 Bora Bora (16°26'40'S, 151°45'5'W) is an island in the Leeward group of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The island, located about 260 km northwest of Papeete (French Polynesia's capital), is surrounded by a lagoon and a fringing reef. In the center of the island are the remnants of an extinct volcano, rising to two peaks, Mt. Pahia, and the highest point, Mount Otemanu, reaching 727 meters (2,385 ft.).
Bora Bora has many high-end resorts, mostly visited by American and Japanese tourists. Many tourists come to Bora Bora for a beach holiday, and are surprised to learn it is a lagoon destination, with relatively few, narrow beaches. Air Tahiti has five or six flights daily to the island from Papeete, at a cost of about 14,000 XPF one-way. Although French and Tahitian are the main languages spoken by the inhabitants, people in contact with tourists generally have some command of English. Public transport on the island is fairly limited, consisting of a single bus that goes halfway around the island and back every hour or so. Bicycles are the recommended method of transport for tourists, if your hotel will not arrange your transport for you. There are also small electric cars for hire in Vaitape. |
