A clear breakdown of getting to Bora Bora: international flights to Tahiti, the domestic hop, the airport shuttle boat and the Apetahi Express ferry.
Reaching Bora Bora is part of the adventure. There are no direct international flights to the island itself; every journey routes through Tahiti's main airport in Papeete (PPT).
Step 1: Fly to Tahiti (PPT)
International flights reach Papeete from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, Auckland and (seasonally) Tokyo, with Air Tahiti Nui Sydney nonstops starting December 2026. Flights from Paris connect through the U.S. From the U.S. West Coast the flight is roughly eight hours. Book early for the best fares, as seat availability is limited.
Step 2: Hop to Bora Bora (BOB)
Air Tahiti and Air Moana fly the short, roughly 50-minute hop from Papeete to Bora Bora several times a day. The descent over the lagoon is spectacular, so try for a window seat. Book this leg together with your accommodation or well in advance during peak season.
Step 3: Cross the lagoon
Bora Bora's airport sits on its own islet. From there, your resort's boat or the airline's free shuttle boat crosses the lagoon. The shuttle (about 15 minutes) only goes to the dock in Vaitape, so arrange a taxi or hotel pickup from there. Luxury resorts arrange boat transfers timed to your flight; they usually cost extra, often $100–300 per person return, so check when you book.
Prefer the sea? The Apetahi Express ferry
There is also a passenger ferry. The Apetahi Express fast catamaran sails from Papeete a few times a week, stopping at Huahine, Raiatea and Taha'a before Bora Bora (and continuing to Maupiti). The trip takes about seven hours and costs about 7,000 XPF one way, far less than flying. Seas between the islands can be rough and schedules change, so check the current timetable with the operator and leave a buffer day before any international flight.
How to get to Bora Bora: planning it in the right order
- Pick your gateway. Most North American travelers fly from Los Angeles, San Francisco or Honolulu to Papeete; route details are in our flight guide.
- Book the domestic leg at the same time. Peak-season flights from Papeete to Bora Bora can sell out months ahead. Compare Air Tahiti and Air Moana on our Papeete to Bora Bora page.
- Decide: same-day connection or a night on Tahiti. More on this below.
- Arrange your arrival transfer. Send your resort both flight numbers so the boat meets you, or plan for the free airline shuttle to Vaitape plus a taxi. Options and costs are on our airport transfers page.
How do you get to Bora Bora on the day you land?
Most flights from the U.S. and Europe reach Papeete between about 5 and 8 a.m., and the first domestic departures to Bora Bora are typically around 7 to 8 a.m. Air Tahiti's minimum connection from an international flight to one of its domestic flights is 90 minutes, and planning two hours or more is wiser. Unless the whole journey is on one ticket that checks bags through, you collect your luggage, leave the international area and check in again at the domestic counter.
When an overnight in Papeete makes sense
Stay a night on Tahiti if your international flight lands late in the day, if you are coming from Europe after 20-plus hours of travel, or if you simply want a buffer against delays. A night near the airport lets you rest and take a mid-morning flight the next day. With an extra day, Moorea is about 30 minutes from Papeete by ferry.
Timing the trip home
Going back, Air Tahiti asks for at least 120 minutes between a domestic arrival in Papeete and an international departure. Air Moana's check-in counters open 90 minutes before departure and close 30 minutes before, and its free shuttle boat leaves the Vaitape dock 1 hour 15 minutes before each flight. If you are staying on a motu, your resort schedules the boat back to the airport around your flight time. Remember that Bora Bora is on Tahiti time, UTC−10, the same as Hawaii, with no daylight saving.
Before you go, check that your passport has enough validity: the U.S. State Department says six months, and tourists also need a return or onward ticket.
More questions
How long does the whole journey take from Los Angeles?
Allow roughly 11 to 12 hours, plus any delays, from takeoff at LAX to stepping off the boat on Bora Bora with a same-day connection: about 7.5 to 8.5 hours to Papeete, a connection of two hours or so, the 50-minute flight and a short boat ride across the lagoon. An overnight on Tahiti adds most of a day but makes the arrival far less tiring.
