If you plan on visiting French Polynesia, or ‘Tahiti and Her Islands’ as the locals call her, you are probably considering a visit to the most well-known summer vacation island in the world, Bora Bora. Often appearing at the end of movies as a beach getaway for the heroes (see the 2009 comedy Couple’s Retreat); it is best remembered as a pristine beach where you can order cocktails served in coconuts. Naturally, there are more activities in Bora Bora.

Image Credit: famouswonders.com

Experience the local culture. Sure, the local culture has been reduced to touristy dinner and show Polynesian Dance nights, but you are a tourist, and you should enjoy the spectacle. You can find and participate in these shows on different nights at the Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort and the Hilton Bora Bora Nui.
Pamper yourself with a traditional Polynesian treatment. The islands are bountiful with tropical fruit like avocados, passion fruit, maha (tropical chestnuts), mangos and many more, and the islanders have found ways to incorporate these into surprisingly efficient natural medicine and relaxation treatment. The most popular spas on Bora Bora are those in hotels, so browse your package offers.

Image Credit: SF Brit(flickr.com)

Swimming in the warm, clear waters of the lagoon is an unforgettable experience. There are plenty of charters for all sorts of water sports, and the options are vast. The most popular thing to do is the shark and stingray dive – swim with them, feed them, the experience is entirely safe, and the stingrays are surprisingly playful. You can hire an underwater photographer to take photos of your swims, in which case, there are plenty of colorful tropical fish to go snorkeling with.
The best way to see the entire island, and to plan an excursion to one of the outlying motus (small, uninhabited island), is by chartering a boat. Sail away on with nothing but a camera and a swimsuit as you gaze upon the distant peak of Mt Otemanu. The lagoon seems to be every hue in the light blue color palette at once, and the coral reefs look so close, no matter the depth they are at, such is the clarity of the water. When you have made the full circle, your guide will take you to a nearby motu and organize a tropical island picnic you will never forget.
At the end of the day, what is better than a nice dinner under the stars? There is not much to do at night time in Bora Bora, but famous foreign chefs have taken up resort on the island, meaning the restaurants have high class food and service. The best known restaurants in Bora Bora are the Bora Kaina Hut and the Villa Mahana, but you are bound to find your taste buds tickled at the Bora Bora Yacht Club. When you’re there, be sure to try the local delicacy, poisson cru.

Image Credit: hotel.nom.es

There is an unwritten rule in French Polynesia that all visitors must spend at least one night in an overwater bungalow. Listen to the sea lapping around your bedroom, and make use of the exciting glass panel floor to view the fish at night.

Author Bio

Kate Flannery is a part-time traveller and long-time sailing enthusiast. She contributes to several lifestyle blogs and is generally a dog person.

Follow Kate Flannery :  Facebook  Twitter GooglePlus

Share and Enjoy