Bora Bora offers a choice of transport options to get around and experience the island…
Bora Bora's airport sits on Motu Mute, a flat island located on the northern edge of the lagoon.
The major resorts provide shuttle boats to pick up guests, and have welcome desks in the terminal to greet and point you to the correct boat. Most resorts offer this as a complimentary service, others charge.
Note: Be sure to give the resort your flight number when making your reservations, and once on the jetty make sure you identify your baggage and see it loaded on the correct boat so that it doesn’t end up on the wrong motu.
If your hotel does not send a boat, Air Tahiti offers passengers a free shuttle boat between the airport and Vaitape wharf (included in the cost of your ticket).
Buses operate from the wharf to hotels at Matira Point and typically display the name of the hotel on the front of the bus. Ask the driver if you are not sure. Bus fare from Vaitape to the Matira Point hotel district is 500CFP (about AUD$6/USD$5/GBR£3/EUR€4).
Leaving Bora Bora – When leaving by air, you need to be at the wharf at least 1¼ hours before the flight. The major resorts transfer guests directly to and from the airport; while all other passengers are picked up at Vaitape wharf by the catamaran ferries (the cost of which is included in the ticket).
While there is no regularly scheduled public transport on Bora Bora, an open-air bus called le Truck circles the island and can be hailed anywhere; it is cheap and an easy way to get around Bora Bora. Unfortunately, the service has a reputation for being irregular.
By taxi – Taxis may be hailed if you happen to see one, but in general taxis do not roam the streets looking for fares in Bora Bora. Instead, call one of the local licensed firms and they will come to you.
Taxi fares are high so you may wish to check the fare before finalising a booking. After 6 pm fares increase. Hotel desks and restaurants can call a taxi for you.
Some taxis aren't metered, so make sure you and the driver agree on a fare before setting out.
Taxi firms include, Taxi Simplet (tel. 79.19.31), Léon (tel. 70.69.16), Otemanu Tours (tel. 67.70.49), Jacques Isnard (tel.67.72.25) and Dino's Land & Water Taxi (tel. 79.29.65).
Typical fares: Between Vaitape and Matira Point hotel district –1,500CFP (AUD$19/USD$14/GBR£9/EUR€12) from 6am to 6pm and 2,000CFP from 6pm to 6am; Between Vaitape and Anau village – 5,000CFP (AUD$64/USD$47/GBR£33/EUR€42) anytime.
By water taxi – If you're staying at a resort on a motu and don't want to wait for the next boat shuttle, call Dino's Land & Water Taxi (tel. 79.29.65) or Taxi Motu (tel. 67.60.61). Fare to the main island is about 2,500CFP (AUD$32/US$23/GBR£16/EUR€20).
By bicycle – Seeing Bora Bora by bike is an affordable and enjoyable way to get around the island. Bikes can be hired at some resorts but it's often cheaper to rent them outside of the resort. Both Europecar (tel 67.70.15) and Fare-Piti Rent a Car (tel. 67.65.28) rent bicycles for around 1,800CFP (AUD$23/USD$17/GBR£11/EUR€15) for a full day.
By hire car & scooter – Europcar (www.europcar-tahiti.com; tel 67.70.15), Avis (tel. 67.78.15) and Farepiti Rentacar (tel. 67.65.28) have offices at Vaitape wharf for renting out cars and scooters. It’s best to book ahead as there are not that many vehicles available for hire.
Europcar's rates start at 10,100CFP (AUD$130/ USD$95/ GBR£66/ EUR€84) a day for a small car, including unlimited kilometers and insurance. Open-air buggy rental is about 9,300CFP for a day. Your home country driver’s license is honoured in French Polynesia.
The 32km (19 miles) of road that circles Bora Bora is paved. Driving is on the right-hand side of the road. Drive or ride slowly and be on the lookout for pigs, chickens, pedestrians and especially dogs. If you drive at night, watch out for bikes and scooters without lights.
Other ways of getting around Bora Bora – Sightsee the lagoon on a guided tour boat, explore the island's rugged interior on a 4x4 safari or take to the sky on a helicopter tour for a scenic view of the islands.
Latest update: How to get around Bora Bora: 19 April, 2022
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