Quick answer: Bora Bora is in the Society Islands of French Polynesia, in the South Pacific Ocean, at about 16.5°S, 151.7°W.
- Nearest big island: Tahiti, about 255 km (160 mi) to the southeast; the flight takes about 50 minutes.
- Country: Bora Bora is not a country. It is part of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France.
- From the U.S.: about 6,600 km (4,100 mi) southwest of Los Angeles. Allow about 8 hours to Tahiti, plus the short hop.
- Time zone: UTC−10, the same clock time as Hawaii.
Where Bora Bora is in the world
Bora Bora sits roughly halfway between California and Australia, south of the equator. It belongs to the Leeward Islands (Îles Sous-le-Vent), the western half of the Society Islands, together with Raiatea, Taha'a, Huahine and Maupiti. The Society Islands are one of the five island groups that make up French Polynesia, a territory of more than 100 islands spread across a huge area of ocean.
Tahiti, home to the capital Papeete and the only big international airport, is the hub for the whole region. Every visitor to Bora Bora flies into Tahiti first, then takes a domestic flight. See our flights guide for the routes.
Is Bora Bora a country?
No. Bora Bora is a commune (municipality) of French Polynesia, which is an overseas collectivity of France with its own government, sometimes described as an "overseas country" within the French Republic. That means:
- French is the only official language, and Tahitian is widely spoken.
- The currency is the CFP franc (XPF), not the euro. It is pegged to the euro at about 119 XPF to €1.
- French Polynesia is associated with the European Union but is not part of it, and it has its own entry rules. U.S. citizens can visit for up to 90 days without a visa; check the latest rules before you travel.
How far is Bora Bora from…?
| From | Distance (straight line) | Typical travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Papeete, Tahiti | about 255 km / 160 mi | about 50 min by air (Air Tahiti or Air Moana); about 7 hours on the Apetahi Express ferry |
| Raiatea | about 40 km / 26 mi | short Air Tahiti flight |
| Taha'a | about 30 km / 18 mi | no airport: fly to Raiatea, then boat |
| Maupiti | about 40–55 km / 25–35 mi | short flight or ferry |
| Moorea | about 235 km / 145 mi | flight |
| Honolulu | about 4,260 km / 2,650 mi | about 5¾ h to Tahiti (Hawaiian Airlines), plus the hop |
| Auckland | about 4,000 km / 2,480 mi | about 5 h to Tahiti, plus the hop |
| Sydney | about 5,980 km / 3,720 mi | via Auckland; Air Tahiti Nui plans nonstop Sydney–Tahiti flights from December 2026 |
| Los Angeles | about 6,630 km / 4,120 mi | about 7½–8½ h to Tahiti, plus the hop |
| San Francisco | about 6,760 km / 4,200 mi | about 8½ h to Tahiti, plus the hop |
| Paris | about 15,700 km / 9,750 mi | about 21 h to Tahiti including a U.S. stop |
Distances are great-circle estimates from the centre of Bora Bora; flight times are typical scheduled times and vary by airline and season.
Bora Bora time zone
Bora Bora uses Tahiti Time, UTC−10, all year; there is no daylight saving time. That puts it on the same clock as Hawaii:
- U.S. winter: 2 hours behind Los Angeles and 5 hours behind New York.
- U.S. summer: 3 hours behind Los Angeles and 6 hours behind New York.
- Europe: 11 hours behind Paris in winter, 12 hours in summer.
Flying from the U.S. West Coast you lose only two or three hours, so jet lag is mild.
The island at a glance
- Size: the main island is small: about 30 km² (12 sq mi), roughly 8 km north to south and 5 km across. With its motu it is still under 40 km².
- Lagoon: about 78 km², almost three times the size of the island, enclosed by a barrier reef dotted with motu (sandy islets).
- Mountains: the island is the remains of an extinct volcano about 3 million years old. Its twin peaks are Mount Otemanu, 727 m (2,385 ft), and Mount Pahia, 661 m (2,169 ft).
- One pass: Teavanui Pass, on the west side facing Vaitape, is the only navigable opening in the reef, used by cruise ships and cargo boats.
- Coast road: a single road of about 32 km (20 mi) circles the main island.
- Population: 10,758 residents in the 2022 census, in three districts: Nunue (which includes the main village, Vaitape), Faanui and Anau.
- Name: the Tahitian name, Pora Pora, is traditionally translated as "first born".
Where everything is on the island
Think of Bora Bora as a mountain in the middle of a lagoon, with a ring of reef islets around it.
- The airport (code BOB) is on Motu Mute, an islet in the far north, originally a U.S. air base in World War II. Every arrival continues by boat. The airlines' free shuttle boat crosses to Vaitape in about 15 minutes; resorts send their own boats. Our airport transfers page has the details.
- Vaitape, on the west coast facing Teavanui Pass, is the main village, with the dock, shops, banks and the roulottes (food trucks). Cruise-ship passengers come ashore here by tender.
- Faanui is on the north and northwest coast. Its bay was an Allied naval base during World War II, and you can still see coastal cannons on 4x4 tours.
- Anau is the village on the east coast.
- Matira Point, the southern tip, has the island's public beach: Matira Beach.
Where the resorts are
| Resort | Location |
|---|---|
| Four Seasons | Motu Tehotu, on the eastern reef |
| St. Regis | Motu Ome'e (about 20 min by boat from the airport) |
| Conrad Bora Bora Nui | Motu To'opua, southwest of the main island |
| The Westin (former Le Méridien) | Motu Tape |
| Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts | Motu Tevairoa, on the west side, a few minutes by boat from the main island |
| InterContinental Le Moana | Matira Point, main island |
| Maitai Polynesia | Main island, near Matira Beach |
| Village Temanuata | Main island, at the eastern end of Matira Beach |
| Bora Bora Ecolodge | Main island, Anau (east coast) |
Which side you stay on matters for the view. Resorts on the eastern motu, such as the Four Seasons, typically face Mount Otemanu across the lagoon, while hotels around Matira and the western motu look out toward the sunset. Several resorts are closed in 2026; see our resort status page before booking.
Getting around once you're there
Motu resorts run their own boat shuttles to Vaitape. On the main island you can rent a car, scooter or bike, or take a taxi (agree the fare first). The island bus, Le Truck, runs only irregularly. The lagoon tour is the easiest way to see the whole island and its motu in one day.