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Bora Bora in a Glimpse

It is perfectly possible to spoil oneself in one of the incredibly luxurious high-class resorts and spend the savings of a lifetime in a few days. Nonetheless, a bit of planning ahead can allow enjoyment of the majestic scenery with a tighter budget. Keep in mind that in any case Bora Bora is a tremendously pricey destination. Everything (catering and activities) ranges from "expensive" to "indescribably expensive".

Bora Bora is an island in the Leeward group of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, an "Overseas Country" financially assisted by France in the Pacific Ocean. The island, located about 230 kilometres (140 mi) northwest of Papeete, is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef. In the center of the island are the remnants of an extinct volcano rising to two peaks, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu, the highest point at 727 metres (2,385 ft). The original name of the island in the Tahitian language might be better rendered as Pora Pora, meaning "First Born"; an early transcription found in 18th- and 19th century accounts, is Bolabolla or Bollabolla.

The major settlement, Vaitape is on the western side of the island, opposite the main channel into the lagoon. The products of the island are mostly limited to what can be obtained from the sea and coconut trees, which were historically of economic importance for copra. During the August 2007 census, the population on the island was about 8,880 people.

Climate

The climate in Bora Bora and the surrounding Islands are considered to be tropical. Unlike most places the seasons can be divided into two seasons: the wet season and the dry season. The wet season (Polynesian summers) runs from November till April with an average run fall off 3/4ths of the yearly precipitation. During these times the humidity levels can be at an all time high. The storms during these months are frequent and unpredictable. The rainfall is about 1800 mm or 71 inches! And the weather is 86 f or 30 c. the dry season running from May to October this is when tourism is at its peak on the Island. During these months the temperature is a few degrees lower and rain is rare. The best time weather wise with the least risk of storms is in their Winter months. The very best part about the weather in Bora Bora is that the water temperature hovers in the mid 80's (30C) on average. However during this high tourist season (May - October) tourist prices sky rocket and there are many more people around.

Locals

There are close to nine thousand people living in Bora Bora, these people have a firm grip on the culture, myths and traditions that have been handed down from the Polynesian gods. They have traditional songs and dances for the island. They love to share their culture with the visitors. The pace is laid back with a relaxing atmosphere. They live by a philosophy ‘aita pea pea’ which means ‘not to worry’. The main languages that are spoken in Bora Bora are French and Tahitian. English is also spoken in many hotels, resorts, markets, and tourist locations.

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