Bora Bora is one of the most luxurious destinations in the world and is often depicted in movies and TV shows as a glamorous island of respite and relaxation.
The island is a famous honeymoon destination, as well as being a firm favorite of Hollywood's elite. But did you know these 38 facts about Bora Bora? Like the fact, you've been pronouncing its name wrong your ENTIRE life?! It blew our minds too.
There's a lot to know behind the lush green vegetation, towering peaks, and beautiful hibiscus blossoms that make up the small but mighty island of Bora Bora.
Before adding the island to the top of your bucket list, make sure you check out these Bora Bora fun facts, which will make you want to visit even more.
Where Is Bora Bora?
Bora Bora is part of French Polynesia and sits in the South Pacific Ocean, roughly 265km/165 miles from Tahiti.
It is part of a group of 9 islands called the Society Islands. French Polynesia has 4 main island groups, which are the Austral Islands, the Tuamotu Islands, the Marquesas, and of course the Society Islands.
Bora Bora is not accessible by international flight, and all visitors must first travel to Tahiti, and then catch another flight from Tahiti to the island. These flights run between 4-6 times a day.
38 Facts About Bora Bora
Without further ado, let's dive into these 38 fun and interesting facts about Bora Bora, that will serve you well in a pub quiz.
1. There is no B in the Tahitian language
It seems impossible, considering the name of the island, right? In fact, there are only 13 letters in the Tahitian language, and B is not one of them.
The island was originally named "Pora Pora", which means "first-born" as the Tahitians believe it was the first island created after Raiatea.
When English settlers arrived on the island many moons later, they misheard the pronunciation of the island as "Bora Bora" and the name stuck.
2. Show the world your relationship status with flowers
The Tahitians know how to take some of the confusion out of dating. One of the most unique facts about Bora Bora is that flowers are essentially used as a green and red light system when it comes to flirting and asking a woman out. Women who are in a relationship wear a flower behind their left ear, as a sign of their disinterest to potential suitors, and those who are single and would like to be approached, wear a flower behind their right ear.
3. Bora Bora sits on an extinct volcano
Talk about a blast from the past! The island was formed over 4 million years ago by a volcanic eruption.
After the eruption, Bora Bora was uninhabited for some time until the Tongan people came, and named the island "Vava'u".
If you arrive on the island by plane, pay attention as you approach and you'll see that Bora Bora consists of a small ring of islands, which used to be the rim of the volcano.
4. Bora Bora produces black pearls
When we think of pearls, most of us think of a shimmering cream color, but did you know that black pearls exist? These pearls are produced by black-lipped oysters which are abundant in the waters around French Polynesia.
These rare stones don't come cheap. In fact, they can cost up to $50,000 per pearl.
5. The island was discovered by Captain James Cook
Bora Bora was thriving long before anyone from the west set foot on its shores, but until 1769 it was undiscovered by westerners.
Captain James Cook accidentally stumbled upon Bora Bora, which then brought missionaries to the island in 1820 whose purpose was to convert the Polynesians to Christianity.
The missionaries were successful, as even now, Christianity is still the main religion in Bora Bora.
6. Even the coral thinks Bora Bora is romantic
Most people think of Bora Bora as a romantic destination, walking hand in hand at night with a loved one along sandy shores, lit by twinkling candlelight, but the island is even more romantic under the sea.
Motu Iti is a coral reef formation 19km/11.8 miles off the north coast of the Polynesian island, that is shaped like a heart, as if mother nature herself is giving Bora Bora the title of "most romantic island".
7. Tattoos are sacred
While we may visit the tattoo parlour on a whim, whenever the mood takes us, in Bora Bora, tattooing is a sacred art.
It is believed that tattoos are derived from the two sons of Ta'aroa, who is the God of creation.
In the past, residents of the island would get tattoos to show their position in society, but these days, the marks on your skin are looked upon as a sign of beauty by the locals.
8. Over half the population are youngins
A youngin is a name given to a young person under the age of 20 in Bora Bora. While it's hard to believe, over half of the population of the island are youngins, which means there's a lot of fun to be had on the island, especially at night, with lots of beach parties happening. Do you want to check out one of the beach parties, but don’t want to show up alone? Join our community and see if any like-minded females are in the area! Make lifelong friends, share travel experiences, and spark interesting conversations by signing up here.
More Facts About Bora Bora
If you want to know even more about this tropical paradise, here are another 30 facts about the island.
Bora Bora has around 10,000 residents.
The highest point on the island is Mount Otemanu at 727 meters.
Bora Bora is part of France.
Hawaii gets more visitors in 10 days than Bora Bora gets in an entire year.
The movie "Couples Retreat" was filmed at the St Regis Bora Bora Resort.
The volcano that sits in the middle of Bora Bora has two peaks, Mount Otemanu and Mount Pahia.
The main languages spoken in Bora Bora are French and Tahitian, but many islanders speak English too.
There are five types of sharks in the waters surrounding Bora Bora: Black tip reef sharks, lemon sharks, white tip, gray sharks, and hammerheads.
The island is made up of just three small villages, Anau, Faanui, and Vaitape.
New Zealand is the closest large country to Bora Bora, and it is still 1492km/927 miles away.
There are no poisonous insects or snakes on the island, despite its tropical climate.
The coldest month in Bora Bora is July, where temperatures still reach a sizzling 28°C/82°F.
The only land animals on the island were brought in by people, and they include cows, chickens, goats, and dogs.
The lack of land animals is made up for by the abundance of sea life. In the waters surrounding Bora Bora, you'll find hundreds of species of fish, as well as turtles, dolphins, sharks, manta rays, and humpback whales.
Matira beach often makes appearances on lists of the world's most beautiful beaches.
After Polynesian, Chinese is the most popular ethnicity for islanders.
Bora Bora is part of French Polynesia, which is made up of 118 islands and atolls.
The capital is Vaitape.
Bora Bora is just 38km squared/19 miles squared. It is 10km/6 miles long and 4km/2.5 miles wide.
The island only has 2 seasons, the wet season from November to April and the dry season from May to October.
Bora Bora was once a military supply base for America in WW2.
The whole of French Polynesia receives 200,000 visitors per year, the majority of whom are American, Japanese, or European. To put that into perspective, the Maldives receives more than 1,000,000.
Relatives are buried in the backyards of their families, and there are no public cemeteries on the island.
The motto of Bora Bora is "aita pea pea" which means "not to worry".
The main product of Bora Bora is coconuts.
Another of our Bora Bora fun facts is that one of the most expensive accommodations on the island will set you back $55,000 per week.
There is no public transport on the island. You can get around by walking, cycling, or by taxi. Car hire is also available but very expensive.
The national dish is poisson cru, which is a concoction of raw fish (often tuna or mahi-mahi) and vegetables, which are served in a coconut with lime juice and coconut milk.
Tahitian letterboxes are for bread deliveries, not letters.
The national flower is the Tahitian Gardenia.
Final Thoughts On Facts About Bora Bora
Have you changed your mind on visiting Bora Bora now? We didn't think so. Instead, after reading these facts about Bora Bora, it has probably soared to the number one spot on your bucket list, and it's well-deserving of its place there.
Thinking of taking an extended trip to the Oceania continent? Check out our New Zealand South Island road trip itinerary.
