Cost of a trip to Bora Bora
Budget is essential for any vacation planning. It depends mainly on your destination and what you plan to do there.
And you’ve certainly chosen a unique destination. With its white-sand beaches and turquoise waters, Bora Bora evokes the Tuamotu atolls, such as Rangiroa. With its steep cliffs and lush vegetation, it also resembles islands like Nuku Hiva (in the Marquesas Archipelago) … the Pearl of the Pacific is a true gem.
Bora Bora is one of the most famous islands in French Polynesia and one of the most renowned in the world for its incredible landscapes and luxurious hotels.
To get to Bora Bora, you have two options: round-trip travel between Papeete (Tahiti) and the other Society Islands by ferry or plane. Once there, as on many islands in French Polynesia, you’ll need a place to stay. Your planned activities and meals can also significantly affect your travel budget.
So, how much is a trip to Bora Bora? Here’s what you need to know.
Tahiti to Bora Bora: ferry and flight connections
After the international flight to the Tahiti airport, you must now book the flight or the boat ticket to reach Bora Bora at the best price. The island is located in the Society Islands (along with Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine and more). Its proximity with Tahiti makes it a prime destination for a day trip by boat (ferry) or a sailing trip lasting a few days. So, either take a boat to get to Bora Bora at a low price, or choose a flight with a local airline for a quick and comfortable trip.
Flight fare from Papeete to Bora Bora (PPT – BOB)
The major airline for domestic flights in French Polynesia is Air Tahiti. You will pay between 300 and 350 USD per person for round-trip flights from Tahiti Papeete airport (PPT) to Bora Bora airport (BOB). Depending on your departure airport, you can also check our airfares for a flight from Paris, Auckland, Tokyo, Sydney, or Los Angeles–Bora Bora (LAX-BOB) flight directly on our website to book both your international and inter-island round-trip flights. You can also book flights from many other cities in the world thanks to our interline and codeshare agreements.
Boat Fares Between Papeete and Bora Bora
The Apetahi Express and the Vaeara’i companies also offer ferries from Papeete, Tahiti, stopping at the Leeward Islands (Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a, Bora Bora, etc.). This is an excellent budget-friendly option: this cruise costs about 180 USD per person. A good way to avoid a flight and reduce the cost of your trip to Bora Bora if you are traveling on a low budget.
Accommodation price: luxury or economic ?
After the cost of the flight, comes the budget for the hotel nights in Bora Bora. Around the island, there are various accommodations: from camping to 5-star resorts, guesthouses (small authentic hotels) or other vacation rentals (to be booked on specialized websites) perfect for friends and family. Prices will generally meet your travel budget (starting at 100 USD per night).
Before choosing a hotel for your vacation, check what amenities are included (pool, Wi-Fi, free use of kayaks and bikes during your stay, meals, etc.). This will help you plan ahead for certain activities or meals and save money.
Of course, Bora Bora is also renowned for its luxury resorts with overwater bungalows, between the island and the lagoon. The price of these accommodations is much higher. The rates for a garden bungalow in a resort & spa start at about 700 USD per night, and the overwater bungalows at 1000 USD per night. In the 5-star resorts, these prices are even much higher.
If you want to sleep over water without spending too much money during your trip, you can choose to book only one night or two nights in this type of luxury accommodation, and spend the rest of your stay in a less expensive hotel or in a guesthouse to enjoy the two aspects of Bora Bora and live a comprehensive stay while keeping your travel budget under control: experience the great luxury of a resort facing the lagoon, and the authenticity of the interaction with the Polynesian people. It's the promise of a perfect trip!
You can also check out our travel packages to find a trip to Bora Bora (flight + hotel included) at the best price departing from Los Angeles or our other destinations.
Your budget for food and restaurants around the islands
Once again, many options are available in Bora Bora: the roulottes, the local name for Food-Trucks in French Polynesia, offer the most reasonable prices in a vibrant atmosphere. It’s a true Polynesian experience. Chairs and tables are set as soon as 5p.m., barbecues are turned on to prepare culinary specialties. It is just the perfect option for a low budget! Dinner will cost you about 15-20 USD per person and large portions could even make part of the next day’s lunch.
Bora Bora, like the other islands, has supermarkets with some well-known French or American brands. Mainly due to transportation costs for product importation, prices are higher than in the USA, but if you are on a low budget, shopping in a supermarket will be a better option than the restaurant. Don’t hesitate to shop local. Many stands along the road of Bora Bora offer fresh fruits, vegetables, prepared meals and freshly caught fishes.
To try the local dishes during your stay, you may want to eat at a restaurant in Bora Bora. As the island has many restaurants and beautiful views, the price of restaurants on the beach or in hotels can be quite high. You will pay about 25-30 USD per dish in these types of establishments.
Activities rates in Bora Bora
Many would not believe that French Polynesia offers a lot of things to do at no charge. The beach, swimming and hiking on the island’s mountains are the best activities to do in Bora Bora, and by chance, they are totally free! So focus on the prices of transportation and hotels to travel to Bora Bora at the best price. If you have a rental vehicle, you can also tour the main island at your own pace to enjoy all the beauty of Bora Bora, shop in Vaitape, and find the best views of the lagoon and motu (islets).
Despite luxury hotels’ private beaches reserved for their guests, especially on motu, and private sections along the shore, Bora Bora has many beaches to try during your stay. The most beautiful beach of Bora Bora is Matira. A beach as beautiful as those of any luxury hotel in the world. Don’t miss it during your tour of the island!
To access a motu of Bora Bora, please make sure that it is not privately owned. If it is not private and if you get authorization to stay a few hours, you’ll be able to swim all around. Obviously, snorkeling in the lagoon won’t cost you anything.
If you want to try something else during your stay in Bora Bora, note that the rest of the activities vary greatly in terms of price: boat or 4x4 tours, scuba diving, boat rentals, helicopter tours above the island, jet-skiing or quad biking... the options are numerous.
Bora Bora offers several amazing trails with historical themes.
Tahitian dance shows are usually performed during dinner at the Island’s largest hotels.
Cost of living in Bora Bora
To summarize this little budget travel guide to visit Bora Bora, you have the choice to establish the budget that suits you : If you want to save money, avoid restaurants and other activities, and focus on camping or guest house accommodations. Activities like lagoon tours, quad excursions, car or scooter rentals, jet ski or helicopter tours and scuba diving have a cost. But once again, the wide range of options will surely meet your travel budget.
Visitors from large cities like Paris, New York, London, or Sydney are not surprised by the cost of life on the island.
Many websites, travel agencies and social medias’ posts provide a lot of information concerning the total expenses of a trip to Bora Bora.Depending on your choices, prices go up from one to ten.
So, what is the budget for a trip to visit Bora Bora? Honeymoon, trip of a lifetime or « bucket list », it all depends on your type of dreams. In any case Air Tahiti Nui will fulfill its mission to bring you to Paradise.
Find your vacation package with international flights and hotel nights included to experience the best trip of your life with family, friends, or your partner.