Yes, there is a direct ferry departing from Papeete and arriving at Vaitape. Services depart three times a week, and operate Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The journey takes approximately 6h 45m. How far is it from Papeete to Bora-Bora?
It depends on what type of beaches you're looking for. If you're expecting perfectly white sand, calm waves and bright aquamarine-colored water, Bora Bora has better beaches (bottom left photo). If you enjoy public beaches, surfing, whale watching and dolphin sightings, Tahiti has better beaches (bottom right photo).
Both the Maldives and Bora Bora are expensive luxury destinations. In general, it will be easier to spend less on a trip to The Maldives. In the Maldives, 3-star accommodations are available that are highly rated, while in Bora Bora there are very few hotels or resorts that are not 5-star luxury resorts.
To properly experience Bora Bora, three days (four nights if arriving late) should be enough. The island is small and there isn't all that much to see. If you're after a pampering luxury holiday of sipping cocktails on the deck of your overwater bungalow, you could probably spend a week (if you can afford that).
The Aremiti V is larger, faster, and more comfortable than the Moorea Express. Don't get on the Aremiti Ferry or the Moorea Ferry, which are much slower.
To get to Bora Bora, most travelers fly into Bora Bora Airport also known as Motu Mute Airport. If you're coming from the U.S., you'll first stop at the Faa'a International Airport in Tahiti. Once you've cleared customs, you'll hop on a 45-minute flight to Bora Bora Airport.
The official currency of Tahiti is the CFP Franc (XPF). It's best to exchange money or use your credit card in Tahiti. If you can't buy some before your trip, the next best options are Australian Dollars (AUD), US Dollars (USD) or Euros (EUR).
Is Tahiti Expensive to Vacation? The short answer is more often than not, YES. In comparison to the other 20+ countries around the world that I have visited, Tahiti is definitely on the more expensive side. To give you a point of reference, a vacation in Tahiti is comparable to a vacation in Paris or London.
High season is considered to be November and December. The cheapest month to fly from the United States is April. Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Bora Bora flight deals.
With so many beaches, water activities, and cultural connections, you should spend between seven and 10 days in Tahiti and greater Polynesia. One week to 10 days can give you plenty of time to visit Tahiti and other islands, such as Bora Bora or Moorea.
There are no direct flights available to Bora Bora. This holds true for most of the islands in French Polynesia. Simply put, the landmasses just aren't big enough to accommodate the kind of runways needed to land large passenger jets.