Bora Bora Boat Tour with Motu Lunch

The Bora Bora Boat Tour with Motu Lunch

The Lagoon Service outrigger on one of the world’s most stunning lagoons

If you only do one tour in Bora Bora, make it the private motu lunch boat tour. Six hours on the lagoon in a traditional Polynesian outrigger, three snorkeling stops, and lunch on a private motu with your feet in the water and baby sharks circling the shore. Friendly local guides who sing, play ukulele, and know every creature in the lagoon by name.

The number one full day lagoon tour in Bora Bora, recommended by 99% of travelers, with 1,659 reviews and a Viator Badge of Excellence. Solo travelers, couples, families, everyone leaves saying the same thing. Best day of the trip.

What to expect on the full day lagoon tour

The Bora Bora boat tour with motu lunch runs approximately six hours, covering three snorkeling stops, a circumnavigation of the island, and lunch on a private motu.

1. 01
   Hotel pickup — The Lagoon Service team collects guests from hotels across Bora Bora, including motu resorts. Pickup time depends on your location and is confirmed with your reservation. Departure is at 9am.
2. 02
   First snorkel stop — shallow lagoon — Calm, clear water with stingrays gliding past at arm’s length and blacktip reef sharks cruising the sandy bottom. The guides stay in the water with the group throughout.
3. 03
   Second snorkel stop — deep ocean outside the reef — The outrigger passes through the main pass and out beyond the barrier reef. Sharks in larger numbers, clearer visibility, and the open Pacific beneath you. Not every lagoon tour in Bora Bora includes an ocean stop outside the reef. Lagoon Service does.
4. 04
   Third snorkel stop — coral garden — Thousands of colorful fish, healthy coral formations, and the kind of underwater scenery that makes first-time snorkelers forget they were ever nervous.
5. 05
   Island circumnavigation — Between stops, the guides point out resorts, landmarks, and the main pass into the Bora Bora lagoon. Ukulele music plays. The views of Mount Otemanu are continuous.
6. 06
   Lunch on a private motu — A buffet of local dishes served on woven palm leaf plates, tables set at the water’s edge. Baby sharks patrol the shallows just off the beach while you eat. After lunch, guides demonstrate coconut husking and palm leaf weaving.
7. 07
   Return to Vaitape — Drop-off at your hotel included. Back in time for a relaxed evening.

Marine life you will encounter

Swimming with blacktip reef sharks outside the reef — a stop not included on every Bora Bora lagoon tour

• Blacktip reef sharks
  Encountered at both the shallow lagoon stop and the deep ocean stop outside the reef. Completely harmless and one of the most memorable parts of the full day boat tour in Bora Bora.
• Stingrays
  Found in the shallow lagoon on the first snorkel stop. The guides know exactly where to find them. Some guests get close enough to feel the current as they pass.
• Tropical fish and coral
  The coral garden stop delivers parrotfish, angelfish, moorish idols, clownfish, and healthy coral formations. Several guests describe it as the best snorkeling of their lives.
• Baby sharks at the motu
  During the private motu lunch, small blacktip reef sharks patrol the shallows just off the beach. One of the more surreal lunch settings you will ever experience.
• Dolphins
  Not guaranteed, but spotted regularly. When the guides come across a pod, they take extra time so everyone gets a good look.

Pickup and meeting point

Hotel pickup is included across Bora Bora, including motu resorts. Your exact pickup time is confirmed with your reservation ticket and varies by hotel location. The boat tour departs at 9am.

Guests arriving by cruise ship can be collected from Vaitape Pier. If your accommodation is unusual or not on the standard pickup list, contact Lagoon Service directly before the tour to confirm your meeting point.

What is included

Who will love the Bora Bora day tour with motu lunch

• Everyone — solo travelers, couples, families, first-timers, experienced snorkelers. The 99% recommendation rate is not an accident. The private motu lunch boat tour works for almost every kind of traveler.
• First-time snorkelers — guides stay in the water with nervous guests. Multiple reviews describe non-swimmers completing all three stops comfortably with guide support.
• Families — children from age 4 welcome, infants travel free. The motu lunch, the ukulele music, and the baby sharks at the beach are highlights for kids and adults equally.
• Couples — 97% of couples rated the full day lagoon tour five stars. Lunch on a private motu with Mount Otemanu in front of you is a hard setting to beat.
• Wildlife enthusiasts — three distinct marine environments in one day: shallow lagoon, open ocean, and coral garden. The species count across the full day boat tour is exceptional.

Is the lagoon tour suitable for non-swimmers?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and towels are provided, and the guides stay in the water with guests who are not confident swimmers. Life jackets are available. Multiple reviews specifically mention nervous first-timers who ended up swimming with sharks by the second stop.

Good to know before you book

• Book very early — the Bora Bora boat tour with motu lunch books an average of 72 days in advance. Maximum 12 guests. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
• What to bring — swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, a light layer for the boat, and a waterproof case for your phone or camera. All three snorkel stops and the private motu lunch are worth photographing.
• The deep ocean stop — current and depth increase outside the reef. The guides manage the group carefully. Most guests describe it as the highlight of the day.
• Not recommended for — travelers with back problems, heart conditions, or serious medical conditions. Pregnant travelers are advised to skip.
• Infants — must sit on laps during the boat journey.
• Confirmation — received at time of booking.