Vavau Full Day BBQ Lunch

Vavau Adventures runs this 7-hour circle-island day with snorkel stops and a BBQ lunch. From $158 per person, rated 4.9 across 170 reviews.

Overview

Vavau Adventures runs this full-day lagoon trip as a loop around Bora Bora by boat, with snorkel stops built in along the way. The captain supplies masks and snorkels, and the first swim usually happens in waist-deep water, where rays glide past at close range. Blacktip reef sharks, described as tame cousins of the rays, glide past at the same kind of close range. Later the boat reaches a coral garden, where the reef and its fish sit just below the surface, visible even from the deck for anyone who prefers to stay dry.

The middle of the day is spent on a motu islet, where the operator's family prepares a grilled lunch of steak, chicken, salads, fruits, beverages and fish, served at tables set with feet in the lagoon. Reviewers of this exact tour regularly name the marine life as the high point, listing manta rays, eagle rays, stingrays, leopard rays, sharks and the coral garden in a single day. Several also single out the crew, who sing, joke, explain things in French and English, and close the day with a coconut-opening demonstration.

The tour lasts 7 hours, runs in English, and includes hotel pickup as detailed at booking, plus bottled water and a beach towel. The day covers a full circuit of the lagoon by boat, with snorkelling, wildlife encounters and a long lunch stop on a motu.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickupPickup from Bora-Bora, as detailed at booking.
2. Transfer by carA car transfer of 20 minutes to the departure point.
3. Circle island boat cruiseRoughly 3 hours of boat cruise, guided tour, snorkeling and scenic views around Bora Bora, including the ray and shark encounters.
4. Motu lunch breakOne hour on a motu islet for a BBQ lunch with salad bar, a break and time to explore on your own.
5. Guided lagoon sightseeingA further hour of guided tour and scenic views on the water, including the coral garden snorkel.
6. Return transferA 20 minute car transfer back, ending at Bora-Bora.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points help set expectations before booking this trip.

• What to bring. Bring a camera, since the boat circuit alone offers views reviewers call worth the trip.
• Swimming and pace. The ray encounter happens in waist-deep water, while the coral garden is a proper snorkel. The listing notes that marine life below is visible from the boat for anyone who prefers to stay in it.
• Gear provided. Mask and snorkel come from the captain, and a beach towel is included, so there is no need to pack your own. Bottled water is also supplied on board.
• Food and drink. A BBQ lunch with salad bar is included, served at a table in the lagoon. Several travellers describe the buffet as generous and tasty, and one mentions a coconut demonstration after the meal.
• Group atmosphere. The crew runs a lively boat. Multiple reviews mention singing on board, explanations given in both French and English, and guides who keep everyone laughing. One reviewer also notes a friendly dog on the motu.
• Weather and timing. Sea conditions shape the day. Some reviewers had the full programme despite poor weather, while others had stops shortened when the water turned choppy.

Common issues. The main complaints are weather-related: one reviewer felt the activity was cut short for choppy water that seemed fine to them, and the summarized feedback notes some travellers wanted clearer communication about timing or itinerary changes and better decisions around weather. No extra fees are listed as excluded, but travellers should confirm pickup details at booking since the included pickup is described as detailed there.

Frequently Asked Questions