Best time to go to Bora Bora for a perfect weather and where to go?
Julie Parment and Tony Samson last update: 16/04/2024When is the best time to go to Bora Bora?
The best time to visit Bora Bora, also known as "the Pearl of the Pacific," is from April to October, during the austral winter. Indeed, French Polynesia is located south of the equator, so the seasons are reversed compared to Europe.
This time of the year has winter in name only, as the average temperature is around 27°C (81°F) and the sun is generally shining. However, even though temperatures drop only slightly at night, a feeling of freshness may be present due to the slightly humid atmosphere. It is advisable to bring a sweater for the morning and evening.
June is a pleasant month to visit Bora Bora. Rainy days become rare, and most importantly, the cultural life restarts with the preparation of the Heiva, the largest festival of Polynesian dances, which takes place in July in Tahiti. Throughout the island, various associations are getting ready, leading to impromptu outdoor performances. A golden opportunity to learn more about local traditions and chat with the locals after rehearsals!
In July, it is the peak tourist season in Bora Bora. In French Polynesia as in France, it is the school holidays, and lovers of paradise vacations flock there to enjoy its sheltered lagoon and end-of-the-world atmosphere. It is not surprising that it is the most expensive month, whether for accommodation or plane tickets.
Thanks to its remarkably preserved nature, Bora Bora is also a passage for humpback whales. To go on an excursion and observe them in their natural environment, the ideal time is to go in September or October. These two months also form an ideal period to discover the Society Islands: the tourist season is coming to an end, the island becomes peaceful again, and the austral winter still offers exceptional weather conditions, allowing for many activities such as diving or hiking.
When to visit Bora Bora for the rest of the year? From November to March, the risk of rain is much higher, but a stay is entirely possible. Showers mainly occur in the late afternoon and, although they can be abundant, they are rarely very long. It is necessary to compromise between lush nature and unexpected downpours.
To save money, March is a good option, as it is the cheapest month of the year to fly to Bora Bora. The low tourist season is in March, April, November, and December. These periods can be financially interesting, as hotels and guesthouses often offer promotions on room rates. This could be the opportunity to fulfill a dream by booking an overwater bungalow directly overlooking the turquoise lagoon and its wonders.
Annual weather in Bora Bora
For information about the climate and the weather city by city in Bora Bora for a specific month, click on the corresponding line below:
| Month | Our opinion | View Details | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 85°F | tolerable weather | |||
| February | 85°F | tolerable weather | |||
| March | 85°F | tolerable weather | |||
| April | 85°F | good weather | |||
| May | 83°F | good weather | |||
| June | 83°F | good weather | |||
| July | 81°F | good weather | |||
| August | 81°F | good weather | |||
| September | 81°F | good weather | |||
| October | 81°F | good weather | |||
| November | 83°F | tolerable weather | |||
| December | 83°F | tolerable weather |
Best time to travel to Bora Bora by cities
Climate and Weather in Bora Bora
With its dreamy name, Bora Bora is one of the Leeward Islands of the Society Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 255 km west-northwest of Papeete, the capital. To get there, you will need to take a domestic flight from Tahiti, or reach it by boat if you have the time.
Bora Bora has a equatorial climate, with abundant rainfall and a constant temperature throughout the year. Due to its geographical position in an intertropical zone, the island benefits from a certain climatic unity, even though two seasons can be distinguished: the wet season and the dry season. On average throughout the year, the sun shines for 8 hours a day and the temperature range is low.
It is worth noting that, as in all tropical areas, and especially with climate change, there is a tendency for some weather disruption in Bora Bora: heavy rain can occur during the dry season and one can experience dry and sunny weather for several days during the rainy season.
The dry season in Bora Bora
Also known as the "cool season" by locals, the austral winter extends from early April to the end of October. Undoubtedly, this is the best time to discover the splendors of the island of Bora Bora. There are many beautiful sunny and warm days, despite some cloud cover and scattered rains. Indeed, the island is mountainous (Mount Otemanu peaks at 727m), and clouds often cling to the peaks.
Day and night, the average temperatures range between 26 and 29°C (85°F) , with April being the hottest month. It is in July and August that it is coolest, as the trade winds blow from the southeast. As for the lagoon water, it is the same temperature as the air, making it ideal for enjoying the beach to the fullest, as well as for diving or snorkeling. On land, it is the perfect season for hiking: the weather is nice and the atmosphere is much less humid and stifling than during the austral summer.
The rainy season in Bora Bora
A wetter period occurs during the austral summer, between November and late March. The season starts slowly: showers become more frequent, reaching a peak in December and January, which have an average of 17 rainy days per month. However, as the showers are intermittent, it is possible to enjoy clear skies to sunbathe on the beach or go out on the lagoon.
Due to the influence of the east and northeast trade winds, this period is also characterized by slightly higher temperatures: it averages 29°C (85°F) during the day, slightly cooler at night. With the air being laden with humidity, the sensation of heat is much more unpleasant than the rest of the year.
Between December and April, the risk of cyclones cannot be ruled out. Nevertheless, the phenomenon remains very rare. Most often, Bora Bora is affected by tropical depressions of varying intensity.
Temperatures and rainfall in Bora Bora
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Bora Bora and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Vaitape, Faanui and Nūnu'e, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Bora Bora
Find out when Bora Bora has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in Bora Bora
The months with low numbers of tourists are: February, March, April, June, November and December. The number of visitors to Bora Bora is high in: January, May, July, August, September and October.
- Very low season in Bora Bora: March, November and December.
- Low season in Bora Bora: February, April and June.
- High season in Bora Bora: July, August, September and October.
- Peak season in Bora Bora: January and May.
Figure: Visitor index for Bora Bora month by month
Where to go in Bora Bora?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Vaitape | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F | 83°F | 81°F | 81°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F |
| Faanui | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F | 83°F | 81°F | 81°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F |
| Nūnu'e | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F | 83°F | 81°F | 81°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F |
Legend:
good weather
tolerable weather
About Bora Bora
What can I do in Bora Bora?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Bora Bora reliable?
Climate data for Bora Bora has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Bora Bora allows us to determine the average for each month in Vaitape, Faanui and Nūnu'e.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.