history of the Kingdom of Bora Bora can be found here.

RENTALS AVAILABLE:

• Cars
• Bicycles
• Motorboats
• Outrigger sailing
• Canoes
• Jet skis

EXCURSIONS / ACTIVITIES:

• Aquabike
• Deep sea fishing
• Glass bottom boat
• Kite surfing
• Ray feeding
• Parasailing
• Safari mountain tours
• Sailing
• SCUBA diving
• Shark feeding
• Stand up paddle
• Submarine tour

FLIGHT INFO:

• Local Airport: Bora Bora Airport
• Airport Code: BOB
• Six daily flights from Tahiti-Faaa Airport: 45-minute direct flight, or 68-minute flight with a stop at Raiatea and Huahine.

RESORTS LOCATED ON A MOTU (Island):

• St. Regis Resort and Spa
• Four Seasons Resort and Spa
• Intercontinental Thalasso-Spa Resort
• Hilton Nui Resort
• Sofitel Private Motu Resort
• Le Meridien Resort
• Pearl Beach Resort

RESORTS LOCATED ON BORA BORA MAIN ISLAND:

• Intercontinental Le Moana
• Sofitel Marara Beach
• Le Maitai Polynesia

RESTAURANTS IN THE RESORTS:

• The panoramic Iriatai – Hilton Nui Resort
• La Sakura – Sofitel Marara Beach Resort
• Lagoon – St Regis Resort
• Latitude 60 – Sofitel Marara Beach Resort
• Le Tipanie – Le Meridien Resort
• Haere Mai – Le Maitai Polynesia
• Manu Tuki – Sofitel Private Island Resort
• Noa Noa – InterContinental Le Moana Resort
• Tamatea – InterContinental Resort & Thalasso Spa

RESTAURANTS OUTSIDE THE RESORTS:

• Aloe Café – Vaitape – Tel. 67.78.88
• Bloody Marys – Pofai Bay – Tel. 67.72.86
• Fare Manuia – Matira – Tel. 67.68.08
• La Bounty – Matira – Tel. 67.70.43
• La Villa Mahana – Tel. 67.50.63
• Le Matira Beach – Matira – Tel 67.79.09
• Le Panda – Vaitape – Tel. 67.62.70
• Le Saint James – Vaitape – Tel. 67.64.62
• Mai Kai Marina – Vaitape – Tel. 60.38.00
• Yacht Club -Tel. 28.00.96

ART GALLERIES / BOUTIQUES:

• Alain et Linda – Pofai Bay – TeI. 67.70.32
• Naea Studio – Faanui – Te. 67.71.17
• Rosine Temauri Masson – Matira – Tel. 67.72.04
• Patine – Nunue – Tel. 67.74.09
• Opeck Black Pearl – 67.61.62
• Sibani Pearls – Vaitape -Tel. 67.75.75
• Bora – Vaitape – Tel. 67.79.72
• Matira Pearl Fashion – Pointe Matira – Tel. 67.79.14
• Bora Bora Bijou – Vaitape – Tel. 67.74.34
• Guaguin – Amanahune – Tel. 67.76.67
• Honeymoon – Pofai Bay -Te. 67. 78.19
• Martine Creations – Matira – Tel. 67.70.69
• Moana Art – Matira – Tel. 67.70.33
• Bora Bora Camera Shop – Amanahune: Tel. 67.76.63
• Hibiscus – Anau – Tel. 67.72.43
• Palme d’ Or – Vaitape – Tel. 67.78.77
• Planet Surf – Vaitape – Tel. 67.71.35
• Tamaril Shop – Vaitape – Tel. 67.75.00
• Pacific Sud – Vaitape – Tel. 67.77.00
• La Boutique – Matira – Tel. 67.70.43

BANKS:

• Banque of Polynesia – Vaitape – Tel. 67.70.71
• Bankque Socredo – Vaitape – Tel. 67.71.11
• Bankque Westpac – Vaitape – Tel. 67.70.72

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: