Getting there and around

Bora Bora · Getting there

Getting to
Bora Bora.

Every route runs through Tahiti, and every arrival ends on a boat. The flights, the ferry, the airport on its islet and the connections, with times and fares.

An island airstrip in the Leeward Islands

Islands · Bora Bora · How to get there

There is one way in from abroad, and it is Tahiti. From Faa'a, Air Tahiti flies the 259 km to Bora Bora in 50 minutes1; the Apetahi Express ferry takes 6 h 50 from Papeete, three days a week2. Either way the last stretch is by boat: the airport is on an islet, and so are the big resorts.

01 · The route

Tahiti first,
then a boat.

Faa'a (PPT), on Tahiti, is French Polynesia's only international airport, and you clear customs there before continuing to Bora Bora3. Bora Bora's own airport, code BOB, takes domestic flights only: Air Tahiti's, with direct links to Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Maupiti, Rangiroa, Tikehau and Fakarava1, and Air Moana's, from Tahiti, Moorea and Raiatea4.

The airport sits on Motu Mute1, a small islet between the reef and the lagoon5. Air Tahiti's free shuttle boat crosses to Vaitape, the main village, in about 15 minutes; the motu resorts meet their guests with their own boats15.

By sea, the Apetahi Express runs from Papeete through Huahine, Raiatea and Taha'a to Bora Bora and on to Maupiti, and docks at Vaitape26. Cruise ships call in the lagoon, under a daily cap7. Cargo ships also serve the Leeward Islands, but not to a schedule you can plan a holiday on8.

02 · Step by step

From Faa'a
to the lagoon.

  1. 01

    Land at Faa'a and clear customs

    All international flights arrive at Faa'a; formalities happen there, not on Bora Bora3. Entry rules by nationality are on our visa page.

  2. 02

    Leave time for the connection

    Air Tahiti's minimum connecting time is 90 minutes from an international to a domestic flight and 120 minutes the other way9. Inter-island flights may not run late at night or very early, so a late arrival can mean a night on Tahiti3.

  3. 03

    Fly 50 minutes

    Check in 1 h 30 before departure1. The flight covers 259 km1. The network, passes and baggage rules are on our Air Tahiti page.

  4. 04

    Collect your bags on Motu Mute

    Air Tahiti asks passengers to collect their baggage before boarding the shuttle to Vaitape1. Resort staff meet guests at the pontoon.

  5. 05

    Cross the lagoon

    Free Air Tahiti shuttle to Vaitape, about 15 minutes1; or the resort's boat, about 10 minutes to Le Bora Bora, 15 to the Four Seasons and 20 to the St. Regis10311.

  6. 06

    From the Vaitape quay

    Taxis, local public transport and car-rental agencies about 100 m from the landing stage1. Many pensions collect their guests at the quay; Village Temanuata charges 2,500 XPF (≈ US$25) per person return12.

03 · The flights

Tahiti to
Bora Bora by air.

Air Tahiti
259 km in 50 minutes from Tahiti1The airline advertises more than ten flights a day to Bora Bora across its network, counting links from the other islands13
Fare from Tahiti
From 40,246 XPF (≈ US$395) return, including 6,246 XPF of taxes1Lowest published fare, checked October 2026; Air Tahiti points to its passes for cheaper multi-island trips
Direct from Bora Bora
Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Maupiti, Rangiroa, Tikehau, Fakarava1
Air Moana
Flies to Bora Bora from Tahiti, Moorea and Raiatea4Fares only at booking on its site
Timetable
Air Tahiti changes its schedule twice a year, in April and November; the current forecast timetable runs from 29 March to 24 October 202614Times can change after booking
Check-in
1 h 30 before departure, at Motu Mute or for the shuttle at Vaitape1
Connections at Faa'a
90 minutes international to domestic; 120 minutes domestic to international9
On one ticket from the US
Air Tahiti Nui sells Los Angeles–Bora Bora from US$1,323 (≈ 135,000 XPF), economy, taxes included, the last leg on a partner airline15

04 · Motu Mute

An airport
on an islet.

The airport has a snack bar, souvenir shops, a newsagent and toilets1, and not much else: there is no road off the motu. What happens next depends on where you sleep.

Staying on the main island. Take Air Tahiti's Bora Bora Navette. The crossing to Vaitape takes about 15 minutes and is included in the air ticket1; no booking is needed, and seats are limited16. For the flight out, the shuttle leaves the Vaitape quay 1 h 30 before scheduled departure, and the week's times are posted on the quay116.

Staying on a motu. The resort's boat meets you at the pontoon. It is not necessarily free: the St. Regis lists its shared transfer at 8,600 XPF (≈ US$84) one way and 17,200 XPF (≈ US$169) return11; the Westin includes the return transfer in a destination fee of 11,550 XPF (≈ US$113) per room per night, and lists a motu taxi at 7,000 XPF (≈ US$69) one way for anyone not on its boat17. The full list of extras is on the cost page.

Leaving. Some hotels send your bags to the airport separately. Air Tahiti's responsibility for baggage starts only at check-in, and the airline suggests asking your host whether to take the hotel's boat or its own shuttle1.

05 · The ferry

The Apetahi
Express.

Papeete to Bora Bora
Tuesday, Friday, Sunday: dep. 06:30, Huahine 09:40, Raiatea 11:00, Taha'a 12:05, arr. Bora Bora 13:202
Bora Bora to Papeete
Monday, Thursday, Saturday: dep. 08:05, Taha'a 09:05, Raiatea 10:05, Huahine 11:25, arr. Papeete 15:002
To and from Maupiti
Bora Bora 13:40, Maupiti 14:55 (Tue, Fri, Sun); Maupiti 06:30, Bora Bora 07:45 (Mon, Thu, Sat)2
Wednesday loop
No Papeete call: Maupiti 06:30, Bora Bora 08:00, Taha'a 09:00, Raiatea 10:00, Huahine 11:15; back from Huahine 11:30, Bora Bora 15:00, Maupiti 16:302
Fares
8,000 XPF (≈ US$78) one way in school term, 9,000 (≈ US$88) in holidays; 16,000 and 18,000 return; same price between Tahiti and the Leewards and between Leeward islands; under-2s free18
Bags
Two hold bags of up to 23 kg, a 15 kg hand bag and a small 5 kg bag included18
Refunds
None: tickets are non-refundable18
Validity
Timetable from 15 June 20262Check the operator's site before booking

06 · Plane or ferry

Fifty minutes
or a day at sea.

Time from Tahiti
Air Tahiti: 50 minutes in the air, plus 1 h 30 check-in and the 15-minute boat1
Apetahi Express: 6 h 50, Papeete to Vaitape2
How often
Air Tahiti: Several flights a day13
Apetahi Express: Three sailings a week each way, plus the Wednesday Leeward loop2
Price from Tahiti
Air Tahiti: From 40,246 XPF return1
Apetahi Express: 16,000 XPF return in term, 18,000 in holidays18
Where you arrive
Air Tahiti: Motu Mute, then a boat1
Apetahi Express: The Vaitape quay6
Luggage
Air Tahiti: Depends on the fare: check the conditions
Apetahi Express: Two 23 kg bags plus hand luggage18
Flexibility
Air Tahiti: Depends on the fare
Apetahi Express: Non-refundable18

Verdict. Fly if time is short or the international connection is tight. Take the ferry one way if you are already in the Leewards or have a spare day: it costs well under half the airfare and the stops at Huahine, Raiatea and Taha'a come with it.

07 · Other ways in

Cargo ships,
cruises, helicopters.

Cargo ships. Mixed cargo ships serve the Leeward Islands from Papeete, but breakdowns reshuffled their rotations in early 20268. An adventure, not a plan.

Maupiti Express II. Tahiti Tourisme's 2026 listing gives Bora Bora, Taha'a and Raiatea as its ports, three trips a week19. Confirm days and times at its desk in Vaitape before relying on it.

Cruise ships. Ships call in the lagoon; since 2019 the commune has capped cruise passengers at 1,200 a day, which favours small and mid-sized ships7. The Paul Gauguin lists more than a hundred sailings that visit Bora Bora, loops of 7 to 11 nights from Tahiti, from US$3,710 (≈ 378,000 XPF) per person sharing20. Tahiti Tourisme notes a cruise with other ports can take up to ten days to reach the island5.

Helicopters and charters. Tahiti Tourisme mentions helicopter transfers for guests of the Taha'a Island Resort5, and the Four Seasons lists private charters and helicopter flights from Tahiti3. Expect to pay charter prices; none are published.

08 · Four journeys

How the day
actually goes.

Los Angeles to a motu, same day

8 h 17 to Faa'a21, customs, at least 90 minutes before the domestic flight9, 50 minutes in the air and up to 20 minutes on the resort's boat111. Eleven hours at the very least, door of the plane to pontoon. The Four Seasons advises booking an evening inter-island flight to match later arrivals into Tahiti3; if your long-haul lands at night, sleep on Tahiti.

Through the Leewards by ferry

Board in Papeete at 06:30 on a Tuesday, Friday or Sunday; Huahine at 09:40, Raiatea 11:00, Taha'a 12:05, Vaitape 13:202. Bags ride along (two 23 kg pieces)18. Better still, break the trip on Huahine or Raiatea and pick up a later sailing: the fare is the same between any two islands on the line18.

Island-hopping by air

Air Tahiti links Bora Bora directly with Huahine, Raiatea and Maupiti, so a loop can end here without doubling back to Tahiti1. Passes come with routing rules, so plan the route first.

Atoll to lagoon

Direct flights from Rangiroa, Tikehau or Fakarava1 put a Tuamotu week and a Bora Bora finish on one itinerary. Keep the final night before the long-haul on Tahiti, as the connection rule is 120 minutes9.

09 · From another island

Arriving from
elsewhere in Polynesia.

  1. 01

    From Moorea

    Direct flights with Air Tahiti and Air Moana14. Or the ferry to Papeete and a flight or the Apetahi Express from there. See the Moorea ferry for that leg.

  2. 02

    From Huahine, Raiatea or Taha'a

    The Apetahi Express at the same fare as from Tahiti18, or Air Tahiti direct from Huahine and Raiatea1; Air Moana also flies from Raiatea4. Raiatea to Bora Bora takes two hours by ferry on the Tuesday, Friday and Sunday run (11:20 to 13:20 with the Taha'a stop)2.

  3. 03

    From Maupiti

    Air Tahiti flies direct1; the Apetahi Express leaves Maupiti at 06:30 on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday and reaches Bora Bora at 07:452.

  4. 04

    From the Tuamotu

    Air Tahiti flies direct from Rangiroa, Tikehau and Fakarava1, the only way to swap atoll for lagoon island without going back through Tahiti. See the Tuamotu.

  5. 05

    Back to Tahiti for the flight home

    Allow at least the 120-minute connection from a domestic to an international flight9; a night on Tahiti before a long-haul departure removes the risk. More in our Faa'a airport guide.

10 · Mistakes

Six ways
to lose a day.

  1. 01

    A same-day dash to the long-haul

    The domestic-to-international connection is 120 minutes at minimum9, and island schedules change twice a year and sometimes after booking14. A night on Tahiti is cheaper than a missed flight home.

  2. 02

    Assuming the resort boat is free

    At the St. Regis it is 17,200 XPF return11; at the Westin it sits inside the nightly destination fee17. Ask before you book the room.

  3. 03

    Missing the shuttle back

    It leaves Vaitape 1 h 30 before your flight, seats are limited, and the week's times are posted on the quay116. Check them on arrival, not on the morning you leave.

  4. 04

    A non-refundable ferry on a tight plan

    Apetahi tickets cannot be refunded18. Book the ferry for the leg with slack in it, not the one that feeds an international flight.

  5. 05

    A day trip to Maupiti by ferry

    It can't be done: the boat reaches Maupiti at 14:55 and leaves again at 06:30 the next sailing day2. Fly, or stay a night or two.

  6. 06

    Leaving the motu too late

    There is no road off Motu Mute, or off any resort motu: every departure starts with a boat. Build in the crossing, 10 to 20 minutes from the resorts1011, plus waiting time.

11 · Questions

Questions.

  1. 01

    How do you get to Bora Bora?

    Fly to Faa'a on Tahiti, then take Air Tahiti's 50-minute flight to Bora Bora1, or the Apetahi Express ferry from Papeete (6 h 50, three days a week)2. From the airport on Motu Mute, a free shuttle boat crosses to Vaitape in about 15 minutes1.

  2. 02

    How long is the flight from Tahiti to Bora Bora?

    About 50 minutes for the 259 km1.

  3. 03

    Is there a ferry from Tahiti to Bora Bora?

    Yes: the Apetahi Express leaves Papeete at 06:30 on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday and arrives at 13:20; it returns Monday, Thursday and Saturday at 08:05, into Papeete at 15:002. 8,000 XPF one way in school term, 9,000 in holidays18.

  4. 04

    Can you fly directly to Bora Bora from the US?

    No. Every international flight lands at Faa'a on Tahiti3. Air Tahiti Nui sells Los Angeles–Bora Bora on one ticket, with the last leg on a partner airline15.

  5. 05

    How do I get from Bora Bora airport to my hotel?

    Main-island guests take Air Tahiti's free shuttle to Vaitape (about 15 minutes) and a taxi or pension pick-up from the quay1. Motu resorts meet guests with their own boats, often for a fee: 17,200 XPF return at the St. Regis11.

  6. 06

    How much time do I need between my international and domestic flights?

    At least 90 minutes from an international to a domestic flight, and 120 minutes the other way9. Late-night arrivals may need a night on Tahiti3.

  7. 07

    Can I go from Moorea to Bora Bora directly?

    Yes, by air: Air Tahiti and Air Moana both fly Moorea–Bora Bora14. There is no direct boat.

  8. 08

    Do I pay for the airport shuttle boat?

    No. The Bora Bora Navette between Motu Mute and Vaitape is included in the Air Tahiti ticket, and no booking is needed; seats are limited116.

  9. 09

    Does Air Moana fly to Bora Bora?

    Yes, from Tahiti, Moorea and Raiatea; its fares appear only when you search on its site4. Air Tahiti has the wider network, with direct flights from the Tuamotu and the other Leeward Islands1.

  10. 10

    Is Bora Bora airport international?

    No. It takes domestic flights from Air Tahiti and Air Moana14; Faa'a on Tahiti is French Polynesia's only international airport3.

  11. 11

    Where does the ferry arrive on Bora Bora?

    At the Vaitape quay on the west coast, the same quay as the airport shuttle, the rental desks and the taxis6.

  12. 12

    How early should I leave a motu resort for my flight?

    Air Tahiti wants passengers at the airport 1 h 30 before take-off1, and resort boats take 10 to 20 minutes1011; resorts set their own departure times, so confirm the night before.

  13. 13

    Can you visit Bora Bora as a day trip from Tahiti?

    Only by air, and it is a short day once check-in and the boat are counted. The ferry arrives at 13:20 and sails back to Papeete only on Monday, Thursday and Saturday mornings2, so it means at least one night.

Sources · last verified 19 October 2026(21)
  1. Air Tahiti: Flights to Bora Bora (0h50, 259 km; fares from 40,246 F TTC round trip incl. 6,246 F taxes; direct routes; Motu Mute airport, check-in, Bora Bora Navette, services) ↗
  2. Tuatea Ferries / Apetahi Express: Horaires Apetahi Express à partir du 15 juin 2026 ↗
  3. Four Seasons: Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora — getting here (Faa'a the only international airport; customs in Papeete; late-night connections; 15-minute boat; charters and helicopters) ↗
  4. Air Moana: Destinations — Bora Bora (departing from Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea) ↗
  5. Tahiti Tourisme: Getting to Bora Bora (shuttle included in airfare; resort boats; cruises; helicopter from Taha'a) ↗
  6. Tahiti Tourisme: Getting to Bora Bora (Vaitape: the quay for the shuttle, the ferry, rentals and taxis) ↗
  7. Cruise Industry News: Islands of Tahiti position to small and medium-sized cruise ships (Bora Bora: 1,200 cruise passengers a day, set by the commune in 2019) ↗
  8. Direction polynésienne des affaires maritimes: Tuamotu Ouest et Îles-Sous-Le-Vent : les dessertes maintenues malgré les difficultés (10 Feb 2026) ↗
  9. Air Tahiti: Minimum connecting time ↗
  10. Pearl Resorts: Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts — a 10-minute boat ride from the airport, 15 minutes from Vaitape ↗
  11. Marriott International: The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort — overview (20-minute boat transfer; shared transfer 8,600 XPF one way, 17,200 return) ↗
  12. Village Temanuata: Village Temanuata — internet rates (transfers 2,500 XPF per person return, VAT not included) ↗
  13. Air Tahiti: Flights to Bora Bora (more than ten flights a day advertised, as checked on 14 October 2026) ↗
  14. Air Tahiti: Download the forecast flight schedule (timetable 29 March–24 October 2026; changes in April and November) ↗
  15. Air Tahiti Nui: Flights Los Angeles–Bora Bora (from US$1,323 incl. taxes; domestic leg by a codeshare partner) ↗
  16. Air Tahiti: Bora Bora Navettes (airport–Vaitape shuttle: no booking, limited seats, weekly times posted on the quay) ↗
  17. Marriott International: The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa — overview (destination fee incl. round-trip airport transfer; Taxi Motu 7,000 XPF one way) ↗
  18. Tuatea Ferries / Apetahi Express: Tarifs Apetahi Express (between Tahiti and the Raromatai, between Raromatai islands and Raiatea–Taha'a; bags; non-refundable) ↗
  19. Tahiti Tourisme: Maupiti Express II (2026 listing: Bora Bora, Taha'a, Raiatea; 3 trips a week) ↗
  20. Paul Gauguin Cruises: Cruises visiting Bora Bora (104 sailings listed; 7–11-night Tahiti loops from US$3,710 per person, double occupancy) ↗
  21. Air Tahiti Nui: Flights Los Angeles–Papeete (flight duration 8h17m, 4,096 miles) ↗

Keep wandering.