Bora Bora can make a legitimate claim to being the most attractive tropical island on the planet, and dissenters will have a hard time disagreeing with that.
They will stand in opposition to the likes of author James Michener, who described Bora Bora as the “most beautiful island in the world,” and artist Paul Gauguin, whose paintings revealed that beauty with Synthetist emotion. Bora Bora is one of the islands in French Polynesia, the so-called Society Islands, that most of us know better as simply Tahiti.
All the islands in the group have been blessed with an inordinate amount of beauty, but Bora Bora raises the stakes with its own striking geography. Mountain spires rise abruptly at near vertical angles from the sea, establishing the setting that makes Bora Bora so photogenic. The highest is Mt. Otemanu, which ascends to a sharp point at 727 metres.
Far below are the quiet turquoise waters that attract visitors from around the world. The lagoon that defines the circular rim of Bora Bora is actually the remnants of a long dormant volcanic cone. The walls of the giant cone have been mostly worn away by ocean waves over many centuries, and the waters have poured in, leaving just the current spires. It is a work of art by nature.
Bora Bora is a bucket-list holiday experience for the thousands of visitors per year who come to see this iconic setting from the various resorts that rim the lagoon. Some of these properties offer luxurious over-water bungalows, and the best of those have a front row seat to the mountain scenery.
FINE DINING
Some say La Villa Mahana is the best place to eat in all of French Polynesia. Small, artsy, local, romantic, and only seven tables. www.villamahana.com
The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort is home to Lagoon Restaurant by Jean-Georges. With a deep wine cellar and French- and Asian-inspired menu featuring fresh fish and locally sourced ingredients, it’s hard to go wrong. www.stregisborabora.com/lagoon
Classic French cuisine with American and Polynesian twists, Bora Bora Maikai Restaurant boasts a menu that changes daily. Steak and seafood are always highlights, and try the passion fruit cheesecake. www.maikaimarina.com
LUXURY RESORTS
For honeymooners or anyone celebrating in style, Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora is the dream. Don’t miss paddleboard yoga class or Kahai Spa’s signature 24-karat gold oil massage. Go for broke with an over-water bungalow or family-friendly beachfront villa. www.fourseasons.com/borabora
The five-star rated, eco-friendly InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa promises the vacation of a lifetime. Worth the splurge is the one- bedroom over-water Brando Suite, offering the best views of majestic Mount Otemanu. www.thalasso.intercontinental.com
ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE
Preserved in time, the wild garden island of Taha’a sits just to the southeast of Bora Bora, and offers dramatic views of Bora’s Mount Otemanu. Known for its production of vanilla, the sweet scent is an enduring background presence throughout Taha’a. Spend an afternoon touring a vanilla plantation, Vallée de la Vanille, and stock up on creams, pods, extracts, and other sweet souvenirs.
For a quieter stay, the Fare Pea Iti Romantic Lodge operates just six bungalows on a private beach, for a maximum resort capacity of just 12 guests at a time. Loaded with charm, this small resort offers many adventure activities and a small restaurant on the beach. www.farepeaiti.pf/gb
