Bora Bora: American guns and Tahitian food!
Picture this: after hours of getting to Bora Bora, you see the peaceful turquoise lagoon; palm trees waving in the wind, your feet are in the water at the beach, there’s a giant 9-inch calibre cannon and Tahitian food is being traditionally prepared underground. I bet you didn’t expect to ever read all that in one sentence!
Most people think of Bora Bora as the most beautiful place on earth, thé honeymoon destination, where romance lives, and where the lagoon shows you at least 50 shades of blue. If you think about Bora Bora this way, well, you are right.
The most beautiful lagoon on earth
American guns on Bora Bora
However, many people don’t know about the role Bora Bora had during WW2. During the war the United States needed a strategic military supply base in the South Pacific, and they chose Bora Bora. After getting to Bora Bora they built a power supply, the airport and other very important infrastructure. They also placed 8 naval guns on the hills of Bora Bora to make sure the enemy would never be able set foot ashore.
Bora Bora – hidden WWII History
Don’t you like guns or WW2 history? Don’t worry, this is not just about the cannons; you can imagine the ah-may-zing view you get from these strategic locations on higher grounds!
Bora Bora Food, Tahiti style
A traditional way of cooking on the Tahitian islands like Bora Bora is in an underground oven. In a big hole, dug in the sand. A fire is made in the hole, and volcanic rocks are placed in the fire. When the stones are hot, the food is placed in the underground oven, and the hole is covered with leaves, leaving the food to be cooked for a few hours.
Uncovering traditional Tahitian food
The stones give a special taste to the food, which is never the same when you try this trick above ground, or in a modern oven!
Removing the leaves
Spinach, chicken, bananas and other vegetables
Adding some fresh coconut milk
Beautiful presentation by the cook and our staff
Delicious Tahitian chicken
What do WW2 cannons have in common with cooking underground? You can easily experience both, during the same super exciting excursion!
Polynesian Cultural Island Tour with Traditional Tahitian Feast (on a Private Island!)
First, you make an exciting, must do Cultural Island Tour around the main island of Bora Bora. Our guide will tell you all about the Polynesian history, culture and traditions. During the tour the guide drives up steep mountain roads to visit several magnificent views.
Driving up steep roads around the mountain
One of the viewpoints is also the location of a US Naval Cannon from WW2 to which Vavau Adventures has exclusive visiting rights. Go ahead, have a quick look at the tour page for more details and impressive pictures!
The exclusive cannon is a great photo-op!
Magnificent view of the Pearl Beach Resort Bora Bora
One of our comfortable 4×4 land rovers
After all this invigorating excitement it is time for lunch!
You cross the lagoon by boat to our private little island. There you witness the food coming out of the oven, the Hima’a. The food is served buffet-style on the beach, and with your feet in the water you will enjoy this feast while gazing over the turquoise lagoon!
Bon apetit, or in Tahitian: tama’a maitai!
Romantic lunch with your feet in the lagoon and a fantastic view
Enjoying your lunch with a perfect backdrop of paradise
A friendly stingray comes looking for table scraps!
The Traditional Tahitian Feast is available on Monday and Friday only. Other days of the week you can still enjoy the Polynesian Cultural Island Tour with Lunch, but the lunch will be a super tasty barbecue buffet!
Getting to Bora Bora
Now you know what to do when you get here, maybe you still need to figure out how you will be getting to Bora Bora.
When you come to Bora Bora from outside French Polynesia you always travel via Tahiti, the main island in French Polynesia. There are only a few locations from where you can fly directly to Tahiti, so you will always be travelling via one of these airports. The main ones are:
Auckland (New Zealand)
Hawaii (United States)
Los Angeles (United States)
Tokyo (Japan)
Contact a travel agency (Pacific for Less, Yes Tahiti), or the airlines directly (Air France, Air Tahiti, Air Tahiti Nui) for the best rates.
-Vavau Adventures has no direct relationship with the agencies or airlines.-
See you soon in Bora Bora!