Bora Bora Cultural Lagoon Tour: Sharks, stingrays and canoe
Swim with sharks and stingrays in the shallows, then learn to paddle a Polynesian canoe
A full-day shared tour of Bora Bora's lagoon from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a live guide in English or French. You'll wade into shallow water to see black tip sharks and stingrays, explore a coral garden, try paddling a traditional Polynesian canoe, and take part in cultural activities about local plants and trees. A local meal and drinks are included.
What’s included
- Soda and bottled water.
- alcoholic beverages.
- a local meal.
- Polynesian canoe initiation.
- cultural activities focused on local plants and medicinal uses.
- a live guide in English or French.
Times
- Every day 09:00
Before you book
Operated by Bora Bora cultural lagoon tours
Prices and times updated 9 days ago
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The experience
The tour departs in the morning and moves through the lagoon's main stops: the stingray shallows first, then the channel where black tip sharks patrol, followed by the coral garden. Each stop lasts around 15 minutes, giving you time to enter the water and get close to the marine life without a long commitment at any single site. The guide narrates what you're seeing and handles the boat, so you focus on the moment.
Between water stops, you'll board a traditional Polynesian canoe and get a hands-on lesson in paddling it, not a demonstration, but time actually holding a paddle and moving the boat yourself. The cultural component covers medicinal and food plants that grow on the islands. The guide points them out and explains their uses. A local meal breaks up the afternoon, and sodas, water and alcoholic beverages are provided throughout the day.
The tour runs as a shared group, so you'll travel with other visitors rather than as a private party. The pace is relaxed. You're not hiking or covering ground on foot, but you will be getting in and out of the water multiple times and spending hours on a boat. The guide speaks English and French, so language is not a barrier.
Is this one for you?The tour spends several hours on a boat and involves multiple entries into shallow water, so it suits travelers comfortable with water time and boat motion. If you're visiting Bora Bora for the first time or have a free afternoon, the 9 a.m. start and 3 p.m. finish fit a partial day without eating into evening plans.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and French.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2): free.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What happens when you swim with the sharks and stingrays in Bora Bora?
Black tip sharks and stingrays inhabit the shallow lagoon waters around Bora Bora, and on this tour you wade into those shallows to see them in their natural habitat. The water is only a few feet deep, and the animals are accustomed to visitors. The guide stays with the group and explains their behavior.
Is the Polynesian canoe part a real paddling lesson or just a photo stop?
The canoe initiation is a hands-on activity where you actually paddle the traditional boat yourself, not a stationary display. You'll learn the basic strokes and move the canoe across the water as part of the tour.
How much of the day is spent in the water versus on the boat?
The three water stops (stingrays, sharks and coral garden) each last around 15 minutes, so roughly 45 minutes total is spent wading or snorkeling. The rest of the six-hour tour is spent on the boat traveling between sites, paddling the canoe, eating the local meal and learning about the plants and culture.
What is included in the local meal?
The tour includes a local meal prepared in the Polynesian style, along with sodas, bottled water and alcoholic beverages throughout the day. The specific menu varies, but it reflects traditional island cooking.
Bora Bora Cultural Lagoon Tour: Sharks, stingrays and canoe
15m · EN · FR
from US$ 278 per person
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