It was rainy and gloomy as we cruised through Teavanui Pass this morning on our approach to Bora Bora. Too, too sad for those people for whom this is a highlight of their cruise. G and I lingered a bit over breakfast in the Club Restaurant; there was no need to rush when the rain was pouring down. Finally, by mid-morning, the rain stopped and, for the rest of the morning we had only intermittent misty showers. We packed for a beach day and took a tender to the island.
Once on the tender pier, we wasted no time boarding a $5 per person each way shuttle to Matira Beach, about a 15-minute or so ride south along the western coast of Bora Bora. While these rides are sometimes given in the back of a minivan, we rode on the covered (and cushioned) bench seating in the back of a pick up truck.
Not too surprisingly, given that the rain had just stopped, the beach was nearly empty. We walked the length of it, then spent a bit of time in the water before walking to the nearby Intercontinental Bora Bora Resort.
Matira Beach looking north...
...and south. It's the best beach we've seen on the mainland of an island (not on a motu).
The Sofitel private motu with the island of Taha'a in the distance.
Leaving the Intercontinental, we walked along the perimeter road in Matira village, which offered a different view of Mount Otemanu.
Our next stop was the MaiTai Resort, a moderately priced mainland resort. One of these overwater bungalows for tonight cost just over $500 (and they weren't that nice!). But the beach at the resort was nice, and we used it for awhile as the weather continued to clear.
Our last stop was at the Sofitel Marara Resort, where we had drinks and used the beach. The Sofitel sells a day pass for cruise ship passengers for $70 that includes a three course lunch and use of the pool and water toys. We had arranged our visit ahead of time and didn't buy the day pass.
By this time, it was after 4pm and we had been swimming and/or walking for about six hours. I was starting to wear down a bit, and told G I thought we should try to get a taxi back to the ship from the Intercontinental instead of walking all the way back to Matira Beach where we had started. We walked out of the Intercontinental to see none other than Motai, our driver from our morning ride. He was just finishing up a circle island tour with four passengers from Toronto and also had room for us in the back of his truck. He asked how we had gotten there and when we told him we had walked, he was shocked. So were we when we were in his truck driving back along the road. We had come a long way, and the day, though never sunny, was hot and muggy.
Once back at the tender pier, we had just enough time to return to the ship (well entertained by several outrigger canoeists surfing the tender's wake along the way), get cleaned up and go to the Elite Lounge before dinner. We were hungry, having skipped lunch, and I had mushroom soup followed by chicken Caesar salad and sorbet for dessert. We are skipping the show tonight (comedian Tony Daro) and resting before we go up to the pool deck at 9:30pm for this cruise's tropical island night party.
We overnight in Bora Bora, and sail tomorrow at 5pm. Weather permitting, we may return to the Hilton Bora Bora Nui to use the pool and have lunch on the beach, or rent a dune buggy to drive around the island. We're likely here only three more days after this cruise (hard to believe) and there are a couple of things we still want to see and do.