Given the original name “Pora Pora” found in Tahitian language or as found in early transcriptions in 18th and 19th centuries as “Bolabolla” or “Bollabolla”, the meaning however is said to be “first born”.
Bora-Bora lies 260 km (160 mi) northwest of the largest island, Tahiti. Vaitape, on the western coast, is Bora-Bora’s main settlement. The island is relatively small; it covers an area of 39 sq km (15 sq mi) and its highest peak is Mont Otemanu; 727 metres (2,385 ft). It was formed 7 million years ago by two volcanoes
that rose from the ocean floor. Archeological evidence indicates that the ancestors of the Polynesians arrived in Bora-Bora about 2,000 years ago, establishing a society that subsisted on fishing and agriculture. British explorer James Cook was among the first Europeans to see Bora-Bora when he sailed through the Society Islands in 1769. France asserted protectorate status in 1842, but few Europeans visited this remote island during the next 100 years. During World War II (1939-1945) the islanders’ tranquility was shattered when 4,000 U.S. soldiers landed on Bora-Bora in 1943 to build an airfield, naval base, and support buildings. The strategically located island was spared harm as the war progressed in the South Pacific. In 1946 Bora-Bora was incorporated into France as an overseas territory with the rest of French Polynesia. The U.S.-built airstrip is still used for commercial purposes, and several of the World War II defensive guns remain in their foliage-shrouded emplacements, where they were abandoned after the war.
Today its major money spinner is tourism. Mostly it is aquacentric and industry has expanded far and wide over the years. One can visit and choose his/her accommodation from a chain of cheap yet fitting bungalows to super luxurious and comfortable over water guest houses. With its mountainous adventure settings and moon lit sandy beaches and diving areas with a peak diving period of April to November, Bora Bora is a must visit and a life time experience too good not to be missed.
Travellers’ Guide
Bora Bora is ideal for couples and newlyweds
as a world renounced honeymoon destination. You can enjoy the beautiful sun
rise and sun set and the pristine waters from inside your over water bunglows
with total privacy. The island is located about 230 kilometres northwest of
Papeete.
You can engage in various activities
like, scuba diving, sightseeing, shark and ray feeding, swimming, bus tours
around the main island Motu, swimming with sharks and dolphins etc. If you are
planning to visit Bora Bora, you can reserve your seat in Air Tahiti. Air Tahiti operates flights from
Papeete/Tahiti: 4 direct
flights per day, flight time 50 min,
Moorea: daily,
flight time 50 min,
Huahine: daily except
Wednesday, flight time 25 min,
Maupiti: Sun, flight
time 15 min
Raiatea: daily,
flight time 20 min
There are many
restaurants you can visit also.
Villa Mahana
Fare Manuia
Top Dive
Bloody Mary’s
La Bounty.
Pirate Bar
Bamboo House
Snack Matira
Ben’s Pizza.
Restaurant
Patoti
Kaina Hut
The Snack
Matira Beach
L'Appetisserie
There are many
spas and resorts you can visit to enjoy your vacation.
St Regis
Resort and Spa
Four Seasons
Resort and Spa
Intercontinental
Thalasso-spa Resort
Bora Bora
Hilton
Sofitel Motu
Bora Bora
Lagoon Resort
Le Meridien
Pearl Beach
Resort
Among the 31
hotels you can find in the Bora Bora Island, here are a few:
InterContinental Bora Bora Le
Moana Resort
Hotel Maitai Bora Bora
Bora Bora Eden Beach Hotel
Bora Bora Beach Resort
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