With its turquoise lagoon, blonde beaches and towering mountain backdrop, Bora Bora is the living definition of a tropical island paradise. Usually pictured under clear, blue skies or bathed by fiery sunsets, this is the luxury island escape that people dream of – and thanks to warm temperatures year-round, there’s no such thing as a bad time to visit.
From snorkeling alongside rays and reef sharks to hikes to mountain viewpoints and ancient ceremonial sites, passing time on Bora Bora is truly a balm to the soul. However, those cloudless blue skies that you’ve seen on social media don’t paint the whole picture – Bora Bora is buffeted by the moisture-laded winds of the South Pacific and the island has a warm, humid rainy season from December to March.
But don’t let a few raindrops put you off – even a visit in the rainy season has its advantages! Here’s what you need to know about the best times to visit Bora Bora.
May to October is the best time for blue skies and sunshine
Bora Bora’s dry season takes place during the southern hemisphere winter from May to October. The dry months see low levels of rainfall, so you can be confident of clear blue skies with plenty of sunshine for much of your stay. Temperatures during the winter are also less intense than during the summer months, with daytime highs of around 28°C (82°F).
Ideal weather for basking in the sun makes the dry season the most popular time to visit Bora Bora. Unfortunately, this means higher prices at resorts, and bigger crowds across the island. If this is your dream time to visit, start looking at flights well in advance as seats get snapped up quickly.
Though the high season kicks off in May, the main crowds won’t arrive for a few more weeks. Water conditions are ideal for scuba diving and the Tahiti Pearl Regatta sailing race draws teams from across the globe.
By June, you’ll notice a drop in temperatures at night and the humidity decreases too, making this a perfect month to visit. This is also when school holidays start in North America and Europe, bringing lots of vacationing families to the resorts. The wind tends to pick up in June, creating prime conditions for sailing and kiteboarding, but decreasing the visibility for scuba diving.
Bora Bora’s biggest cultural festival, Heive i Bora Bora takes place in July; expect plenty of carnival-like performances, singing, boat racing and all-round revelry across the island. August tends to be the busiest month and this is when most European visitors head to the island. The trade winds make the heat less intense and long hours of sunshine make for blissful times on the beach.
Things start to quiet down a bit in September as families visiting from the northern hemisphere head home, but this is the height of humpback whale season in Bora Bora, which runs from mid-July to the end of October. Whales with calves gather in the waters surrounding the island; you can’t swim with them here as you can in Mo’orea, but there are plenty of excellent whale-watching tours.
October marks the end of the high season. Towards the end of the month, you’ll notice more humidity and rain but there’s still a lot of sunshine to enjoy. Local school holidays during this month bring island families to the beaches and scuba divers return to the water as it tends to be calm, meaning great visibility.
Come in April and November for diving, mild weather and fair prices
The months of April and November fall between the wet and dry seasons, offering some of the advantages of both. During these months, you’ll see fewer crowds and you can find some generous deals from resorts, but the weather still brings plenty of sunshine.
There will be some rain and humidity, though the rain showers tend to pass quite quickly. April brings the start of the main scuba diving season and the absence of strong winds makes for calm, clear waters – perfect for spotting sharks, manta rays, barracudas and more out in the deep blue.
Excellent underwater visibility also draws divers and snorkelers in November, another popular time for underwater adventures. In late October and early November, the Hawaiki Nui Va’a festival is a wonderfully fun and hectic time to visit, with canoe races around the island and islets; join the locals and cheer on your favorite towards victory!
December to March is the best time to visit on a budget
As Bora Bora’s dry season comes to an end, the days start to get cloudier and there’s an increased chance of rain. The temperatures creep up a little higher and the humidity starts to kick in. This change in the weather ushers in the low season for tourism, but this can be advantageous to travelers who have a limited budget and don’t mind a few clouds in the sky. Cyclones (hurricanes) are rare but they can blow through at this time of year.
During the rainy season, many of the island’s top resorts drop their rates as demand falls. This makes a plush stay at an overwater bungalow resort, such as the luxurious Four Seasons Bora Bora, much more affordable. Another advantage to the low season is the lack of crowds. As most visitors plan their trips to maximize those iconic blue skies, you can end up with an entire beach to yourself when the weather is more unpredictable.
December is the most humid month in Bora Bora but the cloudy skies don’t put a dampener on Christmas. Enthusiastic celebrations happen across the island as locals throw themselves into the holiday spirit; tourists are made to feel very welcome at local events.
Visitor numbers are at their lowest in January. If you decide to snap up an off-season hotel deal, time your trip to coincide with the Taurua Varua festival – one of the most important religious occasions in the islands, celebrated with traditional singing.
February sees less rain than January, though this month has the highest chance of a cyclone. As French Polynesia lies off the main cyclone belt, these are quite rare but the chance is still there (the last major cyclone was in 2010). Humidity remains high, which can be uncomfortable during the day, but it also brings some of the most incredible sunsets you’ll ever see. Again, tourism is slow during this month so prices tend to be lower at resorts.
As March rolls in, the rain decreases further, though you’ll likely experience some showers and high humidity. Tourists are still scarce but locals join competitions to find Bora Bora’s best orero (guardian of spoken history).
