1. International flight to Papeete (PPT), Tahiti from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, Auckland and (seasonally) Tokyo; flights from Paris stop in the U.S. 2. Air Tahiti or Air Moana hop to Bora Bora (BOB), about 50 minutes. 3. Boat transfer from the airport motu: your resort's boat (usually charged) or the airline's free shuttle boat to Vaitape.
Last verified: October 2026
The journey in three legs
Flight routes & airlines
Major routes, airlines, durations and transfer logistics.
Flight route
Los Angeles (LAX) to Bora Bora
The most popular North American gateway, with daily nonstop flights from LAX to Papeete and same-day connections to Bora Bora.
~8h to Papeete + 50-min island hop
Flight route
San Francisco (SFO) to Bora Bora
United and French Bee fly nonstop from San Francisco to Papeete year-round, with a same-day connection onward to Bora Bora.
~8.5h to Papeete + 50-min island hop
Flight route
Paris (CDG) to Bora Bora
The main European gateway: Air Tahiti Nui and Air France stop in Los Angeles, and French Bee stops in San Francisco, before Papeete.
~22h total (with a stop) + 50-min island hop
Flight route
Auckland (AKL) to Bora Bora
A short route from New Zealand, with nonstop Air Tahiti Nui and Air New Zealand flights to Papeete.
~5h to Papeete + 50-min island hop
Flight route
Tokyo (NRT) to Bora Bora
Air Tahiti Nui has operated seasonal nonstop flights between Tokyo and Papeete for Japanese honeymoon travelers.
~11h to Papeete + 50-min island hop
Flight route
Sydney (SYD) to Bora Bora
Air Tahiti Nui plans nonstop Sydney–Papeete flights from 14 December 2026; until then, Australians connect through Auckland.
Nonstop from Dec 2026, or ~3h to Auckland + ~5h to Papeete; then 50-min island hop
Flight route
New York (JFK) to Bora Bora
East Coast travelers connect through Los Angeles for the nonstop flight to Papeete, then the short hop to Bora Bora.
~6h to LAX + ~8h to Papeete + 50-min island hop
Flight route
Bora Bora Airport (BOB): Arrivals & Transfers
The airport sits on its own motu: resorts send boats, and the airline's free shuttle boat runs to Vaitape.
10-40 minutes depending on resort and transfer type
Flight route
International to Papeete (Tahiti)
All journeys to Bora Bora route through Faa'a International Airport in Papeete, Tahiti.
8h from LAX; ~22h from EuropeBooking tips
- Book the Papeete–Bora Bora hop early; seats sell out in peak season.
- Allow a comfortable connection in Papeete — same-day is possible but tight.
- Confirm your resort transfer time; boats are timed to flight arrivals.
How long is the flight to Bora Bora from your city?
Add about 50 minutes for the hop from Papeete to Bora Bora to these nonstop times to Tahiti. Then allow time for your connection and the boat at the other end.
| From | Nonstop to Papeete | Flight time to Papeete |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (LAX) | Air Tahiti Nui, Air France | About 8 h 10 min – 8 h 25 min |
| San Francisco (SFO) | United, French Bee | About 8 h 20 min – 8 h 45 min |
| Honolulu (HNL) | Hawaiian Airlines (twice weekly since late March 2026) | About 5¾ h |
| Auckland (AKL) | Air Tahiti Nui, Air New Zealand | About 5 h |
| Paris | Air Tahiti Nui and Air France via LAX; French Bee via SFO | About 22 h including the stop |
From the East Coast, add a domestic flight to Los Angeles or San Francisco. Route details are on our LAX to Bora Bora and SFO to Bora Bora pages.
Flights to Bora Bora: booking the island hop
Air Tahiti and Air Moana together run about 60 flights a week from Papeete to Bora Bora on ATR turboprops, from early morning to early evening. A return ticket usually costs about $300–600 per person. Since June 2026, Air Tahiti Nui has had a codeshare with Air Tahiti, so its passengers can book the whole trip to Bora Bora on one ticket.
If you fly another airline, you will usually collect your bags in Papeete and check them in again at the domestic counters. Leave at least two hours between flights. If you plan to visit other islands too, an Air Tahiti multi-island pass can cost less than separate tickets. See our island hopping guide.
Do you need a night in Papeete?
It depends on when you land. The last flights to Bora Bora leave around early evening.
- Early-morning arrivals (French Bee from San Francisco, and some Los Angeles flights) can usually connect to Bora Bora the same day.
- Evening arrivals (United from San Francisco, Hawaiian from Honolulu and some Los Angeles flights) normally mean a night near Faa'a airport and a morning flight.
- Going home: most flights to the US leave Papeete in the evening, so you can usually fly from Bora Bora that day. Morning departures, such as French Bee's, need a night on Tahiti first.
Other ways to get to Bora Bora: ferry and cruise
If you are not in a hurry, the Apetahi Express fast catamaran sails from Papeete to Bora Bora a few times a week, stopping at Huahine, Raiatea and Taha'a on the way. The trip takes about 7 hours and costs about 7,000 XPF one way. It is a good choice for budget travelers or anyone island hopping, but the Tahiti–Huahine crossing can be rough in July and August. You can also arrive by ship on a French Polynesia cruise. See our Bora Bora cruise guide.
However you arrive, the last step is a boat from the airport motu. The free airline shuttle to Vaitape and the resort transfers are covered in our Bora Bora airport guide.
Frequently asked questions
No. All international visitors fly into Papeete, Tahiti first, then connect on a roughly 50-minute Air Tahiti or Air Moana flight to Bora Bora, followed by a boat across the lagoon.
Los Angeles to Tahiti is about 8 hours nonstop, then roughly 50 minutes on to Bora Bora. From Europe, flights to Tahiti connect through Los Angeles or San Francisco, about 21 hours in total, plus the island hop.
Sometimes — depending on your international carrier, the Papeete–Bora Bora leg with Air Tahiti may need to be booked separately, so confirm this when planning your itinerary.
Check your fare: standard domestic fares usually include one 23 kg checked bag, but carry-ons are limited to 5 kg and some promotional fares allow only 15 kg checked. Check current allowances before packing.
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