ROUTE
- Uturoa – Bora Bora West (30 nm)
- Stay in Bora Bora (or, if weather allows, head to Maupiti and delay the itinerary by 1 day)
- Bora Bora – Tahaa West (30 nm)
- Tahaa West to Tahaa East (15 nm)
- Tahaa East to Huahine (30 nm)
- Stay in Huahine (move anchorage 3nm)
- Huahine to Raiatea (27 nm)
- Return (10 nm)
*Maupiti is known to be the best place in the Society Islands to swim with Manta Rays. However, the entrance is completely dependent on having calm weather + it is 30 nautical miles one way from Bora Bora. You should only choose this detour if you have calm weather for a few days, to ensure you can get in and back out.
Useful Sources
- https://www.svsoggypaws.com/files/Societies%20Compendium.pdf
- https://www.navily.com/carte
- https://en.pf.yellowflagguides.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJfD1JleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHmk1cSAr0PfFkIMUU3JoXGLRdAE0tQA8FvDNNwd_jTSgSofkO2keHuwCPgvi_aem_r6W-6vD2vUNMqZlQItAOOg
- https://www.facebook.com/TwoDriftersTravel/videos/611343276428358
Day 1. Uturoa to Bora Bora
30 nm
On the first day you will fly intro Uturoa and set sail from the Marina around 14.00. Start with a 30 nm sail to Bora Bora – this should be a nice downwind sail, and it should be realistic to arrive in the afternoon.
⚓︎ Bora Bora Yacht Club (Fare Piti)
Pick up a BBMS yellow mooring buoy (approx. 3,000–4,000 CFP/night). – Mooring station attendants will collect payment via dinghy.
Activities
Dinner at the Yacht Club ashore
Day 2. Stay at Bora Bora
Spend day 2 exploring Bora Bora. You can either stay on the mooring and explore by tender, or sail around to the anchorage on the southeast side. (about 9 nm) Follow the channel markers – there is about 2,5 m of water in the narrows, although it looks impossible on the chart.
⚓︎ Alternative anchorage at SE Bora Bora (South Piti Aau)
Anchor in the lee of Piti Aau Island in the south. Down south of the Piti Aau sland, (marked with a snorkel on the map), is full of eagle rays.
Activities
- Guided SCUBA Diving Tour: This would be the ideal time to plan a guided SCUBA trip and explore the hotspots wihtout having to move the cat and bother with mooring issues. Dive boats like Top Dive or Bora Diving Center can pick you up from your mooring.
- Check out: Dive and Snorkeling sites around Bora Bora
Shark & Ray Sandbank: Take the dinghy southeast, toward Motu Tapu. Clear shallows, ideal for blacktip reef sharks and stingrays.
“The Aquarium” (Motu Pitiuu’Uta): Calm snorkeling just southeast of the island. Tie dinghy to a mooring ball or drift with a buddy aboard.
Mt Pahia Summit hike (3.7 miles) round trip – elevation 2,169 from sea level – 3-4 hours – hard – starts in Vaitape village.
BONUS DAY: Detour to Maupiti
30 nm (+ 50nm from Maupiti to Tahaa the next day)
Now to Maupiti, the island the sailors rave about. This is quite the detour and should only be done if there is a sure calm weather window that allows you to get there and back.
The entrance through the southern shallow passage is weather-dependent; do not attempt with a swell of more than 2 meters.
Check out this youtube video on how to pass: https://www.facebook.com/TwoDriftersTravel/videos/611343276428358
⚓︎ Maupiti South (along the reef)
You can anchor here off the reef. Nearby, you will find a Manta Ray cleaning station. The Manta Rays come in there every day before noon. You will swim 1- 2 meters from them. Stay here for the night or move to the anchorage near the town on the mainland (see anchorage below).
⚓︎ Maupiti East (in front of the town)
Anchor in 4 m in the sand, spectacular views, dingy dock, two stores, and some bars to eat. The climb to the top gives a 360-degree view of the island and is apparently really worth it!!
Activities
- Swim with Manta Rays at the cleaning station (before noon)
- Hike Mount Teurafaatiu (1.7 miles) – aprox. 1.5-2 hours – best in the morning.
- Tarona Snack Bar
- Relax at Tereia Beach
Day 3. Bora Bora to Tahaa West
30 nm
Sail from Bora Bora to the west side of Tahaa. Here you have 2 anchorages close to each other. Number 1 at the Coral Garden is supposedly the best, but issues with the resort has been reported, so moorings at number 2, the Pearl Farm is a great alternative in case.
Depending on the wind, you might use 1 for the day, and 2 overnight.
⚓︎ Coral Garden (NE of small private Motu Tautau Island)
This is a highly recommended anchorage, Northeast of the tiny private Motu Tautau Island and Spa (see map). This anchorage is ideal for snorkeling at the Coral Garden, a little to the west (see activities below).
*It is unclear whether you are allowed to anchor here or not; it seems like the resort is protective of the water nearby, so do not go right in front of the resort – people have been told to move. Try to anchor a bit to the north of the resort along the shallows (TAKE CARE OF THE CORAL – Find a sandy patch and float your chain). If you are asked to leave, you can head across to the bay across on the main island, – take a mooring at the pearl farm, and then dinghy over to the coral garden.
⚓︎ Pearl Farm Moorings (across from Coral Gardens)
Activities
- Snorkel at the Coral Garden: To the west of the anchorage, you will find a coral garden where you can snorkel with the current. Take your snorkeling gear to shore, walk out to the reef, and let the current take you through the coral garden into the bay. It is very beautiful!
- Tour the Pearl Farm
Day 4. Tahaa West to Tahaa East
15 nm
On day 4 enjoy a shorter sail inside the reef from west Tahaa to the east. There are a few anchorages along the reef in shallow water with sand bottom. Here is a good chance of seeing rays and reef sharks. And it places you in a really good position for launching off towards Huahine the next day.
⚓︎ Haamene Bay
Deep, well-protected inlet. Moorings near Taravana Yacht Club—free if you eat/drink there.
Activities
Manta ray site at entrance of Ha’amene Bay (by Pension Au Phil du Temps). Dinghy there early and look for fins on surface.
Some coral snorkeling along outer reef—watch the wind exposure.
Consider a pearl farm tour or local vanilla plantation by foot.
Day 5. Tahaa to Huahine
30 nm
There are 2 great anchorages on the west-south side. Both are accessed through the NW passage through the reef, and you will pass one to get to the other (they are only a few miles apart). Stay at the first one, and go to the other the next day.
⚓︎ Moorings at Plage Hana Iti (West Huahine)
Grab a mooring or anchor in the sand off the beach (Plage Hana Iti)
Activities
Plage Hana Iti is a lovely beach with friendly locals. An ideal spot for a beach party.
- Walk to the southeastern end of Motu Vaiorea for a good snorkeling spot.
Day 6. Stay at Huahine
Enjoy a chill day exploring Huahine. Move the 3-4 nautical miles south to the other anchorage at Huahune Island.
⚓︎ Moorings at Baie d'Avea Nord (South Huahine)
It is said to be the most beautiful bay on the island. I have heard this directly from sailors, and the comments on Navily surely confirm it. You have to grab a mooring here.
Activities
- Dinner ashore at La Mahana
Day 7. Huahine to Raiatea
27 nm
This is if you want to explore the UNESCO-listed ancient archeological site Marae Taputapuatea. The site features a number of marae and other stone structures and was once considered the central temple and religious center of Eastern Polynesia.
⚓︎ Moorings at Fare Orivi Lodge
According to Navily 2024 there are 3 moorings here in front of the Fare Orivi Lodge for grabs. This is a good spot to leave the boat and take the tender to the UNESCO site Marae Taputapuatea.
If all the moorings are taken, people also anchor out of the bay along the shallows of the outer reef (see navily, though marked with “no anchoring”).
Activities
- Visit the UNESCO site Marae Taputapuatea.
Day 8. Return
10 nm
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Who am I?
My name is Klara, I am a sailor and ex-liveaboard, now living on hard ground and working freelance with a yacht charter company offering crewed yacht charters across the globe.
While they offer crewed yacht charters in French Polynesia, among many other locations across the Mediterranean and Caribbean, this site is for private sailors who are looking for navigational info – not beach bars and Instagram photo recommendations.