Vaitape at a Glance
Costs: $200-$500+ per day - very expensive: dining, ferries and accommodation cost significantly more than mainland.
Safety: Safe, resort-focused - generally safe; petty theft rare but standard island caution applies.
Best Time: May-October - dry season is sunnier and calmer for lagoon activities.
Why Visit Vaitape?
As Bora Bora’s main settlement, this harbour village is a gateway to the island’s iconic lagoon and Mount Otemanu vistas. Visitors browse black-pearl shops, sample poisson cru and attend Polynesian dance performances that highlight local culture. With Matira Beach a short trip away, the town is handy for arranging boat tours, snorkeling outings and island excursions while staying connected to village life.
Best Things to Do in Vaitape
Island
Bora Bora
Tropical South Pacific island with turquoise lagoon and motus
Island
Raʻiātea
Second-largest Society Island, Polynesian cultural center
Island
Tahaʻa
French Polynesian island famed for vanilla and lagoons
Mountain
Mount Otemanu
Jagged volcanic peak of Bora Bora island
Vaitape Bucket List
Don't Miss
Vaitape waterfront - Vaitape’s waterfront clusters shops, cafés, and services that form Bora Bora’s main town center.
Matira Beach - Matira Beach provides accessible white sand, calm swimming, and seaside bars just south of Vaitape.
Local pearl shops - Pearl boutiques in Vaitape display Tahitian black pearls and explain local pearl-culture traditions.
Hidden Gems
Bloody Mary’s restaurant and bar - Bloody Mary’s is a long-standing waterfront restaurant known for seafood and island ambiance.
Coral Gardens snorkel spots - Nearby coral gardens host abundant fish and accessible snorkeling close to boat ramps.
Small motu picnic sites - Private motu picnic sites offer secluded beaches and relaxed snorkeling within easy boat distance.
Day Trips
Motu snorkeling and picnic tours - Half-day boat trips to surrounding motus offer snorkeling, swimming, and picnic stops in the lagoon.
Mount Otemanu viewpoint - Boat or land trips to viewpoints give dramatic vistas over the lagoon and Mount Otemanu.
Best Time to Visit Vaitape
Vaitape (Bora Bora) is nicest in the dry season (May-October) when skies are clearer, seas calmer and snorkeling is excellent. The wet season (Nov-Apr) brings heat, humidity and more rain.
Wet Season
Hot, humid with frequent rain showers; lush scenery but boat trips can be choppy.
Cool Dry Season
Drier, slightly cooler and very pleasant - ideal for snorkeling, hiking and calm seas.
Warm Dry Season
Warm and drier with fewer tourists - good balance of heat and clearer seas for diving.
Vaitape's climate is classified as Tropical Rainforest - Tropical Rainforest climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 22°C to 30°C. Abundant rainfall (1781 mm/year), wettest in December.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very Good | 24° - 30° | 27° | 226 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 4.6 m/s | 2.8 extreme | 12.9h |
| February | Very Good | 24° - 30° | 27° | 203 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 4.5 m/s | 2.8 extreme | 12.5h |
| March | Very Good | 24° - 30° | 30° | 160 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 4.4 m/s | 2.6 extreme | 12.1h |
| April | Very Good | 24° - 30° | 27° | 154 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 4.3 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 11.6h |
| May | Very Good | 23° - 29° | 26° | 134 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 4.6 m/s | 1.7 very high | 11.2h |
| June | Excellent | 23° - 28° | 25° | 96 mm | some cloud | 78% | 4.8 m/s | 1.4 high | 11.0h |
| July | Excellent | 22° - 27° | 25° | 82 mm | some cloud | 77% | 5.0 m/s | 1.6 very high | 11.1h |
| August | Excellent | 22° - 27° | 25° | 79 mm | some cloud | 77% | 5.1 m/s | 1.9 very high | 11.5h |
| September | Excellent | 22° - 28° | 25° | 90 mm | some cloud | 78% | 4.9 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 11.9h |
| October | Excellent | 23° - 28° | 26° | 120 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 4.8 m/s | 2.6 extreme | 12.4h |
| November | Very Good | 23° - 29° | 26° | 193 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 4.6 m/s | 2.8 extreme | 12.8h |
| December | Very Good | 24° - 29° | 26° | 244 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 4.6 m/s | 2.7 extreme | 13.0h |
How to Get to Vaitape
Vaitape (Bora Bora) is reached by flying from Papeete (PPT) to Bora Bora (BOB) and then taking a short boat shuttle to the main village. Air Tahiti is the primary domestic carrier for these inter-island flights.
Faa’a International Airport, Papeete (PPT): The main gateway to French Polynesia is Papeete on Tahiti; international flights arrive here. From Papeete take a domestic Air Tahiti flight to Bora Bora Airport (BOB) on Motu Mute - the flight is about 50 minutes.
Bora Bora Airport (BOB): Air Tahiti operates regular flights from Papeete to Bora Bora. On arrival at BOB you transfer by boat to Vaitape - the administrative village on Bora Bora - using resort or public shuttle boats (see below).
Train: There is no rail transport in French Polynesia.
Boat / Shuttle: From Bora Bora Airport (on Motu Mute) you must take a boat shuttle to Vaitape (main village on the main island). Resort transfers and public boat shuttles operate; the crossing is short (typically 10-20 minutes). Fares vary by operator - many resorts include the boat transfer in your booking; public boat shuttles charge modest fees.
How to Get Around Vaitape
International flights land in Papeete; then take Air Tahiti to Bora Bora and a short boat shuttle to Vaitape. Plan transfers in advance - many resorts include the boat transfer, and domestic flights fill up quickly.
- Air Tahiti (Papeete → Bora Bora) (XPF 12,000-25,000) - Air Tahiti runs scheduled flights between Papeete and Bora Bora (Motu Mute). Flight time is roughly 45-55 minutes; book early, especially in high season, as capacity is limited.
- Airport boat shuttle (BOB → Vaitape) (XPF 1,000-2,500) - Upon arrival at Bora Bora Airport you take a boat shuttle to Vaitape. Many hotels/resorts include the transfer; public shuttles and shared boats are available for travellers on a budget. The crossing takes about 10-20 minutes.
- Water taxi / private boat (XPF 5,000-20,000) - Private boat hires and water taxis provide flexible transfers around the lagoon and between motus. They are convenient for groups or when resort transfers are not available, but more expensive than shared shuttles.
- Bicycle / scooter (XPF 1,000-3,000/day) - Vaitape and the main island are compact; bikes and scooters are commonly rented to explore the shoreline and village. Roads are narrow in places so ride carefully.
- Taxi / local bus (XPF 500-2,000) - Small taxis operate on the main island for short trips; there is no extensive bus network. Taxis are practical for reaching viewpoints and hotels around the island.
- Walking - Vaitape village is easily explored on foot - many shops, restaurants and the harbor are within a short stroll of each other.
Where to Stay in Vaitape
Budget
Vaitape town - $40-90/night
Vaitape (Bora Bora) town has a few modest pensions and family-run guesthouses; options are limited compared with island resorts.
Small pensions in Vaitape (booking listings) - Simple guesthouses in the town itself
Hotel Matira (local budget option) - Town-centre basic rooms
Mid-Range
Motus around Vaitape - $150-350/night
Most comfortable mid-range stays are on the surrounding motus and resorts; Vaitape itself offers fewer mid-tier hotel choices.
Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa - Comfortable beachfront resort on a motu
InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa - High-quality resort facilities
Luxury
Private motus / Bora Bora resorts - $500+/night
Luxury is concentrated on private motus with overwater villas and exclusive resorts; Vaitape town has almost no comparable high-end properties.
InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa - Top-tier overwater bungalows and spa
Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora - Iconic luxury overwater villas
Nightlife in Vaitape
Nightlife in Vaitape is subdued and revolves around hotel restaurants, waterfront bars and the occasional live-music night. Late-night clubs are rare; most evenings are relaxed and dining-focused. If you want a livelier scene, check event listings at larger resorts or plan to be out during peak tourist evenings.
Shopping in Vaitape
Shopping in Vaitape centres on small boutiques and souvenir shops selling local pearls, black coral jewellery, pareos and handcrafted items. There are also a few supermarkets and convenience stores for essentials. For luxury boutiques or a larger mall experience you’ll need to travel to Tahiti; Vaitape’s retail scene is focused on island crafts and tourist purchases.