Bora Bora · Things to do

The standard island outing: a boat tour of the lagoon taking in coral gardens, snorkelling with rays and sharks, and usually a lunch stop on a private motu. Book through your hotel's activity desk or an operator in Vaitape; it is the single thing most visitors say they came for.

The long public beach at the southern tip of the main island, and the one substantial stretch of sand you can reach without a boat or a resort key. Free, shallow a long way out, and busy in the middle of the day.

Mount Otemanu is the peak that gives the island its outline, and the tourist board lists hikes on its trails for the panoramic views back over the lagoon. Go with a guide: the ground is steep and wet and the routes are not casually waymarked.

The American military build-up of the Second World War left coastal guns and other remains around the island, including at Haamaire, and they are among the few historic sites you can visit on land. Reached off the coast road, usually as part of an island tour.

A single road rings the main island, and hiring a bike, a scooter or a car is the straightforward way to see the villages and the inland viewpoints; guided ATV tours cover the rougher tracks and stop at lookouts. Start in Vaitape, where the rental places are.