Bora Bora on a Budget: Everything you need to know

Beautiful Bora Bora

Is it possible to do Bora Bora on a budget?

The short answer: yes! But it won’t look exactly like the Bora Bora you’ve dreamed of—the overwater bungalows, floating breakfasts, and postcard-perfect luxury. That said, Bora Bora’s true magic lies in its natural beauty, and you can experience it without spending a fortune.

With a little planning, flexibility, and creativity, you can explore turquoise lagoons, soft white sand beaches, lush viewpoints, and charming local towns—all while staying in an affordable Airbnb, renting a car, and hiring a boat for your own private lagoon adventure. In this guide, I’ll show you how to make the most of Bora Bora on a budget, including accommodation tips, seasonal advice, activities, and even a sample itinerary.

Accommodation & Costs

Here is a rough guide for accomodation prices in Bora Bora for 2 adults and 2 children...

Overwater Bungalow ~ Absolute Luxury, Iconic & dreamy but very expensive.

~$3,600-9,000+ AUD a night

Mid-range Hotel / 4-star resort / Holiday Home ~ more approachable, still pricey.

~$1,000-1,700 AUD a night

Airbnb ~ Authentic and wallet-friendly, an affordable way to enjoy the island.

~$220-$850 AUD, in Vaitape you’ll find the cheapest options

Travel Tip: Booking your stay in an Airbnb can save hundreds per night compared to resorts and you will have your own kitchen too—perfect for cooking your own meals.

Floating in paradise! We travelled in August and the weather was beautiful.

Best Time to Visit

Weather wise…

Bora Bora has two main seasons:

• Dry Season (May to October) – This is the best time to visit for perfect weather. Expect warm days, clear skies, and calm lagoons ideal for snorkeling and diving. It’s also peak tourist season, which means higher prices for flights and accommodation.

• Wet Season (November to April) – Hotter, more humid, with tropical showers and occasional storms. While the weather is less predictable, this is the cheapest time to visit. You’ll often find better deals on flights and accommodation, and the island is quieter.

Budget wise…

High season is basically almost all year round, but there is a low season, when prices drop.

• High Season (April 1 – January 4) – Most of the year falls into high season, with drier, sunnier weather ideal for lagoon adventures. But expect higher prices for flights and accommodation.

  
  

• Low Season (January 5 – March 31) – This is the cheapest time to visit, but the weather is unpredictable. You could have glorious sunshine all morning and tropical showers in the afternoon. It might rain a lot—or hardly at all—it’s very much a lottery of the tropics.

Getting There & Away

To reach Bora Bora, your journey must begin in Tahiti—it’s the only entry point for international flights into French Polynesia. From there, you have two main options to continue to this island paradise: by ferry or by plane.

By Ferry

We choose to catch the ferry, and stopped at Huahine for a couple of nights, to break up the journey. Huahine is about half way to Bora Bora (4 hours from Tahiti). The ferry only runs 3 times a week, so if you get off at islands along the way, you will need to stay a minimum 2 nights.

If you’re not in a hurry, the ferry ride offers a scenic and more budget-friendly alternative. The Apetahi Express is currently the only ferry service from Tahiti to Bora Bora. The journey takes about 8 hours, with stops at Huahine, Raiatea, and Taha’a along the way.

• Cost-wise, ferries typically run between 7,500 XPF- 10,000 XPF - far cheaper than flights.

• Schedule tip: Services run only a few times a week (e.g. Mondays, Thursdays & Saturdays) and the timetable changes every few months - so always check the schedule on their website and plan your travel carefully.

Travel Tip: If you are prone to getting sea sick, take sea sickness tablets half an hour before boarding and sit on the lower level. It can be a rough ride between Tahiti and Huahine.

Apetahi Ferries are large and comfortable. There's a cafeteria selling coffee, croissants, sandwiches etc and you are free to walk around and sit on the top deck too

By Plane

The quickest way to get to Bora Bora is by air. Both Air Tahiti and Air Moana fly direct from Tahiti’s Faa’a International Airport to Bora Bora in just 45–50 minutes. Once you land on the little motu (islet) where the cutest airport in the world sits, a shuttle boat will take you for FREE! to Vaitape, the main town on the island. If you are staying in a resort, they will organise a boat shuttle service for an additional fee. We found the best flight deals on Booking.com

Travelling back to Tahiti with Air Moana. We enjoyed experiencing both the ferry and flying!

Best Budget Ways to Explore Bora Bora

Even on a moderate budget, Bora Bora offers incredible ways to experience its beauty without splurging on luxury resorts.

1. Hire a Boat for the Day

One of our favourite budget experiences was hiring a boat for the day. It ended up being cheaper than booking multiple snorkeling tours, and it was waaaaaay more fun! We could explore the stunning lagoon at our own pace, stopping wherever we wanted. The boat even came with an esky, so we stocked it with a picnic lunch, drinks, and fresh fruit.

Tip: Hiring a boat is the ultimate budget-friendly luxury experience—it gives you freedom, flexibility, and saves money compared to organized tours.

A full day boat hire (7 Hours) starts from $450AUD for the day including fuel. There is a range of different boats to choose from and you don't need a boat license when hiring 6HP boats

Hire a boat in Bora Bora

2. Rent a Car

Another fantastic way to see the island is renting a car. We went with Avis, and picking up the car was super easy—they’re right where you get off the ferry in Vaitape. The car was small, but only cost around $100 AUD for the day. With it, we could drive around the entire island, visit all the lookout points, reach trailheads for a couple of hikes, stock up on groceries at the supermarket, and explore at our own pace.

Travel Tip: Renting a car lets you see Bora Bora on your schedule—no taxis or expensive tours required. Book in advance!

Driving around Bora Bora

3. Explore the Lagoon and Beaches

The lagoon is the heart of Bora Bora, and enjoying it doesn’t have to cost much. Bring your own snorkel gear (or rent locally $10–20 AUD/day) to discover vibrant fish and coral. Kayaking or paddleboarding is another affordable option (from 1500XPF/hour).

Matira Beach is surprisingly the only true public beach on Bora Bora, but it’s absolutely stunning. The sand is soft and white, the lagoon sparkles in shifting shades of turquoise, and the water is calm and shallow—perfect for swimming. The water is insanely clear we even saw rays gliding gracefully past right from the shore! It’s also one of the best spots on the island to watch the sunset.

Budget Tip: Bring your own snorkel gear, pack a picnic from the supermarket, and bike or drive yourself to Matira Beach—so you can relax and enjoy a whole afternoon here - it’s devine!

Swimming at Matira Beach

4. Hike and Take in the Views

Bora Bora’s volcanic peaks and lookout points offer epic views of the lagoon. Some trails are accessible on your own, while guided hikes and 4x4 tours cost around $50–160 AUD. Even short walks reward you with incredible scenery!

This hike took 2 hours an the views are phenomenal! Best to wear proper walking shoes - although we didn't!

5. Eat Affordably

• Supermarkets - Chin Lee Supermarket, in Vaitape is great – perfect for buying baguettes, breakfast foods, snacks, or picnic lunches

• Food trucks and local cafés – expect $20–40 AUD per meal

  
  

Hiking in Bora Bora

Sample 3-Day Bora Bora Budget Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival & Vaitape Exploration

• Pick up your rental car from Avis at the ferry terminal.

• Drive around the island to check out lookout points and trails.

• Stock up on groceries at the supermarket for picnics.

• Explore Vaitape town and enjoy dinner at a local café ($10–20 AUD).

Day 2: Lagoon Adventure by Boat

• Hire a boat for the day with an esky full of picnic food.

• Snorkel, swim, and explore motu at your own pace.

• Enjoy a picnic lunch on the boat instead of resort dining.

Day 3: Snorkeling, Beaches & Hikes

• Snorkeling at Matira public beach.

• Short hike to a lookout point for epic views.

• Relax on Matira Beach or another public beach.

• Return your rental car and head to the ferry or airport.

Budget Tip: Mix free activities like hiking, beaches, and exploring Vaitape with budget-friendly rentals for the ultimate Bora Bora experience.

Our hire boat in Bora Bora

Travel Tips for Bora Bora

💰 Bring some cash (XPF) – It’s handy to have local currency when you arrive. ATMs are common, but they do sometimes run out of cash.

🛏️ Stay in Airbnbs – They’re literally a fraction of the cost of hotels and resorts, and often come with kitchens so you can cook your own meals.

⛴️ Take ferries between islands – Flying is quicker, but ferries are much cheaper. The booking websites can be tricky to use, but it’s worth the effort. We used Apetahi Ferries and had a great experience. Tip: If you get seasick, bring tablets—especially for the route between Tahiti and Huahine, which can get rough.

🥬 Buy fruit from locals – Many families sell bananas, coconuts, and other produce from their gardens or roadside stalls. It’s the cheapest way to get fresh fruit and a great way to support locals.

🍝 Cook your own meals – Eating out is very expensive. Supermarkets are pricey too, but still much cheaper than dining at restaurants for every meal.

🧴 Pack toiletries from home – Sunscreen, shampoo, and other basics are available on the islands, but they’re much more expensive.

My Number One Tip for Bora Bora ✈️

If you’re flying in or out of Bora Bora, my number one tip is all about which side of the plane to sit on. The views of the lagoon and surrounding motus are absolutely unforgettable!!

• Flying out of Bora Bora: sit on the right-hand side of the plane.

• Flying into Bora Bora: sit on the left-hand side of the plane.

This way, you’ll have the best chance of seeing the iconic turquoise lagoon, the dramatic volcanic peaks, and that jaw-dropping aerial view Bora Bora is famous for.

Here’s the tricky part:

• If you’re flying with Air Tahiti, there’s no option to pre-select seats. Boarding can feel like a bit of a scramble as everyone rushes to grab the best spots. Even if you’re first at the airport, it doesn’t always guarantee you’ll get the right-hand side seat.

• If you’re flying with Air Moana, you can check in online the day before and choose your seat. However, on our flight the system wasn’t working, and by the time we reached the counter, all the right-hand side seats were already taken.

We ended up on the left-hand side, and honestly? The views were still incredible. We flew over multiple French Polynesian islands, and it was one of the highlights of our trip.

Tip: Try your best to get the right-hand side for those iconic Bora Bora shots, but don’t worry if you can’t—you’ll still be blown away by the scenery either way.

View from the left hand side, flying over many beautiful atolls

Final Thoughts: Bora Bora on a Budget

Bora Bora may have a reputation as the ultimate luxury destination, but it’s absolutely possible to experience its magic on a budget. By staying in an Airbnb, hiring a car and a boat, cooking your own meals, chilling out at Matira Beach with a BYO picnic and exploring public hiking trails, you can see the island at your own pace—without breaking the bank.

Sure, it won’t be the overwater bungalows with floating breakfasts, but the natural beauty, turquoise lagoons, stunning sunsets, and adventure are all there—and they’re priceless. With a little planning, flexibility, and a sense of adventure, Bora Bora on a budget can be just as unforgettable as any luxury trip.

Insanely clear water!!

This post contains affiliate links. If you book or buy something through these, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog - it helps us keep sharing family travel inspiration