A 3.5-hour small-group whale watching tour outside the Bora Bora reef during humpback season. Boat pickup from your hotel, snorkel gear and life jacket included, and when the whales allow it, a swim with humpbacks in the open Pacific.
Check availability and reviews on Viator. Free cancellation on most dates.
Humpback whales arrive in Bora Bora from mid-July to mid-November to give birth and raise their calves
Whale watching in Bora Bora is the one tour on the island that only runs a few months a year. Between mid-July and mid-November, humpback whales travel north from Antarctic waters to French Polynesia, a protected marine mammal sanctuary, to give birth and care for their calves. This small-group tour takes you outside the reef into the open Pacific to find them.
A maximum of 10 travelers, hotel pickup by boat, and a crew that knows how to read the ocean. When conditions are right and the whales are calm, you can slip into the water with snorkel gear and swim with humpback whales. When they are not, watching a mother and calf from the boat is still the moment people talk about for years.
Three and a half hours, morning or afternoon. Every trip follows the whales, so read this as how a tour usually flows.
A mother with her calf, the most common and most moving sighting during whale season in Bora Bora
Boat pickup is included from all hotels in Bora Bora. If you stay in an Airbnb or guesthouse, the meeting point is in the center of the main island and is confirmed by the operator after booking. Choose between a morning and an afternoon departure when you book.
Included
Not included
Yes, with older children. Watching whales from the boat works for all ages, but the ride outside the reef can be bumpy and the swim is in deep water. Children who are confident swimmers can join with a life jacket. For younger children, a calm lagoon tour is the easier choice.
From mid-July to mid-November, when humpback whales come to French Polynesia to give birth and raise their calves. Outside these months there are no humpbacks around the island.
Yes, when the sea is calm and the whales are relaxed. Snorkel gear and a life jacket are provided, and the guide decides on the spot whether an in-water encounter is possible and respectful.
No. Even in season the whales move freely between the islands. Booking early in your stay gives you a second chance if the first day is rough.
It is when you go with a professional operator that follows French Polynesia’s marine mammal rules. Avoid unofficial boats offering whale swims.
No, it is a small-group tour with a maximum of 10 travelers. For something exclusive, compare the options on our private tours in Bora Bora page.
Hotels get a direct boat pickup. Airbnb and guesthouse guests meet the boat at a central meeting point confirmed by the operator.
Check availability and reviews on Viator. Free cancellation on most dates.
Your own boat, your own naturalist guide, and a fully customised snorkeling itinerary in the Bora Bora lagoon. Snorkeling gear, towels, snacks included. From $873 for 2.
Rent a self-drive boat in Bora Bora with no licence needed. Explore the lagoon at your own pace, snorkel where you want, and anchor on a deserted beach. From $208 per group.
