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Trying to decide between Tahiti vs Bora Bora? I've got you covered with all the details you need to figure out before you choose your next destination!
Have you dreamt of the crystal clear blue waters, soft sands, lush mountains, hidden waterfalls and delicious seafood in French Polynesia?
There’s so many idyllic islands to choose from - 118 to be exact. Which one(s) should you visit?
French Polynesia is at the top of many bucket lists, and for excellent reason!
My husband and I explored these dreamy islands for a week. Our itinerary included Tahiti, Mo’orea, and Bora Bora.
There’s a ton of similarities between these French Polynesian islands. However, the differences could make your decision on where to go a lot easier.
Be sure to read to the end to see which island we consider to be the better vacation!
If you’re considering traveling to Tahiti or Bora Bora, I will be giving you a comprehensive comparison of these two islands. Get ready to discover:
- top things to do in Tahiti vs Bora Bora
- options for getting to each of these French Polynesian islands
- best ways to get around Tahiti and Bora Bora
- where to stay in Tahiti vs Bora Bora
I’ll share an approximate budget you may need to visit Tahiti vs Bora Bora.
And I’ll squeeze in some money-saving tips for this extraordinary vacation, as well. So let’s dive right in!
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First off, where is French Polynesia? Let’s get ourselves oriented.
If you look on a map at the South Pacific Ocean, you probably won’t notice these islands right off.
Tahiti and Bora Bora appear to be really tiny specks on the map, so just keep zooming in.
French Polynesia is divided into five archipelagoes. Tahiti is a part of the Winward Islands, and Bora Bora is a part of the Leeward Islands.
Ultimately, Tahiti and Bora Bora both fall under the classification of “Society Islands.”
Tahiti is the most populated island in French Polynesia with over 180,000 inhabitants. Tahiti is also the largest of the Society Islands.
Tahiti is 403 square miles, and has the major airport of French Polynesia in Papeete (PPT).
Bora Bora is 165 miles northwest of Tahiti, and a bit more remote than Tahiti. There are about 9,500 inhabitants on this 15 square mile-island.
Keep in mind that getting to French Polynesia is not a small journey. We flew from New York to San Francisco which was a 6.5 hour-long flight.
Then we flew from San Francisco to Tahiti which was 8.5 hours long. Then getting to Tahiti to Bora Bora was another one-hour flight.
Not to mention, there will be a time difference. Going from New York to Tahiti sent us six hours back in time!
Even though the journey is long, you can “relive” a chunk of the first day if you are coming from the United States.
Chew Tip: Split up your travel time. Instead of flying for about 15 straight hours, we explored San Francisco for three days before flying to French Polynesia.
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How To Get to Tahiti vs Bora Bora
So now that we have a better idea on where Tahiti and Bora Bora are located, how do we get there?
Better yet, how do we get there affordably?
If you’re coming from the United States, you can find direct flights to Tahiti from San Francisco and Los Angeles.
If you are planning to go to Bora Bora, you will need to fly into Tahiti’s airport in Papeete beforehand.
Tahiti will land on your itinerary one way or another! How long you choose to spend on this island is up to you.
If your origin city is anywhere other than San Francisco (SFO) or Los Angeles (LAX), you will first need to secure a positioning flight.
A positioning flight is a flight you’ll take to get to your desired airport.
This tactic can be done to put you in the position to catch a cheaper or preferred flight. In this case, your preferred flight is leaving from LAX or SFO.
Here’s the steps you’ll take to get to Tahiti or Bora Bora from the United States:
- If your starting point is not in San Francisco (SFO) or Los Angeles (LAX), set price alerts for flights heading to either of these airports.
- Set price alerts for flights from SFO or LAX to Papeete, Tahiti (PPT).
- If you’re heading to Bora Bora, set price alerts from PPT to Bora Bora Airport (BOB).
- Have a price budget in mind that you don’t want to go over. When you’re alerted of a price below that number, book the flight(s)!
You can follow these easy steps while using WayAway.
WayAway is a flight aggregator that finds the most affordable airfare for travelers.
The search results in WayAway exclude hidden fees, so the price you see is the final price you pay.
WayAway has extensive search filters that are bound to narrow down the best flight for you.
With WayAway you can filter out overnight layovers, layovers of a certain duration, specific departure and arrival times, whether baggage is included in your ticket, low-cost airlines, maximum journey duration, stopover airports, and so much more!
If you want to take “Seeing the World & Saving a Dollar” a step further, upgrade to WayAway Plus.
With WayAway Plus, you are eligible to earn up to 5% cashback on flight tickets!
As you search for flights, you can see exactly how much cashback you can get.
How to earn cashback with booking flights through WayAway:
- Set your price alerts (as mentioned above).
- When you find a cheap flight deal, buy the ticket directly through the WayAway app.
- Earn cashback within 30 days after the flight (as long as the flight was not canceled).
On top of the flight cashback perks, WayAway Plus offers cashback on hotels, car rentals, and other travel-related services.
Additionally, WayAway Plus includes exclusive access to 24/7 expert travel support.
If you have questions on finding the cheapest way to get from point A to point B, or where to find the best pupusas in El Salvador - they can help you with it all.
For 10% off your WayAway Plus membership, use code Explore10.
Bora Bora is only a 50 minute flight from Tahiti. These flight prices vary, but are more than $100 USD one-way.
Air Tahiti was the sole airline for this route, but recently Air Moana has been offering inter-island flights, as well.
The alternative is taking a ferry from Tahiti to Bora Bora which would require spending an extended amount of time.
The ferry from Tahiti to Bora Bora takes about eight hours. But the ferry costs less than flying at around $85 USD to $95 USD one-way.
Consider whether you have more time or money and what’s worth it to you in this scenario.
The Tahiti to Bora Bora ferry only runs three times per week and the schedule can be checked on the Apetahi Express website linked here.
Since you will first need to fly through Tahiti to get to Bora Bora, there is an added cost to your Bora Bora vacation vs. Tahiti vacation.
The additional necessary mode of transportation (whether flight or ferry) already starts to tip Bora Bora into the more expensive vacation category.
But there’s several factors that go into a travel budget. And you may be able to save in other areas of your Bora Bora vacation such as accommodations and excursions.
This, of course, depends on your travel style.
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Things to Do in Tahiti vs Bora Bora
It’s up to you whether you treat Tahiti as a quick layover, an extended stop-over, or your main travel destination.
Tahiti and Bora Bora have some overlapping things to do. For instance, if you come during the months of August to November, you can swim with humpback whales.
Tahiti and Bora Bora both have picture-perfect beaches.
You’ll find white sand beaches in Bora Bora. Tahiti offers white sand beaches and black sand beaches.
Tahiti and Bora Bora both have surfing opportunities.
Tahiti has better surfing, and has surfing options that can be suitable for beginners and intermediate-level surfers.
If you’re interested in surfing in Bora Bora you’d have to have expert-level experience and be accompanied by a local.
Let’s compare things to do in Tahiti vs Bora Bora and their approximate costs to narrow down your vacation plans.
Things to Do in Tahiti
Tahiti is more like Ta-HEAT-i. It is really hot in this city. The humidity adds an extra layer to that. And mosquitoes!
So whatever you decide to do in Tahiti, wear sunscreen, wear bug spray, and dress light.
There’s so many fascinating things to see and do in Tahiti. If you’re into chasing waterfalls, Tahiti is your place. Bora Bora does not have waterfalls.
The three waterfalls of Faarumai are incredible to see in Tahiti.
You essentially walk right up to the first magnificent waterfall. So this one is for all my non-hikers!
Then after an easy walk up about ten minutes, you’ll find a double waterfall to admire.
There’s actually so many waterfall experiences in Tahiti. We’ve included all of them and how to get to them (some require a 4x4, others you can walk right up to without a hike) in our Explore French Polynesia guide.
Tahiti has many gorgeous black sand beaches. The water is super clear here, as well. But it’s harder to see all the shades of blue over the black sand.
If you’re in Tahiti, a popular day trip is taking a ferry to the island of Mo’orea.
The ferry to Mo’orea from Tahiti costs around $22 USD roundtrip.
Mo’orea has so many mysterious, lush mountains, and breathtaking views overlooking the blue waters.
Mo’orea is one of the best places in French Polynesia to go snorkeling. The marine life will blow you away.
There’s sharks, stingrays, and colorful fish to swim or kayak with in Mo’orea.
There’s pineapple fields, vanilla farms, and many other exotic places to explore in Mo’orea.
We were able to squeeze in the right amount of adventure and relaxation during our day trip to Mo’orea.
In general, Tahiti has a busier feel. There’s nightlife in Tahiti. And knowing French will take you far.
I highly recommend using Babbel to brush up on your French language before exploring Tahiti.
Things to Do in Bora Bora
Some people might think of Bora Bora as “Bora Boring.”
Sure, you can choose to lay out on your overwater bungalow and gaze out into the million shades of blue all day. And this can be boring to adventure seekers.
But let me tell you, there are things to do in Bora Bora if you really want something to do!
Bora Bora has an overall calmer vibe than Tahiti. Most people are coming here on their honeymoon.
And most people are coming for the ultimate luxurious experience in Bora Bora.
Bora Bora offers a private escape from everything. It is much more tranquil, and quiet in Bora Bora than Tahiti.
We stayed at Conrad Bora Bora Nui Resort and there was always something going on. They offered cultural experiences like the va’a initiation.
This was an incredible time sailing in a traditional outrigger boat and learning all about the sport with a local Polynesian.
We also witnessed the Ahima'a, which is an underground Tahitian oven.
They cooked a traditional meal with volcanic coals, coconut husk and wood coverings for almost half the day at our resort.
There were fire shows, traditional dancers, and ukulele players that accompanied our meals during our stay.
The snorkeling is incredible in Bora Bora! You’ll swim with stingrays, manta rays, sharks, and the most unique-patterned fish along the coral reefs.
There’s also kayaks and stand up paddle boards available on the resort to use.
There’s a nature trail along the private islet. This mini-hike brings breathtaking views of Mount Otemanu.
Outside of exploring your luxury resort, you can explore the main island of Vaitape in Bora Bora. Our resort provided a free boat shuttle during the day to Vaitape.
You can explore the beaches, markets, and all the beauty of Vaitape.
If you’re really adventurous, you can hike Mount Otemanu on Vaitape.
There’s several great hikes in Bora Bora and we’ve included them (and over 60 other amazing things to do) in our Explore French Polynesia guide.
CHEW TIP: You can save money by renting a car and touring Tahiti on your own time. You can also save money on Bora Bora excursions. For more details, check out our Explore French Polynesia guide!
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How To Get Around Tahiti vs Bora Bora
How to Get Around Tahiti
If you are looking to explore the island of Tahiti on a budget, consider car rentals. We rented a car for $40 USD for the day.
Interestingly, they also charge you for mileage. It cost an additional $0.60 USD per kilometer driven on top of that $40 USD price.
Even still, the cost of renting a car was less than booking a tour.
And we got to spend as much time as we wanted at specific stops around Tahiti.
The roads are well paved, and sometimes pretty curvy. For the most part you are driving on a single main road.
The parking was not hard to find. Some stops had actual parking lots. Other times, we pulled over to the side of the road with no issues.
There is a public bus, but it’s mainly for locals. When we searched on Google Maps for any bus routes, they did not come up.
But, we did end up taking the bus from the airport to Hilton Tahiti hotel. This was after returning our rental car for the day.
The bus was easy to maneuver, clean, and cost us under $2 USD per person.
Another option for getting around Tahiti is hiring taxi drivers.
How to Get Around Bora Bora
As we mentioned before, Bora Bora has many islets. The airport is on its own islet, and most likely so is your resort. You’ll be taking a ferry to travel between islets.
We stayed at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui resort and they provided free bikes to get around the private islet.
They also have golf carts on the property that will pick you up and take you around to the different restaurants and activities.
If you are venturing out to the main island of Vaitape in Bora Bora, you have a few options. You can rent a car, bike, or ATV.
Where To Stay in Tahiti vs Bora Bora
There’s a wider variety of accommodation in Tahiti. You can find affordable hostels, luxury hotels like Hilton Tahiti Hotel, and even overwater bungalows.
You can find Tahiti stays for under $100 per night all the way up to the thousands, depending on the place.
In Bora Bora, hostels are not available. Bora Bora offers luxury resorts.
The Bora Bora cost per night can range from $1,000 USD to $3,000 USD+ depending on the type of room.
The variety in rooms that you’ll find in Bora Bora stays are as follows:
- Whether or not you are beachfront
- Whether or not you have an overwater bungalow
- Whether or not you have a private pool
They’re all fabulous options, but they also all come with high prices.
If you are dead set on an overwater bungalow experience, but want a better deal, you can also check out the Costco travel packages.
We met multiple couples during our stay at Conrad Bora Bora Nui who used the Costco package to their advantage.
Costco has deals for 5 nights in an overwater bungalow with airfare included for ~$5,000 USD per person.
We personally did not do that. Instead, we used our Hilton credit card points and free night rewards.
Our French Polynesia Hilton stay cost break-down:
- 160,000 points for two nights in Hilton Tahiti Hotel (these points were earned by reaching the sign up bonus for the card)
- One free night reward perk redeemed from my Hilton card for a third night at Hilton Tahiti hotel
- Three free night reward perks redeemed for a three-night stay at Hilton Conrad Bora Bora. (We both had two free night rewards to redeem for this entire trip).
Through our Hilton credit cards we have Diamond status and access to free upgrades upon availability.
So even though we booked the most basic, standard rooms with our free night rewards and points, we were upgraded to the King Residence suite in the Hilton Tahiti Hotel and an overwater bungalow with pool in Bora Bora - for no additional cost.
The Hilton Aspire American Express card is a game changer for travel. But only if you spend responsibly.
We treat our credit cards like debit cards. DO NOT GO INTO DEBT TO TRAVEL!!!
If you are curious about using travel credit cards responsibly to earn points and perks that award you trips of a lifetime, we have something big coming very soon.
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Which is the Best Island? Tahiti vs Bora Bora
Planning a trip to French Polynesia, lands you in paradise. With over 118 islands in French Polynesia, how do you choose which one to visit?
No matter where you’re headed in French Polynesia, Tahiti will be your first stop.
You can treat Tahiti as a quick layover, or explore this incredible island.
Tahiti may be best for you if you want to:
- Discover hidden waterfalls
- Relax on black sand beaches
- Interact with locals in the city
- Experience some of the best surfing in French Polynesia
- Spend less money overall
Bora Bora may be best for you if you want to:
- Experience a quiet, romantic getaway
- Relax on white sand beaches
- Swim in crystal clear water
- Feel like a million dollars in your overwater bungalow
- Have a bit more money budgeted for your vacation
These comparisons are not to say that Tahiti is not a romantic getaway or that Bora Bora doesn’t offer any opportunity to interact with locals or adventure.
The remote beaches of Tahiti and dazzling accommodations set it up for an amazing honeymoon, as well.
And the island of Vaitape has plenty of adventure and authentic experiences with locals in Bora Bora.
However, the main draw to Tahiti is the adventure. And the main draw to Bora Bora is the luxury and relaxation.
That’s the main difference between Tahiti and Bora Bora.
And if you know anything about me and my husband, we are opposites. So we explored them both. And loved them both!
My personal favorite: Bora Bora. I had been dreaming of an overwater bungalow vacation forever. The huge soaking bathtub in the room. The hammock-like nets on the dock.
The private infinity pool overlooking the incredible blue waters. All a part of my dream. Pure luxury.
Pure relaxation, with a splash of adventure. You can dive off (or if you’re like me - climb down the ladder gently) into the ocean and snorkel along the coral.
Bora Bora did not disappoint one bit.
My husband’s favorite: Tahiti. He loved the busier vibe of Tahiti. He can’t stay still for too long. He enjoyed exploring around the island. There’s so many astounding natural sights to be seen in Tahiti and Mo’orea.
The black sand beaches have some of the finest, softest sands we had ever walked across. The waterfalls were so impressive and easy to get to.
I also noticed that Tahiti was great for families and something to keep people of all ages busy. Tahiti and Mo’orea can also be more budget-friendly than Bora Bora.
Have you decided which is the better vacation for you - Tahiti or Bora Bora or a mix of both?
Before you go, be sure to download our Explore French Polynesia Travel Guide to help you save time planning your perfect dream vacation to these islands!
Explore French Polynesia Travel Guide
$14.00Planning a trip to French Polynesia? This 53-page digital guide breaks down the best of Tahiti, Mo’orea, and Bora Bora that you should explore.
This one-of-a-kind travel guide is filled with first-hand experience and insider tips that will save you time planning your dream trip!
What’s inside:
- how to stay 5 free nights in a luxury resort
- tips to save money on your vacation
- what to pack
- common local phrases
- best places to buy Tahitian black pearls
- ferry and flight options
- over 20 incredible restaurants
- over 20 accommodations (including overwater bungalows)
- over 60 things to do and see (many are free!)
- sample 7 day itinerary
Our recommendations will help you plan the travel budget you will need for your trip to French Polynesia.
As always, we’ll help you “See the World, Save a Dollar!”
FAQS
What is the difference between Bora Bora and Tahiti?
- Tahiti is the largest island in French Polynesia. Tahiti has black-sand beaches, white-sand beaches and waterfalls. Tahiti's vibe is a more natural adventure, whereas Bora Bora's vibe is a more luxe relaxation that doesn't include black sand or waterfalls. You can find luxury in Tahiti and adventure in Bora Bora, but those are not the main features of each island. Bora Bora is the ideal honeymoon destination because of how secluded and romantic it is. Tahiti is better for families as there are more things to do in Tahiti that will keep the entire family of all ages busy.
Is Tahiti cheaper than Bora Bora?
- Yes. The cost of accommodation can play a huge role in planning your trip to French Polynesia. Both Tahiti and Bora Bora offer luxury overwater bungalows that provide amazing views of lagoons and coral reefs. However, accommodations tend to be more expensive on Bora Bora due to its reputation as a honeymoon destination. Tahiti also offers budget-friendly options. Excursions, food, and transportation also tend to be cheaper in Tahiti than in Bora Bora. We include money-saving tactics in the Explore French Polynesia Travel Guide to help you spend less and do more on your vacation to Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora!
How long is the flight from the US to French Polynesia?
- If you are flying from California (LAX or SFO) to Tahiti (PPT), the average flight time is ~8.5 hours. If you are flying to Bora Bora (BOB) from PPT, tack on an additional 50 minutes. Keep in mind that you will need a passport for this international travel from the United States.
Can I use the American dollar in French Polynesia?
- Yes, many places will take US dollars (USD) but you’d be losing money by paying in USD since they will also charge a worse exchange rate. For example, they will say something costs 10,000 XPF or $100 USD when 10,000 XPF is really ~$91 USD. It is better to pay in the local currency.
What language is spoken in Bora Bora and Tahiti?
- French is the official language in Bora Bora and Tahiti. They also speak Tahitian. You’ll commonly find English speakers in resorts. If you plan to venture outside of your hotel or resort, you should definitely brush up on your French. (That’s really easy to do with Babbel!)
That’s interesting to know about both. I would love to visit these two countries and experience them.
Yes, you absolutely should check out both of these islands! They are mesmerizing and will leave you with unforgettable experiences!