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Bora Bora - the magical island |
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Written by jane69
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Saturday, 20 August 2005 |
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Page 2 of 2
 | | On the Bora Bora beach |
Bora Bora’s unforgettable turquoise lagoon has an amazing variety of marine life with some excellent snorkeling sites where you can swim with the friendly manta rays, reef sharks,  | | Turtles on Bora Bora island |
turtles, tropical fish, and moray eels. Matira Point is an area where the huge and graceful manta rays congregate for your viewing pleasure. Travel agencies offer a multitude of excursions, one of the most popular is the shark and gray rays feeding. The marine life can be observed also from outrigger canoe. Try also scuba dive and admire the colorful fish and living coral, search for graceful manta rays and the giant mussels buried in the white sandy lagoon bottom. Deep sea fishing off the sheltered waters of Bora Bora usually brings record catches of marlin, yellow fin, tuna, sailfish, wahoo and mahi mahi.
 | | Over-water bungalows on Bora Bora |
Hiking on the island of Bora Bora is wonderful, but limited due to the fact that the island is relatively small (16.9 sq miles) and hiking paths here are short and non-strenuous. The real challenges on this island are in climbing the steep mountains of the interior. The mountains Mt Pahia and Mt Otemanu with the height 2,385 feet  | | The coast of Bora Bora |
are the Bora Bora's highest points and the incredible destinations and challenges for the experienced hiker. These cliffs are notorious for their difficult and unpredictable climbing conditions due to loose and crumbling rock, hard to find trails, and steepness.
 | | Sunset on Bora Bora |
Or you can explore the handful interior of Bora Bora by 4x4 jeep. The majority of these roads were actually cut by the American military during the World War II in the early '40's. One of them starts at Faanui near Vairau Bay and climbs a ridge with an excellent view of Raiatea, Tahaa, Tupai, and Maupiti islands, while another follows tracks from  Taihi point (on the north side of the island) and along the ridge to Mt Popoti, a well known pointed shaped mountain 249 meters high. From these roads, one can get the best views of the spectacular scenery, go close to giant coastal World War II defense guns, and see the lush interior of Bora Bora and tropical flora.
 | | East coast of Bora Bora |
Bora Bora has a few archaeological sites; the maraes (temples) are the most interesting. Maraes is an ancient and taboo platform where religious ceremonies took place and the sensual magic of Polynesian dancing was born.  | | Polynesian girl |
It is on these marae that physical activities were created to honor the many gods of Polynesian mythology. Most of the marae temples have been destroyed during the last century by the English missionaries. The most important maraes are mare Fare Opu, decorated with turtle petroglyphs, and marae Marotetini (or Farerua), on the point west of Farepiti wharf. The great stone ahu, 164 feet long and up to 10 feet high was restored by Professor Sinoto in 1968. Approximately other 40 maraes, filled with mystery, you can find by simply driving around the island.
 | | Over-water bungalows in Bora Bora |
Breathtaking beauty of "the Pearl of the Pacific" can best be enjoyed and photographed from a helicopter. Flights over the island and lagoon are a real treat because it is only from up high that you can appreciate the sheer beauty of Bora Bora and her many motus which resemble jewels scattered upon the sea. Another way to see Bora Bora is soaring 300 ft above the lagoon for twelve breathtaking parasailing.
We think your vacation on Bora Bora will never be forgotten. Enjoy the most beautiful island on the planet.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 21 May 2006 )
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Taihi point (on the north side of the island) and along the ridge to Mt Popoti, a well known pointed shaped mountain 249 meters high. From these roads, one can get the best views of the spectacular scenery, go close to giant coastal World War II defense guns, and see the lush interior of Bora Bora and tropical flora.;)
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