The Ultimate Guide to Hammock Beaches in Bora Bora

Matira Beach traces Bora Bora’s southern edge like a slow exhale — soft sand, gentle lagoon water, and enough shade under the palms to make you forget your own name. It’s the kind of place where a hammock feels less like an accessory and more like a way of life. For anyone dreaming of stringing up between two coconut trees and watching the lagoon shift color through the afternoon, Bora Bora delivers — but only if you know which stretches of shoreline are worth your time and which are best left to the resort crowd.

Bora Bora’s beaches don’t work like most tropical destinations. The airport sits on its own island, and nearly all resorts occupy private motus — narrow islets ringed by sand — while the main island holds the bulk of public shoreline. That layout means your hammock strategy depends entirely on where you’re staying and how much you’re willing to move around. Here’s how the different beach areas stack up.

Matira Beach — The One Public Beach Worth Your Whole Day

Matira Beach is Bora Bora’s only genuine public beach of any length, and it earns its reputation. The sand runs for about a mile along the southern tip of the main island, with calm, shallow lagoon water that stays swimmable year-round. It’s where you’ll find locals cooling off after work, families with young kids, and travelers who opted out of the resort package.

The Royal Bora Bora, a clean and well-located budget option, sits just a few minutes from Matira Beach, making it the smartest base if you’re planning to spend your days on the sand rather than in an overwater bungalow. From there, you can walk to the beach in sandals, claim a spot under a palm, and have your hammock up before the morning tour boats arrive.

One limitation: Matira Beach faces south, so it catches the afternoon sun head-on. If you’re planning to hang a hammock, arrive early to claim a spot with natural shade, or bring your own shade solution. The beach has no rental equipment, so your hammock straps and a good book are entirely on you.

Resort Motu Beaches — The Private Sand Experience

Most of Bora Bora’s iconic beach photos come from the private motus that house the island’s luxury resorts. Four Seasons Bora Bora, InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa, Conrad Bora Bora Nui Resort, Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts, St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, and the newly opened Westin Bora Bora (September 2024) each occupy their own stretch of motu shoreline. These beaches are groomed daily, the water is impossibly clear, and you’ll find hammocks strung between palm trees as a standard amenity — but you need a room key to use them.

If you’re not staying at one of these resorts, you can’t access their beaches — there’s no public path or day-pass system at most properties. That said, some resorts offer lunch or spa packages that include beach access for the day. It’s worth checking directly with individual properties if you have your heart set on a specific stretch of sand.

Eastern Motus and Lagoon Sandbars — The Remote Beach Experience

The eastern side of Bora Bora’s lagoon is where you’ll find the island’s most dramatic sand — temporary sandbars that appear and disappear with the tide, and motu beaches that see far fewer visitors than the western resort strip. These spots require a boat to reach, which is both a barrier and a gift. The water on this side tends to be clearer and deeper blue, and the views of Mount Otemanu from the lagoon are unmatched.

Most day-trip operators and sightseeing cruises include stops at these eastern sandbars as part of their lagoon tours. If you’re traveling with a group or family, a half-day tour is the easiest way to experience this side of the island without arranging your own boat. For the hammock experience, ask the captain if they stop long enough to set one up — some tours move quickly between spots.

Main Island Coves and Pocket Beaches — For the Explorer

Beyond Matira, the main island of Bora Bora holds a handful of smaller coves and pocket beaches that don’t appear on most tourist maps. These are the spots where you can find true solitude — a short walk from the coastal road, a strip of sand between two rocky outcrops, no one else in sight. The trade-off is that the sand is often coarser, mixed with coral rubble, and the water entry can be rocky. These aren’t the powdery beaches of the resort brochures.

Exploring these coves works best with a scooter or rental car — the main island is small enough to circle in a couple of hours, and you’ll spot potential beach access points along the way. A few of the more accessible pocket beaches are within walking distance of the area around Matira, but most require a short drive and a willingness to bushwhack a few steps through coastal vegetation.

Heading into the eastern side of the main island reframed the day — fewer boats, quieter water, and a sense that you’d found something the guidebooks missed. For families with older kids who enjoy a bit of adventure, these pocket beaches offer a different pace: less perfect, more memorable.

Getting to Bora Bora’s Beaches — The Practical Reality

The distance from your accommodation to the sand is the single biggest factor in how much beach time you’ll actually get. Bora Bora’s layout works against the casual beach-goer: the airport sits on its own islet, all resorts are on separate motus or the main island, and every transfer involves a boat. Here’s what that means for your hammock plans.

To reach Bora Bora from international destinations, you’ll fly into Papeete (PPT) on Tahiti first — Air Tahiti Nui and Air France operate from Los Angeles, while United and Frenchbee fly from San Francisco (Frenchbee is currently paused). From Tahiti, Air Tahiti runs 45-minute flights to Bora Bora with open seating. For the best views of Mount Otemanu and the lagoon, sit on the left side when flying from Tahiti to Bora Bora and on the right side when returning. Air Moana, the newest domestic airline, offers an alternative with assigned seating and competitive pricing.

Before You Go — Bora Bora Beach Planning

How many days do I need for a beach-focused trip?

A minimum of four to five days in Bora Bora is recommended for a beach-centered stay. A full week gives you enough time to split between two resorts or combine a resort with an Airbnb on the main island. For island hopping, plan three to four days per resort.

What’s the best time of year for calm beach conditions?

High season runs from May to October, with August being the driest month. However, August also brings stronger winds and slightly cooler water temperatures, which can affect the eastern side of the lagoon. Shoulder months April and November offer a good balance of decent weather and lighter crowds.

Can I visit resort beaches if I’m not a guest?

Generally, no — most resort beaches are private and restricted to guests. Some properties offer day-use packages through their spa or restaurant, but these aren’t guaranteed and depend on occupancy. Your best bet for guaranteed beach access without a resort booking is Matira Beach.

Is Bora Bora expensive for a beach holiday?

French Polynesia ranks among the highest-cost destinations worldwide. Accommodation ranges from luxury overwater bungalows at the Four Seasons or St. Regis to budget hotels like Royal Bora Bora near Matira Beach. Plan your budget around accommodation first — it will be your biggest expense by a wide margin.

What should I bring for a hammock beach day?

Bring your own hammock with straps that work on palm trunks — most Bora Bora beaches don’t have rental equipment. Water, snacks, reef-safe sunscreen, and water shoes are essential, especially for the pocket beaches and eastern motus where no services exist. Tap water is drinkable in Bora Bora, so you can refill bottles.

One Beach at a Time

Bora Bora’s beaches don’t line up along a single shore the way they do in other tropical destinations — they’re scattered across motus, sandbars, and coves that each demand their own approach. That fragmented layout is exactly what makes the island worth the effort. You don’t stumble onto a perfect hammock spot here; you earn it, and the quiet that follows feels different because of it. For more on planning your trip, check out our guide to Bora Bora’s secret beaches and private islands.

References

Jyo Shankar. “The Ultimate Travel Guide to Bora Bora.” Jyo Shankar Blog, 2026.
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Lonely Planet. “Bora Bora’s 8 Best Beaches.” Lonely Planet.
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For more Bora Bora inspiration, browse our guides to capturing the island through photography, family-friendly activities in Bora Bora, and experiencing the island on a budget. You might also enjoy our deep dive into chasing golden hour across Bora Bora.