Beach· Bora Bora· French Polynesia — Society Islands
Motu Tapu (private island, view from the water)
16° 30.3′ S · 151° 46.6′ W
The tiny palm-topped islet just inside Teavanui Pass that Queen Pōmare IV once used as her private beach; bora-bora-insider calls it the most photographed isle in the South Pacific. Sailors see it on the way in through the pass and from the Toopua mooring field.
Practical
Coordinate from Wikipedia (16°30'16.8"S 151°46'36.1"W). Wikipedia describes Motu Tapu as a private island (about 0.026 km²). Air Tahiti Nui and bora-bora-insider both say Matira is Bora Bora's only public beach, and that motu beaches belong to hotels, private owners or guesthouses. Do not plan to land without the owner's permission. Admire it from the dinghy, or snorkel the Coral Garden and the stingray sandbank south-west of it (separate entries). It sits beside the lit channel from the pass, so keep the dinghy out of the boat traffic. Shallow reef flat with coral heads on the seaward side.
Best for
Photo stop on the way through Teavanui Pass
Nearby
- Toopua Lemon Shark & Stingray Snorkel0.3 NM away
- Tapu Shark Dive Site0.5 NM away
- Teavanui Pass Dive Site0.6 NM away
- Motu Toopua BBMS Mooring Zone (Bora Bora)0.7 NM away
- Sunken Sailboat Snorkel (Toopua channel)0.7 NM away
- Bora Bora Yacht Zones 20–90 m (Faanui, Hitiaa, Toopua, Vaitape, Bloody Mary's)1 NM away
- MaiKai Marina Bora Bora1.2 NM away
- North Vaitape Eats (Le Gecko, Chez Pam et Seb, Bonjour Café)1.2 NM away