Bora Bora Cruise Port
Bora Bora, French Polynesia · Pacific
Cruise ships anchor offshore in Bora Bora — tenders ferry passengers to the port.
Plan my port daysTender call into Vaitape on Bora Bora; lagoon snorkel tours, Matira Beach and the Mont Otemanu silhouette do the heavy lifting.
At a glance
Port summary
Bora Bora is one of the South Pacific's most iconic cruise calls but also one of the most logistically constrained. Ships anchor in the deep lagoon off Pofai Bay and tender passengers to a small wharf in Vaitape next to the Mairie. The town itself is tiny — a 30-minute walk covers the church, the town hall, the Magasin Chin Lee supermarket, the bank with the only ATM cluster on the island, and the row of pearl shops, car rental desks and tour kiosks. Almost everyone leaves Vaitape on a pre-booked or ship-organised lagoon tour: the Coral Garden snorkel, shark and ray feeding off Anau, the Lagoonarium and motu picnics are the standard menu. Independent options exist — Le Truck (the cruise-day shuttle bus) runs to Matira Beach for 300 XPF, taxis charge a flat 1500 XPF Vaitape-Matira (no meters, agree fare), Avis and Europcar rent cars and bicycles directly across from the pier — but the around-island ring road is only 32 km and the lagoon is what people remember. Bicycles ($15/day) are a popular DIY choice, especially in cooler season. Currency is the CFP franc (XPF); USD is widely accepted at tourist-facing businesses but at a poor rate, and ATMs in Vaitape are notorious for running out of cash, so bring XPF (or USD as backup) ashore. Cards are accepted at most resorts, restaurants and dive shops but not at small market stalls or with some independent guides.
Cruise dock
Vaitape Quay — Tender Landing
Bora Bora's single tender landing in front of the Mairie de Bora Bora at the head of Vaitape village. Cruise ships anchor 1-2 km offshore in the deep lagoon off Pofai Bay; tenders make the 15-20 minute run into the wharf. Pier facilities are minimal — a covered ramp and a small Tahiti Tourisme desk on cruise days.
Latitude: -16.506969, Longitude: -151.751716
See dock on port map →Getting to Bora Bora
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Bring CFP francs from Tahiti or your previous Polynesian port; USD is accepted at a poor rate; ATMs in Vaitape are unreliable on cruise days.
Build your perfect day in Bora Bora
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Inside the French Polynesia collection
Here's a peek at everything waiting for your Bora Bora cruise day.
Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Excursions compared
3 comparedBora Bora lagoon snorkel with stingrays, sharks and coral gardens
≈ 3.5 h · sold by 5 cruise lines
Cruise line
€115$128
Do it yourself
€100$112
Save ≈ €15Save ≈ $17 (13% off)
Bora Bora is a tender port - the ship anchors in the lagoon and tenders land at Vaitape main quay. Independent operators Lagoon Service and Reef Discovery both run morning group lagoon tours (~4 hrs, around €100pp, 9:00 departure) and pick up at the Vaitape quay a short walk from the tender landing, so no extra transport is needed. The DIY boat hits the same coral garden, ray and shark sites the cruise lines use; the saving comes from booking the local operator directly rather than the ship markup.
See the DIY plan →
Bora Bora 4x4 jeep safari to Mount Popoti and WWII gun viewpoints
≈ 3.5 h · sold by 5 cruise lines
Cruise line
€95$106
Do it yourself
€65$73
Save ≈ €30Save ≈ $33 (32% off)
Bora Bora is a tender port landing at Vaitape quay. Tupuna Safari - the island's original 4x4 operator since 1992 - runs group jeep safaris (~3 hrs, around €65pp) and collects passengers in Vaitape, so no separate transport is needed. The DIY jeep covers the same Faanui Valley, Mount Popoti viewpoint and WWII-gun viewpoints the ship tours use; note operators now view the American guns from the road rather than driving the steep climb after a jeep rollover incident.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
10 plansVaitape Village Stroll
The lagoon capital on foot — pearl shops, marae ruins, and clifftop views without leaving Vaitape.
Lagoon Snorkel: Rays, Sharks & Coral
THE Bora Bora experience — swim with stingrays, watch blacktip sharks, and snorkel a coral garden in the world's most famous lagoon.
Full-Day Lagoon & Motu BBQ Lunch
Everything the lagoon offers in one day — snorkel, sharks, rays, then a Polynesian feast on your own private islet.
4x4 Jeep Safari & Panoramas
Jungle tracks to 360° lagoon views — Faanui Valley plantations, Mount Popoti panorama, and WWII coastal guns by open-top jeep.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Bora Bora?
- Bora Bora is a tender port: your ship anchors offshore and passengers transfer to shore by small boat.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Bora Bora?
- Yes. Bora Bora is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Bora Bora centre?
- Typical options include Shuttle bus, On foot, Local bus, Taxi, Car rental, Other transport. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Bora Bora?
- Plan for at least 4 hours ashore to see Bora Bora independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Bora Bora and are cards accepted?
- Bora Bora uses the CFP Franc. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Wi-Fi isn't reliably available at the Bora Bora cruise terminal. Consider a local SIM or your cruise line's data package.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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