Discover Mystic and Exotic Bora Bora

Located about 250 km northwest of Tahiti, Bora Bora is an exotic volcanic island in the Leeward group of the Society archipelago in French Polynesia. Founded in 1722 by Roggeveen - a Dutch navigator, Bora Bora's history is marked by several wars held between several clans of the island.

Packed with amazing Polynesian sights, lush vegetation, and unfettered environment, Bora Bora is now truly a wonderful destination to enjoy holidays in a relaxed environment. The sheer beauty of the place is further enhanced by the incredible black peaks of Mount Otemanu and Mount Pahia, which in turn provide a natural splendor to the island. But, the real glory of the island lies in its pristine beach as well as tropical sights and settings.

The island as well as its inhabitants is surrounded by an air of mysticism. An interest thing regarding the name of this island is that al though it starts with the letter 'b', such a letter sound does not exist in the Polynesian language.

This name is thought to have been derived from Pora Pora, literally meaning 'firstborn.' Another mysterious thing in connection with this island is that despite the fact that it is an exotic island blessed with a stunning marine life, there are only very few interesting sea mammals. The reason behind this is due to the volcanic nature of the island. Many of the interesting mammals found here are brought in by some navigators from Europe and other Polynesian destinations.

Bora Bora boasts of such a great number of attractions that it is quite difficult to list them all. Perhaps, the greatest of Bora Bora's attractions is its lagoonarium, enclosed by coral reef. The lagoon serves as a perfect base to enjoy a continuum of recreational activities including boating, shark feeding, jet skiing, picnicking, and scuba diving. It also provides the services of expert divers who help you in swimming as well as come along with a range of water animals including dolphins, turtles, and numerous other water animals. In addition, there is Aquascope - a semi-submersible watercraft, exclusively for those who don't know swimming or diving.

Another great attraction of Bora Bora is Matira Beach, which stands as a classic example of a South Pacific beach. The beach is truly a coral paradise blessed with tropical fish species. With shallow lagoons, the beach is a great destination to enjoy a plethora of activities such as snorkeling and kayaking.

Your Bora Bora vacation would be incomplete without taking a visit to the region's ancient shrines, namely, Marae Temples. These open air shrines are believed to be the result of the island's mystical past. Maraes were once used by the inhabitants to present the Gods with ritual foods, conducting weddings and ceremonies, and enthroning a king. One of the most important Marae temples in the region is the Marae Fare-Opu.

Other not to miss attractions in Bora Bora are Cooks Bay, Tetiaroa Atoll & Bird Sanctuary, with an exotic variety of sea birds, and Laid-back Huahine with archeological sites. Additionally, don't miss traditional mystic dance shows of the island, such as otea - a war dance, pao'a - a sensual dance, and aparima.

Above all, Bora Bora has now become one of the sought after destinations in the world for conducting weddings as well as celebrating honeymoon. Many Americans and Japanese people including celebrities have chosen this Tahitian island as their wedding venue. The weddings are conducted here in a traditional way, with bride and groom dressed in Polynesian wedding pareos. They are accompanied by a group of musicians and dancers singing traditional Tahitian love songs. A local priest unites the couples by naming them with Tahitian names and wrapping them in a tifaifai quilt, that are specially designed for the wedding function.

Today, many of the top end hotels have come forward to provide superb packages to make your wedding ceremony in Bora Bora truly exotic as well as memorable. Apart from these, Bora Bora has accommodation choices to suit every taste and pocket. For instance, if you are looking for a unique accommodation choice, then one of the best choices would be fantastic bungalows erected directly over the water. There are also accommodation options to cater to the requirements of budget conscious travelers.