Most island tours and many hotel packages in Bora Bora include a village visit. The villages in Bora Bora embody the colorful, warm and leisurely island life. A village visit to Vaitape is an inevitable in your Bora Bora trip as this is the main village of the island, thirty minutes away from the Tahiti airport.
Most hotels in Bora Bora are located in Vaitape and it is also where ferries dock. It lies across Teavanui Pass, the only entrance into the famous Bora Bora lagoon. Vaitape is also the base of government in Bora Bora. It has a huge wharf and public square. It is also the shopping center in Bora Bora where you can find a wide selection of handicrafts, clothing and black pearls.
A village visit to Faanui is also popular among travelers. Faanui is a name of a village and a bay located on Bora Bora’s northwestern coast. One of the fascinating sights in Faanui is Farenua, the biggest marae in Bora Bora. A “marae” is sacred place of worship built with stones. A village visit to the green valley of Faanui is typically included in safari tours and the culmination of this trip is the spectacular view of the Fannui Bay high up in a mountain.
Faanui is a former station of US troops during World War II’s Operation Bobcat, which is why there are many naval cannons left on this village. They are now rusty but are very popular tourist attractions. Also in Faanui, you can visit fruit and flower plantations and pareo workshops. A pareo is a wraparound cloth similar to a sarong, which is a very popular souvenir in Bora Bora.
For a quaint village visit, you should head to Anau. This village is on the east side of Bora Bora and is not usually frequented by tourists. If you want to experience the charm of an old-world Polynesian village, visit Anau. You will also find here ancient temple ruins. Anau is also an excellent site for snorkeling and diving for beginners. Some of the sea creatures that you may likely see in this part of the Bora Bora lagoon include sea anemones and clown fishes, moray eels, huge manta rays, and sharks.
A village visit to one or all of the places mentioned above will surely enhance your Bora Bora travel. Ask your hotel or resort manager or travel agent if they can arrange a village visit for you or check if it is already included in your travel package deal.
