Beach

Matira Beach

Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Rating
★★★★★

Location

Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Verdict

"The only public beach on the main island of Bora Bora, offering a mile of blindingly white sand, shallow, warm lagoon water, and unparalleled sunset views."

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The Beach

Matira Beach is the crown jewel of Bora Bora, an island in French Polynesia that is globally synonymous with ultra-luxury tourism and overwater bungalows. While the vast majority of the famous resorts are located on the motus (the small sandy islets that form the outer ring of the coral reef), Matira Beach holds a special distinction: it is located on the southern tip of the main island and is the only significant, publicly accessible stretch of sand in Bora Bora.

Spanning roughly one mile (1.6 kilometers), the beach is a sweeping crescent of incredibly soft, blindingly white sand that gently slopes into the island’s legendary, multi-hued blue lagoon. The water here is phenomenally clear, calm, and shallow. At low tide, visitors can wade hundreds of yards out into the lagoon before the water reaches waist height. This makes Matira Beach an exceptionally safe, relaxing environment, free from the strong currents or breaking waves of the open ocean.

Because it is a public beach, Matira offers a more authentic, relaxed Polynesian atmosphere compared to the highly manicured, exclusive enclaves of the motu resorts. It is fringed by swaying coconut palms and lush green hills, and dotted with small local cafes, snack shacks (roulottes), and a few boutique hotels. Facing west and south, it is also the premier location on the main island for watching the sun set over the lagoon and the distant silhouette of the neighboring island of Maupiti.

The Geography of Bora Bora

To understand the appeal of Matira Beach, one must understand the unique geography of Bora Bora. The island is essentially a sunken volcano. The main island, dominated by the jagged, dramatic peaks of Mount Otemanu and Mount Pahia, sits in the center. Surrounding the main island is a massive, incredibly vibrant turquoise lagoon, which is in turn enclosed by a barrier reef and a string of narrow, sandy motus.

The ultra-luxury resorts (like the St. Regis, Four Seasons, and Conrad) are built on these outer motus. Guests there look inward across the lagoon at the mountains. Conversely, Matira Beach is located on the main island itself. Visitors here look outward across the lagoon toward the reef and the open ocean. This central location makes Matira the most accessible beach for anyone staying in a guesthouse, vacation rental, or smaller hotel on the main island, as well as a popular day-trip destination for guests taking a boat from the motu resorts.

Transport and Access

Traveling to Bora Bora is a significant journey, typically involving multiple flights and a boat transfer, adding to its exclusive allure.

1. Arriving in French Polynesia

All international flights to French Polynesia land at Faa’a International Airport (PPT) on the main island of Tahiti.

  • Direct flights are available from major hubs including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Honolulu, Auckland, Tokyo, and Paris.

2. The Flight to Bora Bora

From Tahiti, you must take a domestic flight on Air Tahiti or Air Moana to Bora Bora Airport (BOB), also known as Motu Mute Airport.

  • The flight takes roughly 50 minutes and offers spectacular aerial views of the islands. The airport itself is unique: it was built by the US military during WWII and is located on a motu (an islet on the reef), meaning there are no roads connecting it to the main island.

3. From the Airport to Matira Beach

Because the airport is on an islet, the final leg of your journey is always by boat.

  • The Free Ferry: Air Tahiti operates a free, large catamaran ferry that transports passengers from the airport motu to Vaitape, the main village on Bora Bora’s main island. The scenic ride takes about 20 minutes.
  • Taxi to Matira: From the Vaitape dock, Matira Beach is about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south. You can easily catch a local taxi (which can be relatively expensive) or take Le Truck (the local public transport, though its schedule is notoriously unreliable). The drive takes about 15 minutes along the coastal road.
  • Resort Transfers: If you are staying at a hotel near Matira (like the InterContinental Le Moana or Hotel Matira), they will often arrange a private boat transfer directly from the airport to their dock, or a land transfer from Vaitape.

The Best Season

Bora Bora enjoys a tropical climate year-round, but the seasons are distinct, affecting both weather and pricing.

  • The Dry Season (May to October): This is the high season and the best time to visit Matira Beach. The weather is spectacular—sunny, with lower humidity and cooling trade winds. Temperatures average around 82°F (28°C). The lagoon is incredibly clear, making it perfect for snorkeling and diving. However, this is also the busiest and most expensive time of year, particularly during July and August.
  • The Wet / Humid Season (November to April): This is the low season (with a brief spike around the December holidays). The temperature and humidity rise significantly, and you will experience frequent, heavy tropical downpours, though they are often short-lived and followed by sunshine. The winds can be stronger, making the lagoon slightly choppy. The major advantage is that prices for flights and accommodations are significantly lower, and the beach is much quieter.

Where to Stay

Matira Beach is the primary hub for accommodation on the main island, offering a mix of luxury and relative affordability.

  • Resorts on Matira Beach: There are several excellent resorts located directly on or adjacent to the beach. The InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana Resort offers a classic Polynesian luxury experience with overwater bungalows stretching out into the lagoon from the southern tip of Matira Point. The Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora is another popular option, offering a mix of beach bungalows and more affordable garden rooms just across the road.
  • Boutique Hotels and Pensions: The road behind Matira Beach is lined with smaller, family-run pensions (guesthouses) and boutique hotels (like Hotel Matira). These offer a much more authentic, intimate, and affordable way to experience Bora Bora, with direct access to the public beach without the massive resort price tag.
  • Vacation Rentals: There are numerous Airbnb and vacation rental properties scattered in the hills behind Matira or along the coast road, perfect for longer stays or families wanting a kitchen.
  • The Motu Resorts (For Day Trippers): If you choose to stay at an ultra-luxury resort on an outer motu (like the Four Seasons or St. Regis), you will need to take your resort’s shuttle boat (which usually requires a fee) to Vaitape and then a taxi to visit Matira Beach for the day.

On the Beach and Beyond

While lounging in the incredibly warm, shallow water is the main attraction, Matira Beach is a great starting point for exploring the lagoon.

Snorkeling and Lagoon Tours

While the water directly off the sandy beach is shallow and mostly featureless (great for swimming, not snorkeling), the deeper coral gardens are just a short distance away. You can book outrigger boat tours or rent kayaks/paddleboards right off the beach. The most popular excursion in Bora Bora is a lagoon tour that includes swimming with harmless blacktip reef sharks and friendly southern stingrays in the clear, shallow waters near the reef.

Dining at Roulottes and Beach Cafes

Matira offers a significantly different dining experience than the isolated motu resorts. Along the beach road, you will find excellent, casual beach cafes (like the famous Snack Matira) serving fresh poisson cru (Tahitian raw fish marinated in lime juice and coconut milk), burgers, and cold Hinano beer. In the evenings, food trucks (roulottes) often set up nearby, offering inexpensive, delicious local and French-influenced street food.

Watching the Sunset

Because Matira Beach curves around the southern point of the island, it faces west and south. This makes it the absolute best location on the main island to watch the sunset. Gathering on the white sand with a drink as the sky turns brilliant shades of pink and orange over the lagoon is a daily ritual for locals and tourists alike.

Practical Questions

Is Matira Beach crowded? Compared to the private beaches of the luxury resorts, Matira is busier because it is open to the public, locals, and cruise ship passengers. However, compared to famous beaches in Hawaii or the Mediterranean, it is still remarkably uncrowded and peaceful, especially outside of the peak July/August season.

Are there facilities on the beach? Facilities are limited but adequate. There are a few public restrooms and outdoor showers scattered along the beach, particularly near the main access points. You can easily walk to the nearby cafes and snack shacks for food and drinks. There are no massive rows of rental sunbeds or aggressive vendors.

Can I walk around the whole island? Bora Bora’s main island is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) in circumference. While you can walk the flat coastal road, it is very long and hot. The best way to explore beyond Matira Beach is to rent a bicycle, a scooter, or a small open-air buggy (often called a “fun car”) from one of the rental shops near the beach or in Vaitape.

Are there dangerous animals in the water? The lagoon is extremely safe. The reef protects the beach from large ocean swells and dangerous currents. While there are reef sharks and stingrays in the lagoon (which are the main attraction of the snorkeling tours), they are accustomed to humans and are generally harmless unless provoked. There are no crocodiles or highly venomous jellyfish in these waters.