Le Bora Bora by Pearl resort : What to expect?

The newly renovated Le Bora Bora by Pearl resorts offers almost everything you might dream of!

It combines a luxurious feel with pristine untouched nature, delish local & international cuisine, a wide variety of fun on-site activities… but also some downsides. Curious to find out more in detail? Let’s go! In this post I give you my honest inside look into the resort. As with all of my resort guides, you’ll know exactly what to expect and see if this place is THE ONE for YOU.

Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resort Map

To help you better understand the resort’s location, let’s start with a map of the property.

The resort is fairly tiny and not overly spread out when compared to bigger resorts such as the Four Seasons or the St Regis. There is only one beach and no inner lagoon. However, there are beautiful tropical gardens where the gardens villas are located. Please keep in mind that the golf cart cannot transport you around and there is no bicycle available for your use, so if you have difficulty walking, request a bungalow in the 100’s area, closer to the common area (reception, restaurant, pool, etc…). It will take you around 10 minutes to walk to the last villa.

Accommodations at the Bora Pearl Beach Resort

As soon as you enter the Le Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort, you are overcome with an unusual sensation. The resort has been fully renovated in 2021 and the whole facility screams ‘French Polynesia‘ thanks to the gorgeous modern Polynesian style. All of the furnishings in the area are elegant and oversized, making you feel instantly at ease. Le Bora Bora is, in my opinion, the Bora Bora resort with the strongest Polynesian touches in the decoration and design.

The Otemanu restaurant area, which overlooks the pool and has a fantastic view of the lagoon, is exceptionally well-designed in the common areas. 

There’s also a little boutique area on the first floor that feels like a mini designer mall, with beautiful views of the lagoon and always a breeze.

Categories of Accommodation at Le Bora Bora

What kind of bungalows does Bora by pearl resorts offer? 

Le Bora Bora features 108 rooms divided into 8 categories. Allow me to walk you through it. Begin with the overwater bungalows.

Overwater bungalows at the Bora Pearl Beach Resort

The arrangement and design of the overwater bungalows are all the same. Only the view and whether or not you have a small plunge pool on the deck differ.

The overwater bungalow has everything. A large bedroom area (no living room – you enter the room straight), an en-suite bathroom with a shower and a large bathtub with an opening glass panel overlooking the lagoon. A gazebo and a furnished sundeck with a net to lay on and a ladder to access the lagoon make up the outdoor space.

The lagoon overwater bungalow category provides a good view of the lagoon as well as the beach – which can be very crowded during the day be warned.

Otemanu overwater bungalow

Stellar views of the iconic mount Otemanu, dreamy design, lagoon underneath…These are only a few elements that make this the most popular overwater bungalow option @ Le Bora Bora. Here, you can wake up early and watch the sun rising over Bora Bora’s famous mount Otemanu right from your deck or bed. You decide!

Just like the others, these overwater bungalows feature a large ensuite bedroom with a king bed, a shower & a bathtub, opening glass panels, and an outdoor patio with a comfy hammock, chaise lounges, a dining set, and direct access to the lagoon. If your budget allows, I strongly advise you to book that overwater bungalow category.

The Pool Overwater bungalow

Slightly larger than the regular bungalows. this villa also comes with a gorgeous view of Mount Otemanu and is located at the end of the pontoon. Expect a beautiful & stylish large air-conditioned bedroom with a king bed and an en-suite bathroom (including a bathtub and a shower), an outdoor terrace with a dining area, and direct access to the lagoon. The special extra? This vill includes a plunge pool facing mt Otemanu!

End of pontoon overwater suite with pool

It can accommodate 4 adults, but if you want to travel as a group, I would book the Royal Beach Villa instead, which has two actual ensuite bedrooms; in this villa, the second pair would have to sleep in the living room, which is inconvenient.

If you book an overwater bungalow, oftentimes you might see sharks & rays right under your deck popping by to say hi at night! Just switch on the night underwater lights and enjoy the show. Of course, these are the cute harmless kinds. They’re very used to people and more like “sea pets“.

Villas at Le Bora Bora

Garden villa with pool

Craving some privacy? Then this garden villa with pool might be for you. Hidden in the resort’s lush tropical garden, here, you’ll escape everyone. This is a great place to recharge, and soothe your mind with some quiet time.

The garden villa with pool features a modern design inspired by traditional Polynesian homes (fare). In addition to the same equipment as all the other villas, you get a private whimsical garden and a large sundeck area with a plunge pool. 

Beach villa with pool

The beach villa is one of the largest villas on the property (1545 sq. ft). Expect huge spacious air-conditioned rooms with a king bed, a bedroom area, an indoor shower, a cozy living room with a sofa bed, an direct access to the resort’s beach, killer views of the lagoon and mt Otemanu on one side, and a private pool on the back of the villa.

Royal beach villa with pool

This beach villa is definitely one of my favorites in Bora Bora. It truly delivers on its promise – staying here you’ll feel like modern royalty! It welcomes you with a huge sunny living room, a soft cozy sofa bed, and of course, breathtaking views of the lagoon and mount Otemanu.

Next, you’ll be amazed by the contemporary yet still authentically Polynesian style of the villa, and the large amount of space throughout the whole place. 

Are you already packing your bags?

The villa also has a spacious deck to chill out at and take in all the beauty around you. There’s also an enclosed private garden, 2 ensuite bedrooms, and… 3 pools!!! A large one overlooking the beach and each room get its own private plunge pool. This place is perfect for groups or families wanting to stay together.

Accommodations at the Le Bora Bora Resort: Price per category

These are the minimum prices you can expect to pay per night and category (low season prices).

• Overwater bungalow (Lagoon view): $1145+
• Overwater (Island View): $1145+
• Overwater bungalow (Mountain View): $1254+
• Pool overwater villa: $1225+
• Garden villa with a pool: $700+
• Beach Villa with pool: $1150+
• Royal beachside villa with pool: $1400+
• End of pontoon overwater suite with a pool: $2450+

My insider recommendation for booking the best accommodation at the Le Bora Bora (with #)

If you want the best views of the mountain → Basically, each bungalow in the Otemanu Overwater bungalows category will provide you with a view of the mountain, however, most of them will provide you with a view of the mountain from the side. I would recommend #116 to #119, #201 through #205, #304 through #306, and the two End of pontoon Overwater Suites with pools for a very frontal view of the mountain.

If you want the best views of the sunset → If you want to enjoy the beautiful sunset colors from your terrace, I recommend the bungalows facing east (all the orange bungalows on the map).

If you want the best views of the sunrise → If you want to catch the first rays of sunlight in the morning, consider a bungalow facing west. I like the #210, #212, #214, #216, #218, and #220 because they have a fantastic combination of mountain and sunrise views.

If you want the best snorkeling → Unfortunately, there aren’t many animals or fish under most of the bungalows in Le Bora Bora. If you wish to explore from your bungalow, the best ones to rent are those near the coral garden (#108, #109, #110, #122, #123, #124, #201, #202). There is also a large platform between bungalows #117 and #119. This location has a lot of corals and animals to see (I even saw a manta ray once), so make sure to check it out. Because there is no ladder connecting to the platform, staying in a neighboring bungalow might be helpful to explore the area.

If you want to be close to the common areas → Any bungalow in the 100s will get you closer to the common area. It can take up to ten minutes to walk from the last bungalow to the common area, and there is no golf cart or bicycle service available.

Bungalow/villa # to avoid at Le Bora Bora

If privacy is as important to you as it is to me, here are the bungalows I would avoid:

• I would avoid booking a beach villa (besides the royal one). There will be a lot of people passing in front of it during the day.

• I would stay away from bungalows #101 through #111. These bungalows are near the main dock (with a lot of going back and forth during the day) – picture attached.

• I would also avoid bungalows #106 & #107. Due to an odd layout choice, they are basically facing each other.

• Garden villas are lovely, but they also serve as mosquito breeding grounds (even if the resort regularly treats against it). I love this category so I wouldn’t recommend avoiding it but come prepared.

Restaurants & food experiences at the Le Bora Bora resort

Dive into the wide selection of Le Bora Bora food and drinks. Pearl Resorts is owned by the french group Relais et Châteaux… meaning they take the food very seriously. You can choose to eat at one of their 3 restaurants or have a drink at one of their 2 bars. If you prefer a little privacy, they also offer room service and deliver the food into your room. We’ll explore all the restaurants in detail down below. Note that the resort is not totally all inclusive so unless you opted for a meal plan, any food & beverage will be charged.

Otemanu Restaurant

Otemanu restaurant is the resort’s main restaurant with a divine setting above the whole property and overlooks the famous mt. Otemanu. They serve breakfast as a buffet with a great food selection. You’ll find everything from fresh fish, fruits, yogurts, pancakes & waffles to omelets. They also have yummy fruit juices and all the usual morning beverages. For dinner, you can choose anything from their menu and eat under a sky full of stars. 

Also catch the Polynesian show @ Otemanu restaurant every Monday.

☀️ Breakfast 7:00 am to 10:00 am
Dinner 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Price: It will cost you around 100$ per person for 3 courses without drinks.
Menu: Click here to check Otemanu’s menu

Poerava Gourmet Restaurant

Behind Miki Miki bar, you’ll find the cozy Poerava Gourmet Restaurant – the place for the ultimate fine-dining experience. Here, you’re required to make a reservation 24h in advance. 

Dinner only from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm (closed on Mondays and Sundays)

Miki Miki restaurant

For the pasta & pizza addicts, head over to Miki Miki. These guys are right by the pool and open for lunch and dinner. Make sure to try their island specialty such as poisson cru.

☀️ Lunch 11:30 am to 4:00 pm
Dinner 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Price : Mains are between $23 and $39
Menu : Click here to check Miki Miki’s menu

Uaina bar

For an excellent wine selection, stop at their Uaina bar!

You’ll get a variety of wines or cocktails to choose from and enjoy your night. For the snackers, they have light bites such as some delish sushi and similar. There’s a great pool vibe atmosphere, and all of this comes with stunning Otemanu views.

Open daily from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm 

Manuia Bar

The manuia swim-up bar is THE place to chill in a pool, soak up the Tahitian sun & sip on your cocktails. 

Open daily from 10AM to 10PM

Room service

If you wish to enjoy your meal in the comfort of your beautiful water bungalow or you missed dinner time, you can still enjoy their room service. Available nonstop 24/7, you can order a meal at any time! 

Menu : Click to check the Bora Bora’s room service menu.

Tavai Spa

Just like every good resort, Le Bora offers pretty amazing self-care facilities too. The Tavai SPA is small but mighty. According to Le Bora Bora owners, it’s an invitation to unwind and renew. The Pearl Beach Resort SPA offers many massage rooms in the resort’s lush garden with the possibility to choose from a variety of massages & healing rituals. 

Some of the options include hot stone massage, body exfoliation under a Vichy shower, or their signature Le Bora Bora massage to restore the body & mind.

Menu : Click here to check the Tavai Spa menu

The Bora by Pearl Resorts fitness center 

Attention endorphin addicts! Le Bora’s got you covered too. Their newly renovated gym with brand-new equipment has everything you might need for a proper workout in French Polynesia. No time for holiday excuses.

Le Bora Bora on-site activities

Le Bora provides you with a vast amount of on-site activities. Before I do a proper deep-dive with all the deets, here’s their activities list: 

• Fitness center/spa (with the possibility of hiring a personal trainer)
• White sand beach
• Fitness classes
• Yoga classes
• Full body massage
• Live music/performance
• Tour or class about local culture
• Happy hour
• Themed dinner nights (like the Polynesian shows)
• Temporary art galleries
• Water sports facilities on site
• Snorkeling
• Canoeing
• Table tennis
• Games room
• Tennis court & equipment
• Class about the local culture of French Polynesia

This is usually a free daily workshop on different Polynesian skills. It could be anything from making tiaras ( flower crowns in Polynesian style), and woven baskets, to cook raw fish Poisson crus. These workshops are generally fun and allow you to learn about the local traditions a bit more. I highly recommend you give them a shot!

Le Bora Bora – Beach

Allow me to break it to you… This beach is not my favorite, and it is, in my opinion, one of the resort’s drawbacks. Even if the view of the mountain is stunning, if you visit during the peak season, it may feel a little small and crowded. Also, due to the location of the resort and the strong winds, dead seaweeds tend to accumulate on the beach. Some days the beach can feel very dirty.

For the more daring, they offer kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddle boards, and snorkeling equipment. You may explore and cruise around the azure lagoon, which has coral-free entry.

Le Bora Bora – Pool

The pool is quite lovely and it’s pretty big, and there’s a cool waterfall off to the side of it. In addition to it, there is a swim-up bar (Manuia Bar).

Boutique area

One of the things I love most about Le Bora Bora which makes it pretty special is the little “shop village” on the first floor above the reception. You’ll find there a Bora Bora Original shop, Hinano life shop, a pearl shop and, an art gallery. The whole layout is just super nice.

Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts: Prices 

The arrival: How much is the airport shuttle to Le Bora by Pearl Resorts?

The resort is on a motu (islet), so a boat transfer is the only way to get there from the airport.

You have 3 options to reach the resort :

• Use the resort shuttle service. This is a convenient option and comes at a 4 000 XPF fee per person and per trip. Children under 3 years old are free of charge.
• Take the free ferry from the airport to the main island, then a taxi to the resort boat base “Base Chancelade” (10 minutes – 2000 XPF for a couple), and then the shuttle to the resort. This will save you some money, but make sure that the shuttle time matches.
• Book private transportation. This is the more convenient way, and we’ll save you money compared to the resort boat if you are traveling as a group. 

Frequently asked questions about Le Bora by Pearl Resorts

Le Bora Bora Pros & Cons

Here is a sum up of the pros & cons of Le Bora Bora :

👍 Le Bora Bora: Pros 

• The property has just undergone extensive renovations and has been tastefully furnished with Polynesian accents, something that certain other resorts are lacking.
• Being so close to the main town means that it is simple and inexpensive to leave the resort.
• Very beautiful garden villas.
• When it comes to dining, the food is, on average, pretty good.

👎 Le Bora Bora: Cons 

• The service is far from being as good as in other resorts.
• Small bungalows & lack of privacy in most of them.
• The beach is small, poorly furnished, and gets crowded.
• High presence of dead seaweed on the beach = dirty feeling
• Due to the location of the resort is it often VERY windy

Hopefully, by now you have a clear picture of what to expect from Le Bora Bora by Pearl resorts. If you have any more questions/doubts, feel free to check out my ‘Off to Bora Bora’ FB group and post your question there. I have a huge community of Bora Bora homies & lovers who’ll be happy to respond and share their experiences & advice. 

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