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Visas & entry
French Polynesia is French territory but is not in the Schengen Area, so a Schengen visa does not automatically cover Bora Bora. U.S., Canadian, UK, EU/EEA, Swiss, Australian and New Zealand citizens can generally visit visa-free for tourism for up to 90 days in 180 days, subject to passport and onward-travel requirements. Other nationalities, stays over 90 days and non-tourist travel should be checked through the official France-Visas tool before booking.
Getting in
- Tahiti–Faa’a / Papeete: This is the international gateway for virtually all Bora Bora visitors. Connect onward on Air Tahiti to Bora Bora; the flight is about 50 minutes, but allow generously for immigration, baggage and domestic check-in—or overnight on Tahiti after a long-haul arrival.
- Bora Bora Airport, Motu Mute: The final airport sits on a motu, not the main island. Air Tahiti's public shuttle connects to Vaitape in roughly 15 minutes; motu resorts run their own boat transfers, which must be coordinated in advance.
- Raiatea: A useful direct domestic connection for travelers combining Bora Bora with Raiatea and Taha’a. The flight is short, but airport and boat transfers still make it a travel block rather than a casual hop.
- Moorea: Air Tahiti links Moorea and Bora Bora, making this a practical route in a first French Polynesia itinerary. Use the Tahiti–Moorea ferry for that leg, then fly onward rather than trying to reach Bora Bora by boat.
Getting around
Use domestic flights between islands; ferries are useful for Tahiti–Moorea, not for reaching Bora Bora from Tahiti. On Bora Bora’s main island, a rental car or scooter makes sense for one loop-road day; taxis and local truck transport are not reliable hop-on/hop-off systems. On a motu, a rental is pointless: you will use resort boats, and the included Air Tahiti shuttle only runs between BOB and Vaitape, not to resorts.
Money
The currency is the CFP franc (XPF). Visa and Mastercard work at resorts, established restaurants and shops, but carry cash for taxis, snacks and small purchases; U.S. dollars are not widely useful. Tipping is not expected—leave a small cash thank-you only for genuinely exceptional service.
Book before you land
Full-day small-group or private lagoon charter, especially with a specific operator or motu lunch · Diving trips, particularly when you have only one suitable weather day · Whale-watching in season · Sunset cruises
- Choose location before hotel brand: Matira/main island means beach access, local meals and independence; a private motu means the classic view but resort-priced dependence.
- Avoid a tight same-day international-to-Bora Bora connection unless sold as a protected itinerary. An overnight on Tahiti is the safer call after a long-haul flight.
- Book accommodation, domestic flights and motu-resort boat transfers well before departure in dry season, July–August and around late-October Hawaiki Nui Va’a.
- Use a guide for serious interior hikes; Mount Otemanu terrain is not a casual marked-trail network.
- Do not assume every stretch of lagoon is safe for independent swimming or snorkeling: ask locally about currents and sheltered access.
- Plan at least one off-resort meal and one Vaitape or Matira afternoon, or the trip can become an extremely beautiful but generic hotel stay.
Entry rules change — verify visa requirements for your passport before booking this region.