In honor of Valentine’s Day, I thought I would write about Bora Bora. A destination that is (arguably) one of the most romantic places to visit in the world. Specifically I want to address why Bora Bora is a good destination for kids.
I’ve been lucky to have traveled to this little South Pacific island in French Polynesia twice. The first time, I was there for my Tahitian honeymoon. By the end of that vacation, we were both in love with Bora Bora so much that we knew we had to try to come back for our ten-year anniversary. Happily, after much saving (of dollars, air miles and hotel points), we were able to make our goal a reality. And our second trip was even better than the first!
I often think about why we enjoyed our second visit more than the honeymoon that forever cemented Bora Bora in our hearts. After all, our length of stay was approximately the same. The hotels we stayed at were, more or less, comparable. And we repeated a couple of our favorite activities.
This is what I think it comes down to. On our second visit, we had a desire to wander further afield and truly explore all that the island had to offer – instead of only doing activities organized through the hotel concierge. And, as I reflect on our second round of experiences, I realize that this slice of paradise in the South Pacific is not just a fabulous destination for couples. Bora Bora also offers plenty of activities that will appeal to even the hardest-to-please kids. Especially those aged ten and up.
Here is a rundown of all the things I would do again in Bora Bora – only this time with my own kids!
Self-Tour the Main Island of Bora Bora
Each time we visited Bora Bora, we stayed at a motu resort, instead of a hotel on the main island. One of the advantages of doing this is you get amazing views of Mt. Otemanu – the iconic volcanic mountain that is located in the center of Bora Bora and recognized world over.
The disadvantage to staying on a motu is that you distance yourself from cultural immersion. Simply put, you experience resort life on your own private island, not real life.
This can be easily fixed with a water taxi ride over to the main island of Bora Bora, where you can use a two-person buggy, or a moped (if your child is old enough), to explore the island to your hearts content. You can either book directly, or have your hotel arrange the rental on your behalf. If you go through your hotel, the rental company will have your transport of choice waiting for you at your hotel’s boat dock.
From there, it is easy exploration. The 20-mile Circle Island Road takes you around the entire perimeter of Bora Bora, passing through small villages and hamlets. There is very little traffic and the scenery is spectacular. It is easy to spend anything from a couple of hours to an entire day touring the island via this ringed roadway; stopping whenever and wherever it takes your fancy.
Matira Beach
The main town of Vaitape has two supermarkets. Both sell delicious fresh breads, cheeses, and cooked meats. (Not to mention wine that is significantly cheaper than what you can purchase at your hotel). Essentially, they have everything you will need for a yummy Bora Bora picnic with your kids. And there is no better a spot to lay down your towel than Matira Beach. Located at the southern end of the island, Matira is the only public beach on the island. It offers over a mile of inviting white sand and plenty of snorkeling options.
Dive for Pearls
Tahiti is known for its black pearls. And there are several jewelry stores and boutiques on Bora Bora (like Tahia Pearls) that would be only too happy to sell you some. You may even find one in your hotel. But, for kids, where is the fun in shopping?
Queue the Farm Bora Pearl Company. From the outside it is not much to look at. It is a small operation, run out of a fairly rustic structure. Out back there are a couple of red-planked jetties that lead toward the water, where oysters have been strung just below the surface. For kids who are good swimmers, harvesting the oysters would no doubt be a neat experience to have on Bora Bora.
The activity is relatively simple. Your guide gives you a snorkel and takes you, by outrigger canoe, to a suitable dive spot away from the jetty. You then dive down about 6 feet and untie a string of oysters.
Back on shore, you choose an oyster from your string. That oyster’s shell is then skillfully pried open to reveal the pearl inside. If you are lucky you’ve randomly picked an oyster with a pearl that is worth more than the cost of your dive. However, you won’t learn the true value until your pearl is cleaned and polished in a room inside the Farm. At the end of the tour, you go home with your pearl, a certificate of authenticity, and a memory that will last a lifetime.
Pareo Painting
The Pareo is a Polynesian sarong that is worn by both men and women to this day. It is particularly popular for Tahitian dancing due to its lightweight nature, which allows for ease of movement.
Along the Circle Island Road, you can find a couple of homesteads that have set up pareo making stations in their front yards, so that tourists can learn how to paint and decorate their own pareo. Here, they will show you how to dip a piece of twisted cloth into different buckets of paint. It is a process very similar to the one you would use to make a tie-dye t-shirt. And what kid doesn’t like to make tie-dye?
Once the cloth has been dyed, it is unraveled and placed upon a piece of corrugated metal. The next step is to use a combination of manmade templates, and natural objects (like leaves, flowers, and shells), to design a pattern on top of the cloth. It then rests for about 20 minutes in the sun. When the templates are removed, there is an imprint of the shadow left from each object.
The whole experience is a lot of fun. You also get tips on how to wear your creation. Best of all, this is an activity you can do without having to be part of an official tour. We simply walked in off the street, and had the whole place to ourselves.
Have Lunch at Bloody Mary’s
Bloody Mary’s may sound like a totally inappropriate place to take your child but, I can assure you it isn’t. This is without doubt the coolest little restaurant and bar on the island and, as such, has become a Bora Bora icon. With its sand floor, tree stump chairs and cool island décor, there is plenty to look at. Plus, the restaurant has a lunch menu that will appeal to any kid (think juicy burgers and fabulous sandwiches). And if you are able to arrange a hotel sitter for your child one night, double back for the fresh fish and a signature cocktail!
Make the Most of Resort Amenities
Both of the motu resorts where we stayed in Bora Bora had plenty of complimentary toys we could use. We spent many hours paddle boarding, kayaking, and snorkeling in the lagoon. Our hotels also had bikes available so that you could ride around the motu to your hearts content. These activities, along with other resort amenities like tennis, mini golf, pool, beach volleyball, and all kinds of swimming pools, represent hours of entertainment for a child. Our last resort even gave us our own floaties, as well as access to a private Lagoonarium where you could swim with tropical fish.
For younger kids, even at high-end hotels popular with honeymooners, you will also find Kid Clubs that accommodate children aged 5 through 12. Some even cater to kids as young as 3 and as old as 16.
Splurge on Once-in-a-Lifetime Activities
Hands down our most memorable Tahitian experience was the private motu picnic that we booked during our first stay in Bora Bora. In fact, it was so good that we did it again when we returned ten years later – and that didn’t disappoint either.
You may be wondering what is so special about a private motu picnic. Well, it is all about how you get to your lunch. While eating a delicious multi-course BBQ meal on your own deserted island is definitely unique, the excursion really isn’t about food. Not even when your table and chairs are set up in the water, along with the grill, and you are serenaded by your guide.
Instead, it is about the journey, that you take by boat, across open water. The first stop is at a sand bar where you handfeed giant stingrays. After that little adrenaline rush, you move to various watery locations where you can swim with all kinds of sharks, including reef sharks and lemon sharks. And, if you are lucky, you finish your day-long “picnic” watching your guide feed a wild moray eel or two.
If none of that takes your fancy, there are plenty of other once-in-a-lifetime activities available on Bora Bora. For instance, I know that my boys would love to do an aqua safari helmet dive, like we did.
Happy Travels!
