There are plenty of things to do on Bora Bora and a good news is, that you don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy them. There are a lot of things to do on Bora Bora for free. As easy as it is to find budget accommodation and cheap flights on Bora Bora, you can find cheap things to do on Bora Bora as well.
The truth is, you can experience the best of what Bora Bora has to offer for free or on a very low budget. Of course, if skydiving, jet ski riding or private sailing are on your mind, you will have to dig deeper into your pocket. However, if you are like, enjoying the “normal” activities, you are lucky. Here are the best things to do on Bora Bora without breaking your bank account.
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TOP THINGS TO DO ON BORA BORA FOR FREE
VISIT MATIRA BEACH
Among the best things to do on Bora Bora is to enjoy a sun on a beach. On the main island, there is just one sandy beach called Matira beach. A few years ago, Matira beach was announced one of the best beaches in the world. And the best part? It´s publicly accessible. Wherever you live on the island, you will probably spend most of your time around this beach. The Matira beach is amazing, 2 miles long with crystal clear water and perfectly white sand. You can spend the whole day there just sitting on a beach, staring at the never-ending colours of blue.
Matira beach is a synonym to the paradise on earth for us. The water is calm, crystal clear and very shallow. If you are lucky enough, manta rays will visit you while swimming. If you swim a little bit further from the shore, you will chase the most amazing colourful fish. There are a few cafes around Matira beach selling very affordable snacks, cocktails and coffees. Don´t forget to taste a famous Hinano beer.
SNORKEL AROUND CORAL GARDEN
Snorkelling belongs among the best things to do on Bora Bora, hands down. The coral garden was one of the nicest snorkelling spots we have ever seen. Literally, it’s a snorkeler´s paradise. The water is warm and clear, perfect for snorkelling. Coral Garden is located close to the Matira beach, so it is easy to visit with a kayak. That way you enjoy a nice snorkelling day on your own. If renting a kayak is not your thing, visit Coral Garden as a part of a tour.
If you don’t want to explore lagoon on your own, trust local providers. They offer very affordable tours around the lagoon. You can choose from a variety of options. Half day, full day, even 2 hours snorkelling tours are available. The snorkelling tours will usually take you around more snorkelling spots, so you can experience the best places around Bora Bora.
Ask about the tours in your accommodation. Even the smallest guesthouses have usually some sort of agreement with some agency. They will recommend you someone. Apart from the Coral Garden, there are two another great spots for snorkelling. Northern point close to Hotel Bora Bora is a great spot as well as a place called “Aquarium”. It is a stunning pastel coral garden off the southern end of Motu Pitiaau and Motu Piti Uuuta.
WATCH THE SUNSET
Sounds like a cliché right? But watching the sunset belongs among the best things to do on Bora Bora for free. The colours of the sunset are spectacular. Sit at Matira beach or Matira Point and relax while enjoying one of the nicest sunsets on Earth.
HIKE
After a few days laying on a beach, you might want to try to hike the famous and the biggest attraction of Bora Bora the Mt Otemanu. Walking through tropical valleys with some breathtaking views of the lagoon is an amazing experience. Follow the old path through Valley of the Kings. This route will take you along old pathways, where you will have a chance to explore the ancient ruins and maraes. If you still feel you need a little it more adventure, try to climb Mt Pahia or Mt Otemanu. If you don’t want to go all alone, hire a guide who will walk you through the valleys. Plus he will share with you some legends and historical facts about the island.
VISIT HISTORICAL REMNANTS OF II. WORLD WAR
Did you know that during the II. World War Bora Bora played an important role too? After the Pearl Harbor attack, Bora Bora served as a military supply base. The tiny island was stocked with ships, equipment and guns until 1946. You can still actually see the American guns, giant artillery cannons, scattered around the island. The best way to discover the island’s WWII sites is through sightseeing tour or 4WD tour. You can see some of the guns from the main road, but guides on a tour will take you inland and show you military hidden bunkers deep down in the jungle. Not only that, but the cannons sit on the best islands lookout spots, so get your camera ready for one of the best shots you will get on Bora Bora.
VISIT THE MAIN TOWN VAITAPE
Bora Bora’s main town Vaitape has a variety of stores to keep you entertained for a few hours. There are local food markets and markets where you buy beautiful items for a few dollars as well as shops with beautiful black pearls and crafted jewellery.
VISIT PEARL SHOPS
Tahiti is well known for their luxurious black pearls. Even though they are not affordable for all, it´s definitely a must to do activity on Bora Bora. Visit one of many local shops to admire them. The Farm on Bora Bora has top quality Tahiti pearls and some of the jewellery is even made in-house.
THINGS TO DO ON BORA BORA ON A BUDGET
RENT A KAYAK
According to us, exploring the lagoon on a kayak is one of the best things to do on Bora Bora. Sometimes, you don’t even have to rent it. A lot of guesthouse providers or hotels allow you to borrow their kayaks for free. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore beautiful lagoon of Bora Bora on your own. The water is calm and crystal clear so even when you do not swim, you will enjoy the kayak tour. We guarantee. If your accommodation does not provide kayaks for you, just ask locals. They will recommend you someone around that has a kayak for rent. If you live close to Matira beach, you will find a lot of kayak providers around that area. We rented a kayak for a half day for $30.
BOAT HIRE
Another great option for those who like to explore on their own is to hire a little boat for a day and cruise around the best snorkelling spots yourself. Even without a licence, you can actually borrow a boat for a day. Create your own adventure by exploring the lagoon on your own in your private boat. The best advantage is that you get the chance to explore and snorkel in further areas, that can be reached just by boat or kayak. If you are lucky enough, you will have a piece of paradise just for yourself. Currently, there is just one place on Bora Bora where you can hire a small boat without a licence. It is called La Plage. It is recommended to book ahead because there is just a few boats and interest of visitors is high. The hire of the boat starts at $130 for two hours, depending on the type of boat you choose.
TASTE THE FOOD
You can’t say you have been to Bora Bora without tasting the local speciality the Poisson Cru. Coming along with the Tahitian signature beer – a Hinano beer. The Hinano beer is the Tahiti´s national beer. It was first created in 1955 and introduced during the most famous festival in Tahiti, Heiva festival.
Tahitian speciality Poisson Cru consists of raw tuna marinated in lime juice mixed with vegetables and coconut milk. You can still try this speciality even if you are not a fan of a raw fish. The lime juices actually slightly “cook” the fish. Additionally, the fish in Tahiti is so fresh and tender, that it tastes much tastier than you might think. You can try this dish in every restaurant in Bora Bora, some hotels serve it on the breakfast menu.
VISIT BLOODY´S MARY
Dine or have a cocktail in the most famous bar/restaurant on Bora Bora. Bloody´s Mary is world-famous seafood restaurant often visited by celebrities like Diana Ross, Charlie Sheen and Harrison Ford.
TAHITIAN DANCE
Tahitian dance is World-well know and it is a very important part of Tahitian culture. The dance is mesmerising. Don´t miss watching the girls shake their hips in the most amazing rhythm. The costumes are usually made from grass, palms, tropical flowers, seashells and coconuts. Tahitian dancers move to the beat of drums, flutes and ukuleles. Watching beautiful island women and strong Tahitian men dancing to the Tahitian music is definitely a must-see activity while you are on Bora Bora. If you wish to see those dances, visit one of many Bora Bora resorts (Intercontinental Le Moana Bora Bora, Hotel Le Maitai Bora Bora, Sofitel Bora Bora). Tahitian cultural dance shows are held around 8 PM at the resort restaurants. Some shows allow visitors to watch the show just by purchasing the cocktail, others will require buying a dinner. Check with the resorts before you go to the shows.
If you plan to visit Bora Bora during July or August, check the Heiva festival. This traditional festival is the biggest annual festival in Tahiti full of singing, dancing, craft demonstrations and traditional sports competitions. This festival is celebrated through the whole French Polynesia, in Bora Bora, it is held in the main village Vaitape. The Heiva is a colourful display of traditional Polynesian costumes, skills and music.
BORROW SCOOTER/BIKE/CAR
The best way to find a place to rent a scooter/bike is to ask locals. Therefore before renting, ask in your hotel or guesthouse. Some owners provide free bikes to circle the island. Or they may recommend you a renter. We personally rented a scooter for a day. The rents are quite expensive, especially for cars. So, if you want to stay on a budget, the bike is the way to go. If you are not in a hurry, catch a local bus called „Le Truck“ and hop on and off whenever you wish. We had circled half of the island by the bus and it cost just a few dollars. Or walk. The circle around the island is just 25 km, so you can walk.
LAGOON TOURS
According to us, at least one lagoon tour is a must to do Bora Bora attraction. If you only took one excursion in Bora Bora, a lagoon tour with Lagoonarium would be it. There´s no better way to admire Bora Bora amazing lagoon, than on a lagoon tour. The view from the boat is even more spectacular than from the beach. The changing shades of blue, Mt Otemanu in the background and underwater marine life are mesmerising to watch. Have your camera and snorkelling gear ready, because you don´t want to miss that once in a lifetime opportunity.
LAGOONARIUM
Lagoonarium is a “natural” aquarium, where the sea life is captured in an area of the lagoon. It is located on the opposite side of Bora Bora, on an eastern motu near the Motu Piti Anau. The lagoonarium can be visited just with a tour, where you can choose between a half or full day tour. We strongly recommend the full day tour. The price difference is not significant and trusts us, you will not want to leave. So allow yourself the whole day to explore the amazing water, fish and sharks of the Lagoonarium. The tour starts with snorkelling at Coral Garden and further in the Bora Bora lagoon. After that, you arrive into Lagoonarium where you will be served lunch and snorkel in the lagoonarium under the supervision of guides. The visit includes swimming with the marine animals, rays and sharks, as well as shark feeding demonstrations and snorkelling. Prices start at $70 per half day, so it is quite affordable, even though you travel on a budget.
TIP: If you plan to get to Bora Bora through Moorea, ask around at the Moorea´s airport. There are a lot of tour providers, that offer slightly better prices for tours on Bora Bora than actually on the island.
CRAZY THINGS TO DO ON BORA BORA
Would you like to try something more unique? Bora Bora offers very extensive services, where some of them are quite bizarre. So, if you don´t mind paying a little more money, try some of these:
Bora Bora Glass Bottom Boat Tour
Jet ski ride
Paddleboarding
Romantic sunset cruise
Sunset cruise
Parasailing
Kitesurfing
Lagoon fishing
Skydiving
We hope you guys enjoyed our guide of things to do on Bora Bora for FREE or for a very low budget. If you know about more things to do on Bora Bora that will not ruin everyone´s bank accounts, let us know in the comment section down below.
