Bora Bora, home to over 4,000 inhabitants, is in the center of a multicolored
lagoon, surrounded by offshore motu islets inside a protective coral necklace.
An 18-mile, partially sealed road circles the island, passing through colorful
villages, archaeological sites, old Army bunkers, and cannons left over from
World War II.
There are at least six exciting shore excursions on Bora Bora. They
usually are: (1)
Bora Bora Snorkeling Safari;
(2)
Glass Bottom Boat Tour;
(3)
Shark’s Breakfast Outrigger Adventure;
(4)
Tupuna Mountain Safari & Island Drive;
(5)
Bora Bora Island Discovery;
and (6)
Aquascope Adventure.
|
|
Bora Bora Snorkeling Safari
Tour 13061
Duration: Approximately 3 hours
Departs: Morning
Price: US$46
limited capacity
Climb aboard a covered snorkeling boat from the ship’s gangway and cruise
across the multi-colored lagoon in a local canoe. Once you arrive at the coral
reef, you will swim among bright tropical fish and explore the beauty of the
delicate coral formations, snorkeling in warm, clear, shallow water.
Please note: Please wear your swimsuit with shorts and a t-shirt. Bring
along footwear such as aquasocks and don’t forget your snorkel gear and
underwater cameras. Guests should be accustomed to wearing snorkel equipment and
coping with occasional currents.
Glass Bottom Boat Tour
Tour 13062
Duration: Approximately 11⁄4 hours
Departs: Morning
Price: US$36
limited capacity
This covered glass-bottom boat excursion gives a glimpse of Bora Bora’s
submarine wonder world. In the depths of the electric blue waters of Pofai Bay
lies the center of an ancient sunken volcano. Giant coral formations reach
upward toward the light--gardens that are home to more than 300 species of fish.
Watch in fascination as a diver descends to feed these glorious creatures. In
the shallows near the reef, small, brilliantly colored fish dart through the
water and anemones dance to the rhythm of the currents.
Shark’s Breakfast Outrigger
Adventure
Tour 13063
Duration: Approximately 21⁄2 to 3 hours
Departs: Morning & Afternoon
Price: US$56
An outrigger speed canoe transports you to the shark’s feeding grounds.
These black tip sharks, also known as Mauri, are three feet in length with
grayish-brown backs, white undersides, and distinctive black tips on their fins.
Enjoy the excitement as your guide hand feeds these graceful creatures, whose
species has survived over millions of years. Next you will have the opportunity
to snorkel on your own along the coral reef discovering the beautiful and
strange aquatic life in French Polynesia. Climb aboard the outrigger and travel
to another part of the lagoon where you will see the beautiful and gentle sting
rays being fed!
Please note: The sharks
live in open water, and not in an aquarium; therefore, the tour operator cannot
guarantee a certain number of sharks. Since you view the sharks from in the
water, the use of snorkeling gear is required. Don’t forget your snorkeling gear
and towel.
Tupuna Mountain Safari &
Island Drive
Tour 13064
Duration: Approximately 3 - 31⁄2 hours
Departs: Morning & Afternoon
Price: US$69
Discover the virgin interior of Bora Bora’s savage mountains aboard a
specially-equipped open Land rover®. Climb the luscious vegetation to
spectacular heights and view the island’s fabulous valleys, lagoons and reefs.
Your expert driver and guide, Dany, knows the island’s most inaccessible spots,
as do his equally capable guides. Through years of experience as a government
surveyor and being a native of Bora Bora he knows the people, their customs,
history, culture and of many secluded sacred sites discovered by him. Your
vehicle is a British Leyland® Land Rover—a car that has won the “Camel Trophy”
many times, custom-built to Dany’s special request.
From the tender pier in Vaitape, you’ll climb Pahonu Hill for spectacular
views of the Wind Song and the island’s western and southern shores. Continue on
to the seven-inch cannons, which were positioned by American troops during World
War II. Today, they still remain in their original place.
After traversing sleepy Faanui Village, you’ll proceed to an
ancestral plantation, set high in the mountains, just below brooding Mt Pahia.
You will return to the pier eager to share tales of this thrilling adventure
with your shipmates.
Please note: The ride can sometimes get muddy and very bumpy. Wear shoes
you don’t mind getting dirty. This tour is not for pregnant women or for people
with back problems.
Bora Bora Island Discovery
Tour 13065
Duration: Approximately 21⁄2 hours
Departs: Morning
Price: US$26
A typical form of local transportation, your le truck vehicle waits on
the pier to head in a clockwise direction circling Bora Bora’s 22-mile road.
This very thorough and entertaining tour includes all of the highlights, history
and joys of Bora Bora. You will have the opportunity to take photos of Faanui
Bay and the views of Mt Otemanu and Mt Pahai. Bring a few dollars or francs for
a cool drink a long the way.
Aquascope Adventure
Tour 13066
Duration: Approximately 11⁄2 hours
Departs: Morning & Afternoon
Price: US$42
very limited capacity
The Aquascope is a semi-submersible watercraft, conceived and designed by
Jacques Rougerie. This world-famous shipbuilder and his friend Jacques Cousteau
carried on several experiments on undersea dwellings and unique watercraft in
the mid- and late 1980s. It has been a quite famous staple of the Bora Bora
lagoonscape for over 15 years. |