From the tiny airport you step straight onto a boat headed to your resort, and you are immediately wowed by the scenery
The yellow star marks our resort. The blue dot is where we had lunch on the main island.
We found a phone booth in the main town, and Jim even checked for a dial tone!
A manta ray under a bridge at the resort
Bora Bora is a “Wow” place. It looked stunning from the airplane as we approached. The water was an unreal turquoise color as we stepped onto the boat to be transported to our resort. For six days we marveled at what a beautiful place this is. We couldn’t help making favorable comparisons with the most beautiful places we’ve ever been — the Maldives, Capri, Torres del Paine in Chile, Sardinia.
And it didn’t hurt a bit that the St. Regis Bora Bora is a truly world-class hotel, one of the best we’ve ever stayed at. The facility, rooms, service, food, and grounds all came close to perfection. The place comes with prices to match, but we were able to use the gazillions of Marriott hotel points we’ve earned to snag a beautiful over-the-water bungalow at a fraction the normal cost. There’s reason we’ve been hoarding those points.
The main island is formed by an extinct volcano, from which rise two dramatic peaks called Pahia and Otemanu. The island is surrounded by a lagoon enclosed by barrier reefs on all sides. The nicer resorts live on little islets along the barrier reef, affording spectacular views across the lagoon to the peaks of the volcano.
What does one do here? If you are Mark and Jim, the answer is not too much. We are more than content sitting on the lovely white sand beaches, reading and marveling at the brilliant colors of the water and the lush green scenery. Because our resort sprawled expansively across several of the islets, each room came with two dedicated bicycles, which we’d use to traverse the hefty distances between our bungalow, the beach, the restaurants, and the gym. Every time I got on that bike, I was amazed at how beautiful everything was in every direction as I rode.
We did venture into the main town of Vaitape on the main island one day, taking a complimentary hotel shuttle boat to get there. It was a pretty dusty little town with locals going about their business and a scattering of tourists checking out shops selling black pearls and assorted other touristy finds. After running a couple of errands we’d quickly had enough of the town and stopped into the one restaurant that had sounded good for lunch. Coming off the hot and dusty main road, we were amazed at the loveliness of the patio and the gorgeous views toward the water and the islets.
It was a heavenly little lunch. Other than that, we did very little more than enjoy being in one of the most beautiful places on earth. And naturally, this post come with a lot of pictures!
The scenery as our plane approached the island
These waters are heavenly
My view as I bike across the bridges that connect the bungalows to the islets
Our deck provided expansive space for drying our laundry — handy when the hotel charges $18 to wash a pair of shorts
Can’t get enough of that view toward the peaks
The center of Vaitape from our in-town lunch spot
Jim looks blue, but in fact he’s enjoying our wonderful lunch in town
Did we mention the VIEWS?
Sunset views are nice, too
Jim loves a great hammock, and this one takes the cake
The hotel bar is a nice place for sunset
More sunset
The ride back to the airport on our final day
World’s best airport sign
Wow, your Bora Bora adventure sounds like a dream! The turquoise waters, over-the-water bungalow, and stunning views must’ve been incredible. Using Marriott points for the St. Regis stay is a fantastic tip! The dedicated bicycles and day trip to Vaitape add a unique touch. Your photos capture the beauty perfectly.
Curious, did you discover any hidden gems or local spots during your laid-back exploration? Always on the lookout for authentic experiences. Thanks for sharing your amazing journey!