Tahiti and Tuamotus: Bora Bora

(Last Updated On: September 18, 2018)
Ah, Bora Bora! Tales of the South Pacific author James Michener called Bora Bora “the most beautiful island in the world,” and I heartily agree.
Aerial photo of Bora Bora and its lagoon (Credit: Samuel Etienne - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/)

Aerial photo of Bora Bora and its lagoon (Credit: Samuel Etienne – CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/)

Bora Bora (NASA image)

Bora Bora (NASA image)

It had been seven years since my first visit to this small island (less than 12 square miles) dominated by two volcanic peaks — Mount Otemanu and Mount Pahia — and surrounded by the crystalline waters of the lagoon, which are protected by small islets called motus.

Bora Bora was the fifth port stop on our 10-day Windstar Tahiti and Tuamotus cruise, and the one I had most anticipated returning to during our cruise.

Scuba diving was on our agenda for the first part of the day. We booked a two-tank dive through Windstar with Top Dive. Like our dives in the Tuamotus earlier in the cruise, the amount and diversity of sea life was amazing, including eagle rays, turtles and lots of reef sharks.

Me with my two dive buddies — (husband) Stephen and Terry.

Me with my two dive buddies — my husband Stephen and Terry from Canada.

Coming up from our dive...

Coming up from our dive…

Overwater bungalows in the distance

Overwater bungalows in the distance

Blue Giant Clam

Giant Blue Clam

Black tip reef shark

Black tip reef shark

MORE DIVE PIX – SLIDESHOW

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Some passengers chose other aquacentric excursions, including exploring Bora Bora in a glass bottom boat, on a jet ski, or snorkeling the coral gardens and having an encounter with stingrays. Windstar also offered excursions to explore the island by land via 4-wheel drive or open-air truck.

Fire dancers perform at the Destination Discovery Event. (Credit: Windstar Cruises)

Fire dancers perform at the Destination Discovery Event. (Credit: Windstar Cruises)

For the first time during our 10-day Tahiti-Tuamotus cruise, Windstar’s Wind Spirit would be spending the night in port. Every Windstar cruise builds in a complimentary evening event and while in Bora Bora the “Destination Discovery Event” is held on Motu Tapu, a private islet, including a Polynesian feast and entertainment by fire dancing experts.

This is Motu Tapu as seen from a distance.

Motu Tapu, private islet

I hated to miss it, especially since I spent a memorable day on this same small motu in 2010 (See Island Treasures: Motu Tapu – Conrad Bora Bora Nui’s Private Islet), but I had dreamed of spending the night with my husband in an overwater bungalow, one of the iconic accommodations that Bora Bora is known for.

Overwater bungalows at what was then the Hilton Bora Bora Nui.

Overwater bungalows at the Hilton Bora Bora Nui, where I stayed in 2010.

During that visit in 2010, I stayed at the Hilton Bora Bora Nui (now the Conrad Bora Bora Nui) resort as part of a press trip that followed in the footsteps of The Bachelorette (the ABC TV show) on Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora. You can read the article I wrote about it for the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram and learn more about my first time to the Society Islands on my French Polynesia destination page.

Windstar offers passengers the opportunity to book a night at Le Meridien or Pearl Beach Resort, Bora Bora as part of an Overnight Romance Package, which includes staying in an overwater bungalow, dinner and breakfast the next morning.

Instead of booking an overnight package through Windstar, I pre-arranged an overnight stay at Four Seasons Bora Bora. After our morning dives, we returned to the ship to have lunch and then packed a small bag for our night off the ship. We took the next tender boat to the Vaitape pier where we boarded the Four Seasons launch to take us to the resort.

On the way to Four Seasons Bora Bora with two other vacationers...

On the way to Four Seasons Bora Bora with two other vacationers…

It was an unforgettable experience and, although it was less than 24 hours in duration, we packed in as much as possible.

Four Seasons Bora Bora is the things that dreams are made of.

Four Seasons Bora Bora is the stuff that dreams are made of.

Us in front of our overwater bungalow at Four Seasons Bora Bora.

Us in front of our overwater bungalow at Four Seasons Bora Bora.

The back deck area of our bungalow

We arrived in time to settle into our overwater bungalow (sigh…bucket list filled to the brim!) and have dinner at the edge of the lagoon at the very romantic Faré Hoa Beach Bar and Grill.

Dining at Faré Hoa

Dining at Faré Hoa Beach Bar & Grill

A seafood feast for two — spiny lobster, shrimp, tuna and lagoon fish.

A seafood feast for two — spiny lobster, shrimp, tuna and lagoon fish.

Fare Hoa Beach Bar & Grill (Credit: Four Seasons Bora Bora)

Fare Hoa Beach Bar & Grill (Credit: Four Seasons Bora Bora)

Pool at Four Seasons Bora Bora

Pool at Four Seasons Bora Bora, next to the restaurant.

The next morning, we savored our breakfast at the open-air Tere Nui restaurant overlooking Mount Otemanu.

Tere Nui Restaurant (Credit: Four Seasons Bora Bora)

Tere Nui Restaurant (Credit: Four Seasons Bora Bora)

View from Tere Nui restaurant overlooking Mount Otemanu.

View from Tere Nui restaurant where we had breakfast.

We still had time to snorkel in the Ruahata (God of the Ocean) Lagoon Sanctuary.

Beach by the lagoon sanctuary

Beach by the lagoon sanctuary

Unicorn Fish were all around us! So unusual...

Unicorn Fish were all around us! So unusual…

Butterfly fish

Butterfly fish

I had never seen a Picasso Triggerfish before... Now it's one of my favorites; so colorful!

I had never seen a Picasso Triggerfish… Now it’s one of my favorites!

There was a little time left to go for a swim off our bungalow…

View from the water while taking a swim from our bungalow.

The back side of our bungalow from the water.

The back side of our bungalow from the water.

We savored every bite of a quick lunch of poisson cru before it was time to board the Four Seasons launch to catch our tender boat back to the ship.

Poisson Cru at Four Seasons Bora Bora

Poisson cru, consisting of chunks of raw tuna combined with coconut milk and lime juice, with raw vegetables — cucumber, tomato and sometimes carrot — is considered the national dish of Tahiti. You can find a recipe and more information about it and other island foods and drinks I’ve enjoyed in my post, “Why I love islands: food and drink.”

We returned to the ship in time to make it to a cooking class with the Wind Spirit’s Executive Chef who demonstrated how to make poisson cru (in a very similar way to the recipe mentioned above).

Windstar chefs held a cooking class and demonstration of how to make party animals with vegetables.

A cauliflower dog and a watermelon turtle!

After sampling it, one of his assistant chefs showed us how to make vegetable animals — a cauliflower poodle and a turtle made from a watermelon. Fun for your next party!

All Photos © Debbra Dunning Brouillette unless otherwise credited.

Next in the series:

Tahiti and Tuamotus: Moorea

Earlier Posts in the Tahiti and Tuamotus series:

Tahiti and Tuamotus: Choosing to cruise
Tahiti and Tuamotus: On board Windstar’s Wind Spirit
Tahiti and Tuamotus: Fakarava — our first port of call
Tahiti and Tuamotus: Rangiroa — our second port of call
Tahiti and Tuamotus: Taha’a and Motu Mahaea
Tahiti and Tuamotus: Huahine

Also: Read my Snapshot Story about our dreamy stay at Four Seasons Bora Bora on the Sand in My Suitcase website: “A Little Slice of Paradise at Four Seasons Bora Bora.”

 

 

 

 

 

20 Comments on “Tahiti and Tuamotus: Bora Bora”

    • I would agree that the entire cruise was wonderful and I am so glad we were able to do it! What an itinerary… The overnight in Bora Bora was very special though. I am ready to go back and stay longer!

  1. Spectacular views! Bora-Bora would definitely not disappoint. And the seafood fare looks so fresh and mouth-watering. Snorkeling rewards anyone with colorful and unique marine life!

    • Everything you mentioned is so true, Carol! The views, the seafood, the snorkeling… it is all spectacular in Bora Bora! I can’t imagine how it could ever disappoint!

  2. This trip of yours is my #1 bucket list destination! Every time I read one of your accounts it sounds more wonderful, but I guess can’t move any higher. Windstar sounds like an excellent way to visit. Any chef that can make me laugh out loud with a cauliflower poodle is one I want to cook with!

    • I think French Polynesia is number one on many bucket lists, especially Bora Bora! And being a passenger on a Windstar ship for the entire journey was a dream. The extras, like the cooking lessons, are fun, too. Hoping you get to go!

  3. Fantabulous post! Tahiti and Bora Bora are both places I long to visit. Like you, Debbie, I truly love topical islands. the Four Seasons looks like my kind of place! Thx for sending me on this virtual journey.

    • Thanks, Doreen! I’m happy I was able to share a bit of Bora Bora’s beauty and what it was like to live a dream at Four Seasons, if only for a “brief, shining moment!” It will forever be a special memory.

  4. Pingback: Tahiti and Tuamotus: Huahine – Tropical Travel Girl

  5. Thank you for your wonderful, informative pictures and commentary. We are on our way to our Windstar vacation in Sept. Can’t wait!! Susan

    • September should be a perfect time to enjoy French Polynesia aboard a Windstar ship, Susan! I am so glad to hear my post was helpful to you. Enjoy! Wish I could do it all again…

  6. Pingback: A Little Slice of Paradise at Four Seasons Bora Bora | Sand In My Suitcase

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  8. Pingback: Poisson Cru photo wins Honorable Mention award in IFWTWA photo contest – Tropical Travel Girl

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