Bora Bora Full-Day Lagoon Safari with Lunch on a Motu

The Bora Bora Lagoon and Mount Otemanu

Bora Bora lies in the Leeward Islands of French Polynesia, about 260 kilometres north-west of Tahiti. At its centre rise the remains of an ancient volcano, crowned by the dark, sheer peak of Mount Otemanu at 727 metres and the rounded summit of Mount Pahia. Around them spreads one of the most beautiful lagoons on Earth, enclosed by a coral reef and a ring of low islets called motus, with a single deep pass to the open ocean.

The lagoon is shallow in many places, and its white coral sand turns the water every shade of turquoise. A Bora Bora lagoon tour is the best way to understand the island, because almost everything here happens on the water. During the day your guide shares stories about Polynesian culture, the island's history and the marine life, while the boat moves between the stops.

Stingray and Blacktip Shark Sanctuary

The first stop is a shallow, sandy area of the lagoon where stingrays and blacktip reef sharks gather. The water here is often only waist to chest deep and crystal clear, so you can watch the rays glide over the sand while the sleek sharks circle at a distance. These sharks are shy and harmless to people, and swimming among them is one of the most memorable experiences in French Polynesia.

Your guide explains how to behave in the water: move slowly, keep your hands to yourself and let the animals come and go freely. Feeding the animals is not allowed. Snorkelling equipment is provided, so give us your fin size when you book. For many travellers, swimming with sharks and rays in Bora Bora is the moment they remember most from their trip.

The Coral Garden

Next, the boat takes you to a coral garden inside the lagoon, where living coral grows in shallow, sheltered water. Here you snorkel among clouds of colourful reef fish: butterflyfish, parrotfish, surgeonfish, damselfish and Moorish idols, with giant clams set into the coral and sometimes a moray eel peering out from a crevice. The current is usually gentle and visibility is excellent on sunny days.

The guide swims with the group and points out species and coral formations. Beginners can stay close to the surface and use the equipment provided; there is no need to dive down. Remember not to touch or stand on the coral, which is fragile and grows very slowly. Water shoes are useful for entering the water from the boat or the beach, and sunscreen that is safe for reefs is strongly recommended.

Manta Ray Area

The safari then heads to another part of the lagoon where manta rays are sometimes found. These graceful giants can measure several metres from wing tip to wing tip and feed on plankton, often visiting cleaning stations where small fish remove parasites from their skin. Seeing one glide below you is a rare and special moment.

Because mantas are wild animals that come and go with the currents and the seasons, sightings are not guaranteed, and the guide chooses the spot based on the day's conditions. Even without mantas, this stop offers more snorkelling in clear water with reef fish and views of the island's peaks. It is part of what makes a full-day Bora Bora snorkeling tour more complete than a short half-day outing.

Picnic Lunch on a Motu

The motus are the low islets of sand and coral that ring the Bora Bora lagoon, covered with coconut palms and edged with white beaches. Most are quiet and lightly developed, and from their shores the view across the lagoon to Mount Otemanu is one of the classic images of the South Pacific. Spending time on a motu is the essence of a day on the lagoon.

Here the group stops for a Polynesian-style picnic lunch with local specialities, served on the sand with water, fruit juices and soft drinks. Afterwards there is free time to swim, walk along the beach or rest in the shade of the palms before the boat returns you to your accommodation or meeting point. The full day lasts about 6 hours, from the 9:00 am pickup to the return in the afternoon.