Bora Bora, Taha’a, Raiatea –
truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience

To ensure French Polynesia's spectacular marine environments are protected, long standing local regulations are in place requiring SCUBA diving to be outsourced with a local operator, the costs to be paid by guests directly to the operator.

If you plan to dive, you MUST Pre-Book & Pre-Pay the operator: Please email Bora Diving Center (by Eleuthera) at info@eleutheraboradiving.com in advance of your arrival. Inform them that you are a guest of TradeWinds, give them your boarding date and the number of dives you plan to do. The are 2-3 main dive sites in Bora Bora. On a regular week, 2-tank dives are possible in the mornings on (2) days: Sundays and Tuesdays; single tank dives are in the afternoon. PLEASE NOTE: TradeWinds' guests are typically very happy completing (1) one morning 2-tanks dive, though if you are fanatical diver and want to dive more, that can also be arranged up to 2 mornings 2-tanks dive, so 4 dives total. Your TradeWinds' Captain will finalize the schedule with the dive center after boarding.

Special Discount for TradeWinds' guests: For certified divers, the cost is 9,500 XPF per one-tank dive and 17,500 XPF per two-tank dive. For refresher dives and non-certified introductory dives, the cost is 11,500 XPF. Price includes all dive equipment, a professional local guide, drinks, and snacks while on the dive boat between dives.

Bora Diving Center (by Eleuthera) Cancellation Policy (Tradewinds Special): Cancellation more than 24 hours from dive, 95% refund. For cancellations less than 24 hours from dive, no refund can be made, whatever the reason. In situations such as adverse weather or force majeure, Eleuthera Bora Diving Center reserves the possibility to cancel, with dive fees fully refunded.

For diving before or after your TradeWinds' experience: We recommend buying a "Te Moana Diving Pass" for discounted dive prices with many dive centers in French Polynesia (including Bora Diving Center (by Eleuthera): 

www.temoanadiving.com/ 

These centers offer small group, personalized diving experiences with an emphasis on safety and fun.

Due to new laws and regulations to protect the environment in Bora Bora, the “Coral Garden Drift Snorkel of Tautau island” one of the many coral gardens that we have in Taha’a is now too far from our Catamaran to reach out by tender, so we have now changed our itinerary and your crew will take you to other Coral Gardens Drift Snorkels in Taha’a, those new places are not as crowed and are as beautiful as the Tautaou Coral Garden, we adapted to new regulations and I have to say our guests are loving our new spots, they are closer to the yacht so we can use the tender to drive you there.

For private charters, if you still interested in visiting the Tautau Coral Garden, our team can arrange for a larger speed boat that can drive you there (in about 10 min ride) for an extra cost of 20,000 XPF for the whole boat (today around US$185). Your TradeWinds crew would still come along with you and guide you thru the Coral Garden.

All of our yachts have limited fishing gear onboard - we usually troll a line when sailing from island to island and will often catch yellow fin, wahoo, mahi-mahi or similar ...... which might become lunch or dinner!

Swimming at the "swimming pool", a shallow area where you will swim in infinite turquoise blue water and Bora Bora in the background, the board meeting there is a must to do!

Hiking up the Bloody Mary's antenna, beautiful 30' hike to the top of a small hill where you can enjoy a 360° view of the lagoon and  the remaining Bora Bora caldera.

Visit to a Vanilla Farm, after a walk in the gardens you will be introduced to the art of making Vanilla.

Visit to a Pearl Farm, in amazing scenery you will learn the secrets of Tahitian Pearl culture and marvel at the most beautiful jewellery shop you've ever seen.

The enchanting Islands of Tahiti serve as an emblem of romance and sensuality. Planning a Tahitian Wedding or Vow Renewal Ceremony (which are Non-Legal) presents a stunning opportunity to express and strengthen your love, be it during your honeymoon or in commemoration of an anniversary. They can range from a serene sunset ceremony officiated by a Tahitian priest to an extravagant affair featuring musicians, dancers, and vibrant pageantry. Each ceremony draws inspiration from a cherished Polynesian tradition, mirroring the practices of priests or tohua, complete with captivating costumes, melodious music, rhythmic dance, and the fragrance of blooming flowers.

Ceremonies can be arranged both on Private and Shared TradeWinds experiences - and typically only take 1 hours. The TradeWinds base manager can coordinate with the local priest, as well as the crew can make a nice dessert for after the celebration. Additional details, such as a photographer can also be arranged.

The ceremony typically costs ranges from 50,000 - 60,000 CFP and includes:

• The Tahua (the “priest”)
• Two head crowns and two flower necklaces for the future "bride and groom."
• The Tapa paper (a certificate with a marriage name in Tahitian)
• A palm leaf decoration on the floor lined with lots of flowers.
• 3 dancers with 1 musician

Then if you also wanted a lower necklace for the other guests, it costs 1500 CFP and head crown 2500 CFP.

(Please note that the prices may vary)

Here is sample itinerary of what you may expect while enjoying a sailing vacation with TradeWinds in the Society Islands of French Polynesia. Weather or other outside factors may mean that your Captain sets an alternative course. 

Please note:  As of  January 1st, 2022, boarding and disembarkation for French Polynesia AQUA experiences will take place on Fridays, not on Saturdays as previously was the case.

Due to new laws and regulations to protect the environment in Bora Bora, our catamarans are no longer permitted to drop anchor in the lagoon; there are now dedicated mooring areas and our “off the boat” snorkeling opportunities are slightly more limited. We will, of course, use our tender to drop you off at some of the most beautiful snorkeling sites, and, if you wish to snorkel even more in Bora Bora. please discuss this with your crew and they can arrange a dedicated snorkeling tour with one of the local tour guides.

Boarding is at 5pm on Friday in Marina Apooiti on Raiatea Island. You will be welcomed with Captains’ Cocktails before heading out to anchor north of Motu Miri Miri, on time for watching the sun going down on Bora-Bora! You will then receive your cabin briefing, and once everyone has settled in and become acquainted with our fellow passengers we will all enjoy a delicious three-course dinner, prepared using the freshest local ingredients by your onboard chef.

Wake up to the smell of fresh coffee in paradise and take in your breathtaking surroundings! You’ve made it to the middle of the South Pacific! Breakfast is served, so let’s tantalize our taste buds with exotic seasonal fruits and freshly baked French pastries. Our captain will go through the various safety aspects of the yacht and outline the plan for the week, and then we’ll hoist the sails as we head across the lagoon to Raiatea’s romantic sister island of Taha’a.

Today’s first destination is a family run organic vanilla farm. The process of vanilla cultivation and it's many uses will be described in detail, and there will be an opportunity to purchase heavenly scented vanilla souvenirs. Afterwards we’ll have lunch aboard as we sail the turquoise-blue waters of the lagoon on our way to the “Pearl of the Pacific” – yes, we’re on our way to Bora Bora!

Moored at Toopua as the sun begins to wane, we’ll sip on Captain Cocktails served on the paddle-boards – as our first TradeWinds’s board meeting of the week is convened on Bora Bora! We’ll toast the sunset glowing over the iconic sacred mountains, before tucking into another scrumptious dinner prepared by our own private in-house chef.

After an early breakfast, scuba divers will be collected from the yacht this morning by the local dive center (see details in our “Good to know” section) in the meantime we’ll head for the western barrier reef where guests can snorkel in the shallow water and we will also try to spot Manta Rays in the south of the mooring area.

We’ll sail around the north of Bora-Bora towards an area called the “Hotel side”: home to Four Seasons, St Regis, and Intercontinental - all iconic hotels with signature overwater bungalows which make the claim to fame of this very unique South-Pacific island. We’ll sail past them all to go moor at the southeast corner of Bora Bora, at the “Swimming Pool”. Bora Bora Lagoon is absolutely spectacular! We will spend much time in, under and on the water here, which is said to show 13 shades of blue.

In the afternoon we can go snorkeling again, looking for spotted eagle rays. Our captain will take us there by dinghy, and if we stay calm and quiet sometimes there can be a whole school of them swimming right below us, and a skittish white tip reef shark might even pass by in the deep. We then come back aboard on time for another board meeting (cocktails on the paddle board)! We’ll relax and daydream, watching the infinite turquoise water on the horizon, and on the other side, the sunset painting Bora Bora’s dramatic silhouette with all its flaming colors.

This morning we can use the kayak or paddle-board to go explore the white sand beach on the Motu across the bay; gorgeous beachcombing with the most amazing view of the island across the lagoon.

We will then sail back around the whole island to the famous Bora Bora Yacht Club. After Lunch an optional 4X4 tour is possible, safely circle the entire island in a 4×4 shaded-open truck, a professional and experienced driver/guide will tell you all about the legends and history of Bora Bora. He will also take you to meet local people on their private property and discover their handicrafts. Our Captain can also drop us ashore for a 1.5h hike to the look-out above the Yacht Club, where we will be awed by the different shades of blue in the lagoon. We then have everyone back onboard for Sunset Cocktails, before going ashore for dinner to the famous Bora Bora Yacht Club. Enjoy the daily catch on the grill!

After a lovely healthy breakfast aboard, you can head to the town of Vaitape, where we can enjoy some souvenir shopping; or we may wish to check the internet here and send some photos home to make friends and family extremely jealous!! After a nice lunch, our Captain will set the sails for the afternoon sail back to Taha'a; keep an eye out for dolphins near the passes of Bora-Bora or Taha’a, as this is where they like to relax. In season we have the chance to see humpback whales coming into our waters, so all eyes on deck and look out for rainbow spouts!

Arriving in “The Vanilla Island” our captain will drop anchor just south of Motu Tautau on the west side of Taha'a. Far in the distance Bora Bora is framed between the motus, dotted along the edge of the reef. We can go swimming or just relax, floating behind our beautiful yacht. We love this place because it’s where we are most likely to see the most amazing South-Pacific sunset right over the water, and maybe even the elusive green flash! We’ll enjoy a Sunset Board meeting as usual before savoring another delicious dinner served aboard.

After our Chef's amazing Polynesian breakfast, our crew will bring us ashore in the dinghy for a spectacular snorkel on the western Taha’a reef, where we may see great schools of butterflyfish, lionfish, brightly colored wrasse, clownfish, and giant clams sunbathing in the heart of the corals. Kayaking and paddle-boarding is spectacular in the area, with a great chance to spot stingrays and eagle rays in the shallows.

Another scrumptious lunch aboard enjoyed, we’ll continue our circumnavigation of Taha'a Island and moor in beautiful Motu Ceyran, to finish the day with spectacular views over neighboring Huahine Island. The lush greens of the mountainous hills and varying shades of blue in the lagoon are just incomparable. Afterwards, around sunset, it’s time for yet another “Board Meeting” followed by our last gourmet dinner aboard this week.

Following a delicious breakfast this morning, we’ll set sail to the largest and most impressive bay of Taha’a - Apu Bay on the south side of the island. We’ll go ashore to visit the Champon Pearl Farm, a locally run farm where pearl production and jewellery creations are done as a family concern with great professionalism and taste. They will inform us of the process of pearl farming and will bring us into the workshop where we can witness first-hand all stages of pearl harvesting. We’ll also be given the opportunity to purchase and take home some of our own “pearls of the Pacific.” After lunch aboard we might snorkel along the drop-off, explore the bay on the paddleboards and kayak, or simply go for a leisurely wander ashore.

We will then head back to the Apooiti Marina to spend our last night on the dock. Captains’ Cocktails will be served before we take taxis to go to our last dinner ashore. You will have the choice of a selection of local restaurants, but our Members’ favorite is the “Fish and Blue” Restaurant for a gourmet blend of French and Tahitian cuisine.

 

All too soon it’s departure day. Enjoy one last breakfast aboard in paradise before you depart the marina at 9am. First, though, let’s swap email addresses and photos, and then we send everyone home with fantastic memories and huge anticipation for our next TradeWinds’ sailing vacation.

INCLUDED

A professional Captain and Chef team on a 7-night all-inclusive cruise

All taxes and cruising permits

All meals and beverages served onboard

Well stocked open bar service and wine-list

Water sports activities including snorkel equipment, 2-person kayak, stand up paddle board

EXCLUDED

Travel to and from the embarkation point

Two evening meals when guests dine ashore

Due to government restrictions, scuba diving for certified divers is outsourced at this location. Please see the activities section for more details

Crew gratuities