InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana, French Polynesia
Visiting Bora Bora is something we had both always wanted to do, ever since we were kids. Its the original paradise and what you hear countless songs sung about and movies portraying with its the crystal clear lagoons, snowy white sand, palm trees swaying in the breeze and of course the iconic mountains in the distance. On top of that, Bora Bora is also known to be one of the most romantic places for couples and honeymooners around the world! Even though we have been married now for over 8 years, this made us feel like we were newlyweds again, spending the honeymoon we always dreamed of.
When we started planning our stay, InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana Resort was a top choice. Picture this - waking up to breakfast delivered in a canoe to your overwater bungalow as the sun rises with Mt. Otemanu on the horizon. Located on the southern tip of Bora Bora island and surrounded with vibrant azure waters and world-class diving, this exotic paradise is exactly what we imagined when we hoped for visiting Bora Bora one day.
BEST TIME TO VISIT BORA BORA, FRENCH POLYNESIA
High Season falls between May and October. This is dry season in Bora Bora, which means a lot of sunshine. August is a very popular month especially with an influx of European travelers. You will want to make your reservations far in advance if you plan to travel during this time, but note that the hotel and resort prices are at their highest during high season. September and October are ideal months because the weather is great, and kids are back in school so resorts and beaches tend to be less crowded. Note: Humpback whale season also coincides with high season as whales will be in the area from August - October to give birth to their young in the calm lagoons of French Polynesia.
Low Season is from December to March. This is going to be the rainy season on Bora Bora (8-10 inches of rain per month on average, compared to the 3 inch-monthly average during dry season). This means more rainfall than the rest of the year, but still some opportunities for sunshine, it just becomes more of a gamble. Visiting during this time means lower rates and much less crowds,
Shoulder Season is during the months of November and April. These months will be the best time to visit Bora Bora. You won’t have to battle crowds or high season prices, but still be able to enjoy good weather and tranquil atmosphere without all the people.
TRAVELING DURING COVID
All information is current at time of writing in August 2021. Please check the Tahiti Tourism website at https://tahititourisme.com/en-us/ for the most up to date information on travel requirements.
There are several requirements for entering these beautiful islands, but if followed carefully, will not be an issue to travel here. We were vaccinated before-hand so did not need to quarantine upon arrival. You will need to get government approval of our travel (ETIS) and also a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure to the islands. The tourism authority is continually updating their restrictions, so be sure to visit their site!
AIRPORT TRANSFER / ARRIVAL
Only an 8-hour nonstop flight from Los Angeles or San Francisco, Faa’a International Airport (PPT) on the island of Tahiti, is where all international flights land upon arrival to French Polynesia. There are actually 118 different islands and atolls to explore, and you can see some of the other islands we visited here. But for this blog, we are focusing just on Bora Bora. After arriving to Pape’ete, you will need to board an additional flight to Bora Bora through the inter-island airline called Air Tahiti (not to be mixed up with ‘Air Tahiti Nui’ which provides international transit). You will want to sit on the left hand side of the plane in order to have the best views of Bora Bora as you prepare for landing. The plane boards from the back, so the left side will always be the left side 😉.
Upon arrival to Bora Bora you have a couple options to consider on how to reach Le Moana. It really comes down to 2 options:
1) Take the boat transfer provided by your hotel to your respective accommodation – up to 7,000 XPF ($70 USD) per person one way.
2) Catch the free boat shuttle service (provided by Air Tahiti) to Vaitape dock on the main island and then take a taxi or coordinate with Le Moana on how best to arrive. This will be probably half the price of taking a direct boat transfer (around $25 USD for the taxi), but it can and will require a little bit more coordinating. Though if you are planning to get a SIM card for your time on the island, you could see if your driver can stop in town for you to pick one up on your way to resort and save you the trip into town (as Le Moana isn’t very close to a lot of the main shops/stores)
ACCOMMODATION
Le Moana offers a secluded tropical paradise experience with either of their two accommodation options between Beachfront Bungalows and Overwater bungalows. All of the beachfront bungalows are pretty similar, while the overwater bungalows vary in size and location.
Beachfront Bungalows – Located only steps from the lagoon, these spacious thatched bungalows have perfect sunrise views and are in close proximity to the restaurant and main hotel area. They each had a nice private terrace to relax and soak in the sun on a warm Tahitian afternoon.
Overwater Bungalows – The ultimate experience when staying in Bora Bora is to stay in an overwater bungalow. At Le Moana, you have immediate access to some of the bluest water in all of French Polynesia. Do keep in mind, the further away from the beach you stay, the more secluded you are, but we found the water to be less clear and more deep, and you will need to walk further for meals 😉. Though these tend to be the higher priced, more premium bungalows, we actually preferred the lagoon facing ones located in the shallowest most clear water closer to shore.
RESTAURANT
Noa Noa - Excellent French-inspired cuisine served on one of the most stunning beaches in the world, is a tough combination to beat. Noa Noa is located right on the turquoise lagoon and serves food all day. Breakfast is served buffet style with an omelet/crepe chef.
Canoe Breakfast - If you are staying in an overwater bungalow, a truly unforgettable experience is to have breakfast delivered by canoe to your terrace! They paddle up in a traditional outrigger canoe and bring a delicious assortment.
Romantic Dinner - Whether it’s an elaborate set up on the pristine white sands during sunset, or a private meal at the end of the pontoon, a romantic dinner is the perfect way to commemorate a special occasion. It is hard to imagine a more romantic evening than watching the sunset and then dining under the stars in Bora Bora.
AMENITIES
Water Activities
One of the highlights of our stay was taking a kayak out across the bay to a gorgeous coral garden. It really felt like we were swimming in an aquarium. And what was even more exciting, was that we were the only ones there! It was only a short 10-15 minute kayak to a nearby island, where we moored the kayak on a secluded sandy beach, then snorkeled around the area. We highly recommend doing this if you get the chance.
You can also try paddling a traditional outrigger canoe into the lagoon. We have to say that while they are beautiful, they can be a little challenging to get the hang of. It was fun for the lagoon, but would recommend a more conventional canoe for exploring out to the open waters and other islands.
If stand up paddle boarding is your favorite, they have several you can rent to enjoy around the shallow blue lagoon, as well as jetskis or even motorized paddleboards.
POOL
The lagoon itself is only waste deep for quite a ways out, but if the pool is more your vibe, they have a nice pool surrounded by lush jungle, but also still maintaining the stunning view of the lagoon.
Beach
The beach out in front of Le Moana is expansive and completely private to guests. The sand is white, pristine, and powdery soft with shallow warm water that extends for about 500 feet. Directly adjacent to Matira Beach, rated as one of the most beautiful beaches in the whole world, you have your own private access to the amazing shoreline, but without all the crowds. The resort beach extends all across the lagoon and provides many opportunities for you to find your own private cabana or lounger to relax for the day. There are only 61 villas on the property so there is a very intimate paradise feeling.
Island
Since you are on the main island of Bora Bora you do have access to things like restaurants and tours if you find you want to get out and take some adventures. Though you won’t miss anything if you choose to stay on the resort, it can be a nice option if you are keen to have a more local experience and try some of the Polynesian style restaurants, or take a boat excursion out to see the famous eagle rays or black tipped sharks.
SERVICE
Met with smiles everywhere we went, we loved interacting with the staff at Le Moana. They were happy to help with anything we needed and were always greeting us with a kind “Ia Orana,” which is the greeting in French Polynesia. It was better than service we have received at some 5-star resorts even.
As this is a 4 star resort, there is no butler service offered, but we found the staff and concierge to be very attentive to anything we needed. There are no bikes or golf carts for transportation as we’ve had at other island resorts, but to be honest the resort is not very spread out so we found we didn’t ever feel like we missed them.
All in all, InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana had some of the most incredible water we had seen anywhere. The lagoon was absolute paradise and we could not stop pinching ourselves as we sat on our terrace and looked at the gorgeous lines of bungalows dotting the blue horizon.