Bora Bora Impressions - A Travel Diary

It goes without saying, Bora Bora is one of the most revered and dreamed-about islands in the world. It has been featured in many movies, written about in countless books, is a top romantic destination and generally on most traveler’s list of must-visit places.

Visiting Bora Bora for the first time, I had ideas of what to expect. I envisioned crystal clear water, layered in many shades of blue and perfect white sand beaches. I imagined dreamy breezes and swaying palm trees. I had seen enough images of the iconic island that I felt like I knew what I was going to experience even before I got there. However, the reality of stepping foot off the Air Tahiti flight and experiencing it live and in person was far beyond my own expectations and my own experiences traveling the world. It was breathtakingly beautiful. It was serene and quiet. The blue sky was accented by a few perfect cartoon cloud formations, the breeze a perfect fan to cool me off. My skin tingled from the sun and sea breeze as I moved with the others toward the little airport on it’s own motu (small islet). 

As I boarded the lagoon transfer to the resort and we moved away from the airport’s motu, it was only then did I really notice the mountain face not far from us. Mt. Otemanu sits in the middle of Bora Bora and looms large and protectively over the quiet lagoon. The sheer cliff sides are covered in green and jut up to the sky almost from the lagoon’s surface! As we skimmed across the water, the face of Mt. Otemanu changed. No two sides are the same. I soon learned that Mt. Otemanu also changes colors throughout the day from reflected golden yellow at sunrise as it is illuminated by soft shades of pink and orange as sunset.

Each resort that is located on their own motu brags about their view of Mt. Otemanu. That their view is the best. Actually, each and every property has the best view. They each have a different view, but in my eyes, after spending time on each property, there is not a “best view”. Each one offers stunning vistas of the mountain which anchors Bora Bora at the center. Each property can rest assured that theirs is spectacular and guests will be wow-ed from sunrise to sunset from different vantage points. 

Bora Bora is a glittering gem delicately perched in the middle of a vast ocean beckoning travelers to her shores with her mesmerizing beauty. The truth is, Bora Bora is only one of 119 islands in French Polynesia, but it is definitely the most popular. One might say that Bora Bora is defined as the center of the romantic universe, where luxury resorts and spas are sprinkled around the island and feature the iconic overwater bungalows, thatched-roof villas and a fabled ambiance. To put it simply, Bora Bora is one of the most beautiful islands in the world and worth exploring its perfect paradise.