Coral Gardens Bora Bora: Snorkel, manta rays & motu lunch

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.86 (174 reviews) 91% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/29

Duration7h

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesEN · FR

PickupAt your hotel

Can you really swim with manta rays in Bora Bora's lagoon?

You board a boat in the morning, snorkel the Coral Gardens and encounter manta rays and stingrays in controlled, safe conditions with a trained guide. Lunch is grilled fish, raw fish in coconut milk, and local sides on Motu Fanfan's beach. All snorkel equipment, the guide, bottled water, and the traditional meal are included; the boat handles transport between the three main stops, and you're back by afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bora Bora lagoon snorkeling and lunch

Snorkel at Coral Garden
Swim with manta rays
Enjoy lunch on Motu Fanfan
Snorkel with sharks and stingrays

The Experience

You're on a boat in Bora Bora's lagoon, and the water is so clear you can see the bottom twenty feet down. Then the guide points and says the manta rays are coming. That's the shift — from looking at fish to watching something with a twenty-foot wingspan glide past your mask like it owns the water. The Manu Lagoon excursion takes you to the Coral Gardens first, where the reef is packed with color and movement, and then to the shallower spots where the stingrays and blacktip sharks come through. The crew knows where to go and when, which matters because the rays are most active early, and the timing is built into the day.

Lunch happens on Motu Fanfan, a small island with a white sand beach and turquoise water so close you could touch it from your chair. The food is straightforward — grilled fish and chicken, raw fish in coconut milk, rice, taro, banana poe, coconut bread, and fresh fruit. There's a shelter if the sun gets too much, and restrooms on the beach. You're eating traditional Polynesian food in the place it comes from, not in a resort restaurant. The crew handles everything: the boat, the snorkel gear, the guide who knows the marine life and can tell you what you're looking at. Bottled water is included, though drinks like Hinano beer and mango juice are on sale if you want them.

The day moves between three main stops — the coral gardens, the shark and ray zone, and the motu for lunch — so you're not sitting in one spot. The boat does the traveling, and the guide does the explaining. You need moderate fitness because you're getting in and out of the water a few times, and the boat ride itself is steady but not rough. If you have spinal injuries, cardiovascular issues, or you're pregnant, this one isn't the fit. Infants can sit on a parent's lap, and the crew will help you with the snorkel gear if you're new to it.

What’s included

Your day includes use of snorkeling equipment (mask, fins, snorkel), a professional guide who leads you through the Coral Gardens and shark and ray zones, bottled water throughout the day, and lunch on Motu Fanfan with grilled fish and chicken, raw fish in coconut milk, rice, taro, manioc, banana poe, coconut bread, fresh fruit, juice, and water. Drinks such as Hinano beer, Coca-Cola, coffee, and mango juice are available for purchase on the island.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by BORA BORA MANU LAGOON EXCURSION

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to snorkel Bora Bora's lagoon and encounter marine life without arranging your own boat or gear — the guide and equipment are included, and the fixed itinerary moves you between three main stops. Plan for a full day on the water with moderate activity getting in and out of the boat; that pace is what lets you cover the Coral Gardens, the rays, and lunch on the motu in one trip.