We've looked at flying into Bora Bora, but once you're there, what do you do? Where do you go? The main island is a volcanic caldera, which means you're not going to be able to travel through the center of it without a fair degree of trouble. And when you look at a map, resorts and restaurants are scattered across far-flung islands. There are two places on the main island that seem livable, and those are on disparate corners from each other. Isn't this supposed to be a paradise?
The good news is, none of this is as hard as it looks. Tourism is what French Polynesia specializes in, and they've got it down to a science. If you really want to rent a bicycle and go trekking across the volcanic mountains, nobody's going to stop you. You'll be much happier and much safer, however, if you leave transport to the professionals.
Vaitape: The Main Hub
The main settlement on Bora Bora is called Vaitape. It's located on the Western end of the main island, and it's here that you'll find most of the restaurants, art galleries, shops, and more. There's a main road encircling the entire island that connects Vaitape to the other villages and beaches, but it's not your job to care about that. It's your job to relax.
Flights land on a little islet—called a motu—that sits just outside of Vaitape. Air Tahiti runs a shuttle back and forth from their airfield to the village, and that shuttle quay is the main hub for boat transit around the islands. If you're staying at a resort, there's a good chance that you're already taken care when it comes to intra-island shuttling. Even some of the nicer restaurants will ferry people from this location to theirs. If your accommodation sits on one of the outlying islands, odds are good they will make sure to get you from Vaitape to wherever they're located. It never hurts to confirm your travel plans, but Bora Bora's resorts are used to taking care of people this way.
Matira: Southern Secondary
If your resort isn't in or near Vaitape, it's probably in Matira, located at the very southern tip of the main island. Matira is the largest beach around, so many hotels, restaurants, and bars have set up shop here. You should be able to catch a cab or a ferry from Vaitape down towards Matira with no problem. You can also take the bus, but most visitors probably don't want to wait for its slow sojourn around the island.
Remember: You're in Good Hands
While traversing Bora Bora can initially seem intimidating, it's fairly simple in reality. Everything revolves around Vaitape, and everyone who runs a resort—or any destination they want people to come see— can get you to and from Vaitape with no problem. Bora Bora excels at tourism; it's what they do for a living. Just pay attention to ferry schedules, and you should reach your dinner reservation on time with no worries at all.
