Land And Sea 4x4 Safari, Lunch

MOANA ADVENTURE TOURS pairs a 4WD island circuit with a lagoon snorkel on this 6-hour trip. Prices start at $241 per person and the tour holds 4.5 out of 5 across 84 guest ratings. Check the live booking page for open dates before you commit.

Overview

This Moana Adventure Tours day splits neatly in two: a morning looping Bora Bora by open-sided 4WD, and an afternoon out on the lagoon by boat. Pickup is included from mainland hotels or Vaitape pier, and the whole thing runs about six hours with a guide who speaks English or French. The drive follows a 20-mile circuit around the island, stopping at viewpoints including Matira Point, the Faanui Cannon and Amanahune Bay. The land half mixes scenery with history and craft. You pass relics left by US troops after World War II, see volcanic rock formations from the ancient caldera, watch artisans making coconut oil and tie-dye sarongs at a workshop, and sample tropical fruits at a plantation. Lunch is at Bloody Mary's, the restaurant with tiki torches and palm-trunk seats, from Monday to Saturday. When it is closed, lunch moves to Lucky House Fare Manuia instead.

Afternoon is the water part: a lagoon cruise in search of stingrays and blacktip sharks, then snorkelling around coral gardens among tropical fish. The listing states there is no feeding of sharks and that the coral is protected, and sightings of any particular animal are never guaranteed. It suits travellers who want both island panoramas and reef time in a single day, without organising two separate bookings. One review notes the tour is run by two partner companies, land and sea, with the handover handled smoothly. Bring water shoes, biodegradable sunscreen and comfortable shoes. Luggage and large bags are not allowed on board.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel or pier pickupPickup is included from mainland hotels or Vaitape pier. Guests staying on a Motu islet must arrange their own transfer to the main island, and hotel pickup there applies only to the Eco Shark safari area.
2. 4WD island circuitTravel the mountain roads by open-sided 4WD around a 20-mile circuit, with stops at Matira Point, the Faanui Cannon and Amanahune Bay.
3. Photo stop and guided tourA 30-minute photo stop, visit and guided tour of the island's viewpoints. This stop is marked optional.
4. TransferA 30-minute transfer, as listed in the itinerary.
5. Lunch at Bloody Mary'sLunch at the iconic Bloody Mary's restaurant from Monday to Saturday. When it is closed, lunch takes place at Lucky House Fare Manuia.
6. Lagoon cruise and snorkelBoat out to search for stingrays and blacktip sharks, then snorkel the coral gardens. The tour follows a policy of no feeding of sharks and protecting the coral.
7. Return to Bora BoraThe day ends back at Bora-Bora, with mainland hotel drop-off included.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points from the listing and from traveller reviews, to read before booking.

• Footwear and sun. The listing asks for comfortable shoes, water shoes and biodegradable sunscreen. Both halves of the day are active: an open-sided 4WD circuit on land and time in the lagoon by boat.
• Pace of the day. Six hours covers a lot of ground and water. One reviewer felt the sea portion was a bit hasty on a windy day, while another said there was enough time at each spot, so pace can vary with conditions.
• Group experience. The tour is run by two partner companies, one for land and one for sea, and one reviewer described the transition between them as smooth. Several reviewers praised the guides on both halves of the day.
• Food and lunch. Lunch is included at Bloody Mary's, with a move to Lucky House Fare Manuia during the restaurant's annual January closure. Reviews are mixed on the lunch venue itself: some called it great, one called it the only small downside.
• Wildlife, not guaranteed. Stingrays, blacktip sharks and coral garden fish are the targets, but the listing states plainly that animal sightings cannot be guaranteed. One reviewer missed manta rays; another group did see one.
• Photography. The viewpoint stops are the photo moments of the land circuit, and the lagoon stops add coral gardens and tropical fish. Since luggage and large bags are not allowed, travel light.

Common issues. The main caveats are structural. Guests staying on a Motu islet must pay for their own transfer to the main island, and pickup there only covers hotels in the Eco Shark safari area. Wildlife sightings, including mantas, are not guaranteed, and one reviewer found the sea portion rushed on a windy day. One reviewer found the lunch restaurant underwhelming. The operator can also reverse the order of activities, so the sea half may come before the land half on any given day.

Frequently Asked Questions