Discover the Top Beaches of Bora Bora with Aranui V

05/05/2025

Bora Bora Beaches: discover the most beautiful with Aranui

Bora Bora is known for its fabulous beaches, which are lapped by crystal-clear waters. The island, located about 140 miles (225 kilometers) northwest of Tahiti in French Polynesia, is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef, resulting in calm, shallow waters in varying shades of blue and turquoise.

Its white sand beaches, tropical climate, and scenic landscapes along with unique coral reefs attract snorkelers worldwide and make Bora Bora a bucket-list destination for beachgoers.

A cruise aboard the cargo/cruise vessel Aranui V now includes a stop on the island of Bora Bora on the second-to-last day of the voyage, ensuring a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for passengers.

Upon arrival in Bora Bora, guests are transported to a small uninhabited private island called "Motu Tapu," known for its pristine beaches, gin-clear waters, and breathtaking views of the surrounding lagoon and Mount Otemanu, the highest peak on Bora Bora.

For lunch, Aranui V guests will be served a beach BBQ of raw fish in coconut milk, grilled meats, and exotic fruits before choosing to either explore below the waters with a mask and snorkel or join a variety of optional excursions such as an outrigger motorized canoe excursion for the opportunity to swim with stingrays and sharks.

Motu Tapu translates as "sacred islet" in Tahitian, a nod to its special and sacred status in local culture. The beach on Motu Tapu is often considered one of the most beautiful in the world. It’s covered in soft white sand and surrounded by stunning blue waters. It’s also famous for its excellent snorkeling opportunities, with vibrant coral reefs and tropical fish.

The views from the island are breathtaking, with a panoramic vista of the lagoon and a backdrop of Bora Bora's lush mountains beyond.

Other Bora Bora beaches to know

Matira Beach: the most famous beach on Bora Bora

Matira Beach, located nearby, is one of Bora Bora's most well-known and beautiful beaches. It’s widely regarded as the heart of Bora Bora's tropical charm and the perfect setting for an unforgettable sunset.

Situated on the southern tip of the island, it's one of the few public beaches on Bora Bora, with fine, white sand stretching along a curved bay. It has calm, shallow waters that are ideal for swimming, kayaking, and snorkeling in the nearby coral gardens. There are no major resorts right on the beach, but visitors can find restaurants and small shops nearby, making it the ideal combination of accessibility and pristine beauty.

The beach is also frequently the final stage of the three-day Va'a Hawaiki Nui race, one of the most prestigious and challenging outrigger canoe races, attracting elite paddlers from all over the world. It spans several islands, usually beginning in Huahine, followed by Raiatea, and ending in Bora Bora, and tests competitors' endurance as well as their ability to navigate the often challenging and unpredictable ocean conditions over a 125-kilometer course.

Motu Piti Aau beach:

Motu Piti Aau beach is located on a small, private island at the southern end of Bora Bora and is home to several luxury resorts that offer overwater bungalows and beachfront villas. Visitors are drawn to the white-sand beaches, clear waters, and breathtaking views of Bora Bora's Mount Otemanu. The surrounding shallow lagoon is teeming with marine life, making it a popular location for snorkeling and scuba diving. The area near the coral reef is well-known for eagle ray sightings, providing unique underwater experiences for visitors.

Anau Beach:

Anau Beach is also worth visiting. Located on the southern coast of Bora Bora, its serene atmosphere offers a chance to experience local Polynesian culture, offering a glimpse beyond the island's more popular attractions.

Motu Toopua beach:

Situated on a small islet, Motu Toopua is known for its turquoise water and pristine beaches. Often accessible during boat trips, it’s ideal for snorkeling and kayaking at Toopua Shark Sandbank, and is a known manta ray cleaning station.

Discover the Polynesian beaches during a cruise with the Aranui

During a cruise aboard Aranui V, in addition to Bora Bora, passengers will also visit the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Fakarava in the Tuamotu archipelago, en route to the Marquesas. Meaning "beautiful" or "making things excellent," its name says it all.

The small islands surrounding the Fakarava lagoon form the second largest atoll in French Polynesia and the third largest in the world. Two passes provide access to the sea, including Ngārue Pass, the largest in Polynesia, where most of the eight hundred inhabitants live. A small minority of the population has settled in the tiny village of Tetāmanu in the far south. Life takes place around the lagoon with its lush seabed. Since 2006, Fakarava, along with the six neighboring atolls (Taiaro, Tōau, Aratika, Kauehi, Nīau, and Rāraka), have been part of a UNESCO "Biosphere Reserve," notable for its abundance of rare flora and fauna, including the hunting kingfisher, Tuamotu palms, squid, and marine cicadas.

The designation is part of an international sustainable development project that combines the search for harmony between human activities and the protection of nature. The island's main resources are pearl farming, fishing, copra production, and tourism.

On its way back from the Marquesas, Aranui V also calls at Rangiroa, another atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago. This enables passengers to relax on its soft white sand, visit a pearl farm and join an excursion to discover the region's most diverse marine environments, including manta rays, blacktip reef sharks, turtles, and vibrant coral gardens which can all be found right off the coast.

Rangiroa is one of the largest atolls in the world, made up of hundreds of low-lying motus ‘islands’ encircling a vibrant lagoon. On the lagoon side, the beaches are calm, shallow, and great for swimming/snorkeling straight from the shore. While on the ocean side the beaches are marked by rugged and coarse sand and black volcanic rock. The currents are stronger on this side, making them great for beachcombing or just watching the waves crash against the shore.

Some of the best beaches are at the villages of Avatoru & Tiputa, close to the famous Tiputa Pass. The Blue Lagoon is also worth a visit or see the rare pink-tinted sands of the southeastern side of the atoll.

Bora Bora Beaches: live a complete experience with Aranui

Relaxation and exploration on the most beautiful beaches of Polynesia

A cruise aboard Aranui V combines beach days with cultural excursions, breaking up the rhythm of the cruise with chances to snorkel, dive, swim, or just relax and take in the effortless way of French Polynesian life.

Stay far from mass tourism

Stepping away from mass tourism or crowded beaches. At each stop along its incredible journey, the one-of-a-kind passenger/cargo ship Aranui V brings passengers closer to nature and the authentic French Polynesia. Passengers can enjoy its idyllic beaches, immerse themselves in local culture, and live an authentic French Polynesian lifestyle while exploring Bora Bora's most beautiful beaches and beyond.

Would you like to discover the Austral Islands? Check out our cruises in French Polynesia: