Located 2,600 miles to the south of Hawaii, and about 160 miles northwest of Tahiti, what has been labeled as the most beautiful island in the world can be found; Bora Bora.
Discovered in 1722, this tropical paradise has been the stuff that dreams are made of, and has been a popular tourist destination for over 40 years. The name Bora Bora, meaning “first born” in Tahitian, suggests that the original inhabitants of the island are from Tonga, as Vava’u, the ancient language where the name comes from, indicates this.
Estimated to be around seventy million years old, the island is volcanic in origin. It is surrounded by smaller islands around it, as well as beautiful corral reefs, serving as biomes to countless marine wildlife. The island has been made famous over the years, through “exposure” in books and movies.
The main island of Bora Bora can be circumnavigated by means of a 32 kilometer coastal road, which would take about an hour in a moving vehicle. The sights in Bora Bora are simply nothing but spectacularly breathtaking, and going around the island would be a great way of getting to know these sights.
Viatape is the main town of Bora Bora, and is the main source of general information regarding the island, among other things. Information about island activities, general information regarding the island’s history, souvenir and souvenir shop information, general information regarding vehicle rentals, as the islands center, one would find anything about Bora Bora here.
The tourism center of Bora Bora can be found in the southern tip of the island. It is known as Matira Point, and has a stretch of white sand beaches along its shores. The InterContinental Hotel, along with Sofitel Marara and other world renowned beach resorts/hotels are located here. Snorkeling in the northern side of Matira Point is famous, as it is the best place in Bora Bora for snorkeling. Bora Bora’s famous lagoon reaches to this point of the island, and is extremely shallow, making spectacular overwater bungalows extend out into the water. Truly luxurious accommodations for any guest in the island.
West of Matira Point, the Matira Beach can be found. As a public access beach, Matira Beach gets busy during weekends and legal holidays. As the water here is deeper compared to that in Matira Point, swimming here is much more ideal. Water sports are also much more fun.
Travel agencies, as well as hotels and resorts, hold significant general information regarding Bora Bora, and are actually the best source of general information should one have plans in spending one’s vacation there.