How to get to Bora Bora: Your ultimate up-to-date travel guide

Getting to Bora Bora is a two-flight trip, and that second, tiny flight over the lagoon is one of the best views you’ll ever get from a plane window. Our team breaks down every route that actually operates in 2026: which airlines fly to Tahiti, what changed this year (two US routes disappeared, a Sydney nonstop is coming), and how the last hop to Bora Bora works.

How to reach Bora Bora: the whole trip in three steps

Here is how to get to Bora Bora, start to finish. It is a two-flight trip plus a short boat ride, and from the US the whole journey takes the best part of a day. If you are still working out where Bora Bora actually is, start there, then come back for the route.

1. Fly to Tahiti (PPT). No international flight lands in Bora Bora. Every route goes through Papeete, on the island of Tahiti. From the US that means Los Angeles, San Francisco or Honolulu.
2. Fly on to Bora Bora (BOB). A domestic hop of about 50 minutes, operated by Air Tahiti or Air Moana, several times a day.
3. Take the boat. Bora Bora airport sits on a motu, so everyone arrives by boat: a resort transfer, or the free shuttle to Vaitape on the main island.

That is how to reach Bora Bora in three moves. How long it takes to get to Bora Bora depends on where you start: from the US West Coast, plan on about 9 to 12 hours of flying; from the East Coast, closer to 15 to 16. The city-by-city breakdown is further down.

Can you fly directly to Bora Bora?

No. There are no direct international flights to Bora Bora from anywhere. Bora Bora’s airport (code BOB) sits on a small motu and only handles domestic flights within French Polynesia. Every visitor first flies into Papeete, Tahiti (Faa’a airport, code PPT) for customs and immigration, then connects to a short 50-minute domestic flight to Bora Bora, and finally hops on a boat from the airport motu to the main island or their resort.

Which airlines fly to Tahiti (PPT)?

All roads to Bora Bora go through Papeete. Here are the routes that actually operate in 2026, by departure city:

Flying Air Tahiti Nui? It costs nothing to join their Club Tiare frequent-flyer program, which can earn you cabin upgrades, extra baggage allowance and other perks over time.

Which airlines fly to Tahiti from the United States?

Three US gateways have a nonstop to Papeete, and all of them connect on to Bora Bora with the 50-minute domestic hop:

• Los Angeles (LAX) is the biggest gateway: Air Tahiti Nui and Air France run about 15 flights a week between them, roughly two a day, in about 8h20.
• San Francisco (SFO) has French Bee four days a week and United daily, in about 8h40.
• Honolulu (HNL) has the shortest crossing, about 5h55, now operated as Alaska Airlines flight AS881, twice a week.

Two routes that older guides still list are gone: Delta ended its Los Angeles service in 2025, and Air Tahiti Nui dropped Seattle in early 2026. From those cities you now connect through Los Angeles or San Francisco.

How long is the flight to Bora Bora?

Plan on two legs. The international leg to Papeete runs about 8.5 hours nonstop from Los Angeles or San Francisco, around 5 to 6 hours from Auckland, and roughly 12 to 14 hours from Tokyo. From Papeete, the domestic hop to Bora Bora is just about 50 minutes. With a smooth connection, expect something like 11 to 12 hours of flying from the US West Coast, plus any overnight in Papeete if your international flight lands late in the day.

The table below gives scheduled flying times only. They exclude time spent on the ground during layovers, which usually adds 2 to 5 hours, and they are for the westbound (outbound) trip; eastbound returns are a little shorter. Each city routes through Los Angeles unless noted, then takes the nonstop to Papeete and the 50-minute hop to Bora Bora.

One routing quirk worth knowing: Seattle is the only city here where going through San Francisco beats Los Angeles, about 2h16 to SFO against about 2h58 to LAX, so the SFO connection brings the total down to about 11h46.

How long is the flight from Los Angeles to Bora Bora?

About 9 hours 10 minutes of flying: the nonstop from Los Angeles to Papeete is around 8h20 on Air Tahiti Nui or Air France, then the domestic hop to Bora Bora is about 50 minutes. Los Angeles is the busiest US gateway, with roughly two departures a day, so it is usually the easiest connection to build a trip around. Here is how the main US cities compare.

How long is the flight from New York to Bora Bora?

From New York, plan on about 15 hours of flying. The quickest routing is JFK to Los Angeles (about 6 hours), then the nonstop to Papeete on Air Tahiti Nui or Air France, then the 50-minute hop to Bora Bora. Newark works too and runs a little longer, at about 15h26 total.

How long is the flight from San Francisco to Bora Bora?

San Francisco is one of only two nonstop gateways to Papeete, flown by French Bee (four days a week) and United (daily) in about 8h40. Add the 50-minute hop and you are at about 9h30 of flying, the second-shortest trip after Honolulu.

How long is the flight from Seattle to Bora Bora?

From Seattle, about 12 hours of flying. This is the one city where routing through San Francisco beats Los Angeles: about 2h16 to SFO against about 2h58 to LAX, so the SFO connection lands you at about 11h46 total. Air Tahiti Nui no longer flies Seattle nonstop, so you connect through the West Coast.

How long is the flight from Dallas to Bora Bora?

From Dallas-Fort Worth, about 12h18 of flying: roughly 3h08 to Los Angeles, then the nonstop to Papeete, then the short hop to Bora Bora. San Francisco is a close alternative.

How long is the flight from Atlanta to Bora Bora?

From Atlanta, about 14h18 of flying: around 5 hours to Los Angeles, then the nonstop to Papeete on Air Tahiti Nui or Air France, then Bora Bora. Delta ended its own Los Angeles to Papeete route in 2025, so that shortcut is gone.

How long is the flight from Chicago to Bora Bora?

From Chicago O’Hare, about 13h45 of flying: around 4h35 to Los Angeles, the nonstop to Papeete, then the hop to Bora Bora. San Francisco is within a few minutes on the total.

How far is Bora Bora from Hawaii?

Closer than the mainland. Honolulu has the only nonstop to Papeete, about 5h55, and with the 50-minute hop to Bora Bora that is about 6h43 of flying, the shortest trip from any US city. The route is now operated as Alaska Airlines flight AS881, twice a week.

How far is Bora Bora from California?

From California, Bora Bora is about 9 to 9.5 hours of flying. Los Angeles (Air Tahiti Nui, Air France) and San Francisco (French Bee, United) both have nonstops to Papeete of about 8h20 to 8h40; add the 50-minute hop and you are in Bora Bora.

How do you get from Papeete to Bora Bora?

Two domestic airlines fly the Papeete to Bora Bora route: Air Tahiti, the historic carrier, and Air Moana, which launched in 2023. Both run several flights a day on ATR turboprops, and the ride is about 50 minutes of pure lagoon views. It’s worth comparing the two on schedule and price for your dates. We cover the choice in depth in our dedicated guide on how to get from Tahiti to Bora Bora.

Insider Tip

For the best views of the island make sure to sit on the LEFT SIDE of the plane when boarding in Tahiti (and on the RIGHT SIDE when leaving Bora Bora).

Is there a ferry from Tahiti to Bora Bora?

Yes: the Apetahi Express inter-island ferry connects Tahiti to Bora Bora via Huahine, Raiatea and Taha’a. It’s a long crossing best suited to island-hoppers on a budget; most travelers fly the 50-minute route instead. Check current schedules on the operator’s site before planning around it.

What happens when you land at Bora Bora airport?

Bora Bora’s airport sits on Motu Mute, a small islet northwest of the main island, so the moment you step off the plane you are met by boats. Resorts run their own transfers straight to the property (about 10 to 20 minutes), and a free shuttle boat connects the airport to Vaitape, the main town. Confirm your transfer with your resort in advance and factor its cost into your budget. Still deciding where to base yourself? See our guide on where to stay in Bora Bora.

Good to know

Most resorts in Bora Bora that are located on a Motu (ex : The Four Seasons Bora Bora) have their private boat to take you directly from the airport to the resort.

How much do flights to Bora Bora cost?

One-way Papeete to Bora Bora fares typically start around $200. International fares vary widely by season, so book several months ahead for the May to October high season, when both flights and resorts are busiest. Not sure when to travel? See our guide to the best time to visit Bora Bora. For a fuller breakdown of what a trip costs, see our guide to Bora Bora prices, and start your Bora Bora packing list early.

Insider Tips

Make sure to add travel insurance to your flights to Bora Bora. This will protect you in case of cancellation, lost baggage, long delays, etc…

Flights to Bora Bora: FAQ

How to get around Bora Bora

If you’d like to move freely around Bora Bora you can either use boat taxis or rent your own car. Here are the most popular car rentals companies: Expect the prices to move around $90/day and $680 per week.

Also read ⬇️

How to get from Bora Bora to the other islands

Are you curious to also explore the other pacific islands?

Awesome! The easiest will be to visit the rest of the popular Society islands which are: Tahiti, Moorea, and Raiatea. This way you can have a multiple islands holiday! To each of these, you can either fly or take a long boat ride. Here’s how to get to each of them.

Bora Bora to Tahiti

If you’d like to visit Tahiti, we recommend doing it at the beginning of your trip – you’ll need to take one of your connecting flights here so it just makes sense. To fly to Tahiti, prepare for your domestic flight to take around 1H (if no layovers) and cost $180 – $450. For a cheaper option, you can take a ferry operated by Apetahi Express. It’s a much longer crossing best suited to budget island-hopping, so check the operator’s current schedule.

Bora Bora to Moorea

To get to Moorea, you can as well either take a direct domestic flight or a ferry. Keep in mind the prices depend on the season (high season – higher prices), the airline, and whether it’s one way or a round trip flight. For one-way flights, the cost ranges around $220 – $550 and takes 45 mins.

One of the more budget options is…you guessed it – a ferry. Just take a ferry operated by Aremiti to Papeete, Tahiti (8,30 h) and change for a short ferry ride to Moorea (only half an hour). The total cost will be $140 – $150.

Bora Bora to Raiatea

To get to Raiatea, you can fly or take a boat with no big difference in price or time. Both flying and taking a ferry will cost you around $83 – $183 and take around 2 hours.

Bonus: Bora Bora to Tikehau (the island of pink beaches)

If you have the time and want to explore French Polynesia, you can also fly to Tikehau, a part of the Tuamotu archipelago. The flight takes around 4 hours and costs $220 – $550.

What about the Cook Islands?

Many people also ask if they can visit the Cook islands coming from Bora bora.

While they’re also in the Pacific, they’re pretty far. So, you surely can but you’ll have to take an 11-hour long international flight that costs anywhere from $650 to $1600. Also, don’t forget about obtaining new visas (as they’re a different country) and other entry requirements.

Vaccines, visa & entry requirements for Bora Bora island (from the States)

Alright, now that you know all the travel deets for Bora Bora, the best times to get in, and the best ways to organize your trip, let’s bring on the boring yet important stuff. The entry requirements and safety advice.

What vaccines do I need/ should have for French Polynesia?

While none of these are the absolute must-have, the WHO recommends having the following vaccinations for Bora Bora: 

• hepatitis A, 
• hepatitis B,
• yellow fever (only for people coming from a high-risk country)
• Rabies
• Tetanus
• COVID-19 vaccination 

Insider Tips

Just like in most tropical countries, be careful of the dengue fever. There’s no vaccination for this mosquito-borne infection yet. The best and only way to protect yourself is to use mosquito sprays and mosquito nets. Most of the resorts are treated against mosquitoes so this applies especially if you stay in any of the rural areas. 

Do you need a visa for Bora Bora?

As a US citizen, you’re free to enter Bora Bora for up to 90 days without a visa every six months. Just make sure your passport is valid for at least three months ahead and that you have proof of onward travel.

Is Bora Bora a safe place to travel to?

Yes, Bora Bora is very safe and crime levels are low. Just avoid leaving valuables unattended, as petty theft does occur. Stick to common sense and leave anything valuable locked at your hotel.

Good to know

While there’s no U.S embassy in Bora Bora, anytime you have a problem, want to report a crime, or lose your passport, feel free to reach out to the contact below : 

U.S Consul handy:
Centre Tamanu Iti, 1er etage – 98718 Punaauia
Telephone:+(689) 426-535

Hopefully, by now, you know your way to Bora Bora, what to expect, and what to prepare for a stress-free rejuvenating vacay. If you have any more questions about your trip, don’t hesitate to ask in our FREE ‘Off to Bora Bora’ FB group and someone will surely respond. 

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