LUXURY PRIVATE Catamaran Bora Bora : Full-Day Trip

Bora Bora is at its finest from the deck of a private catamaran, where you can sail past Mount Otemanu, stretch out on the netting, and stop for a swim when the water looks too good to resist. The crew can shape the day around your group, from active snorkeling to a quiet sail with music and a drink in hand.

I especially like the private format, which keeps the boat limited to your own party of up to nine. I also like the thoughtful extras: hotel pickup, snacks, bottled water, alcoholic drinks, sunbeds, and a hostess who can take photos while sharing information about Bora Bora.

The main drawback is the price if you are traveling as a couple. At $2,917.48 per group, the value improves sharply with a larger party, but lunch at a restaurant is not included and the six-hour outing may feel short once you settle into the rhythm.

Key details before you book

• A true private charter: Only your group participates, with room for up to nine people.
• Six hours on Bora Bora’s lagoon: The day begins at 9:00 am and includes sailing, swimming, snorkeling, and time to relax.
• Hotel transfers included: Pickup and drop-off are part of the package, which makes the morning easier.
• Food and drink are covered, except lunch: Snacks, bottled water, soft drinks, and alcohol are provided, but a restaurant meal costs extra.
• The crew shapes the mood: You can spend more time in the water or stay on deck with music and refreshments.
• Strong service record: The captain and crew receive repeated praise, including Thelma, Nick, Alex, Clement, and Perla.

Setting sail from Bora Bora’s lagoon

The special part of this outing is not simply reaching a snorkeling site. It is the feeling of having a boat, crew, and schedule devoted to your group.

At the start, you settle onto the catamaran’s sunbeds and forward nets. When the captain hoists the sails and switches off the engine, the day changes pace. The boat glides across the lagoon rather than rushing from stop to stop, giving you time to watch Bora Bora from the water.

Music plays through the boat’s sound system, and the crew keeps drinks and snacks available. You can sit back with a bottled water or an alcoholic drink, or move toward the nets to watch the water below. Sting rays and eagle rays may appear beneath the catamaran, which gives the sailing portion a little wildlife interest even before you reach a swimming stop.

I like this balance. Many boat outings push you through a fixed list of stops. Here, the private setup gives you more control over how active the day feels. You are not required to snorkel every time the boat anchors, and you are not stuck in a group schedule if your party would rather linger on deck.

Mount Otemanu views from the water

Bora Bora looks different from the lagoon than it does from a hotel beach or road. The water gives you broad views of Mount Otemanu and the island’s tropical scenery, while the boat provides a moving viewpoint instead of one fixed photo stop.

The hostess can take pictures of you during the trip, which is useful if everyone in your group wants to appear in the vacation photos. She also shares information about Bora Bora as you sail, so the day is not just a ride with scenery passing by.

The catamaran gets close to the reef where the lagoon meets the ocean. That change in setting gives the route some variety. You see the calm interior waters, then move toward the stronger visual edge where reef and open sea meet. The exact order and amount of time at each place can be shaped around your group, but the core experience is a mixture of sailing, views, and water stops.

If your main goal is nonstop swimming, this may feel slower than a dedicated snorkeling trip. If you want the scenery and the boat ride to matter just as much as the water, the pace works better.

Swimming in a sheltered bay

A major stop is a striking bay chosen for swimming and refreshments. The appeal is simple: you have time to get into the water, cool off, and return to the boat for a drink or snack without having to hurry through a large shared group.

The water also provides a good chance to spot sting rays and eagle rays. Some may be visible from the catamaran nets, so you do not need to spend every minute snorkeling to enjoy the marine life. When you do enter the water, you can use the stop as an active break between periods of sailing.

This flexible approach suits mixed groups. Children or less confident swimmers can stay aboard while stronger swimmers snorkel. Couples can spend more time floating and taking pictures. A group of friends can turn the stop into the liveliest part of the day, then return to the deck for music and refreshments.

The description does not promise a particular species count, water condition, or guaranteed animal sighting. It is best to treat the rays as a likely possibility rather than the sole reason to book.

Snorkeling without giving up the boat time

The snorkeling is part of a broader private sailing day, not the whole product. That distinction matters when you compare this charter with a lower-priced shared snorkeling excursion.

You get time in the water, but you also pay for the boat itself, the crew, the private schedule, the transfers, and the relaxed hours between stops. The catamaran nets add another way to see into the lagoon while you are still sailing. They are especially useful for anyone who wants some marine viewing but would rather not spend the full day swimming.

The crew can help the day fit your party’s interests. Your captain may be Thelma, Nick, Alex, Clement, or another member of the Sailing Bora Bora team. Thelma is specifically praised for handling a family group of eight, while Nick and Alex are remembered for creating a day that felt too short because the group was enjoying it so much. Clement and Perla are also singled out for their work together.

Those names matter because a private charter depends heavily on the people running it. You are not buying only a boat and a route. You are buying a six-hour interaction with a captain and crew who set the pace, explain the area, help with the water stops, and keep refreshments moving.

What the private format is worth

The listed cost is $2,917.48 for the group, with up to nine people aboard. For nine people, that works out to roughly $324 per person. For four people, it is about $729 each, and for two, about $1,459 each.

That calculation tells you who gets the best value. A large family, two couples traveling together, or a group of friends can spread the cost across several people and make the private boat feel quite reasonable for Bora Bora. A couple will need to place a high value on privacy and flexibility to justify the price.

The package includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional guide, bottled water, other beverages, snacks, and alcohol. Those inclusions reduce the small extra costs and planning chores that can add up on a full-day outing. You also avoid sharing the boat with strangers, which can be worth a great deal on a special occasion.

Lunch is the important extra cost. The outing may stop at a restaurant, but that meal is not included in the price. If you are budgeting closely, set aside money for lunch rather than assuming the onboard snacks replace a full meal.

The activity is booked an average of 109 days in advance. That suggests you should not leave it until the last moment if the private boat is central to your Bora Bora plans. Confirmation arrives within 48 hours of booking and depends on availability.

A six-hour day and its limits

The listed start time is 9:00 am, and the total duration is about six hours. That gives you a useful half-day-plus on the water while leaving part of the day for another activity or a quiet afternoon at your hotel.

Still, six hours passes quickly when you include the transfer, sailing, swimming, snorkeling, photos, refreshments, and any restaurant stop. One group specifically wished the day had lasted longer, which is easy to understand. Once you have settled into the boat, the final return can arrive sooner than you expect.

The schedule is a good fit if you want one substantial water outing without giving up the entire day. If you want a long, slow day with several extended snorkeling periods, check your expectations before booking. The private format gives you flexibility, but it does not turn six hours into a full sunrise-to-sunset charter.

Families, couples, and groups of friends

This outing has a wide audience, but the reasons to choose it differ by group.

For families, the private boat avoids the pressure of keeping up with strangers. A family of eight has already fit comfortably into the experience, including grandparents, parents, and children. The mix of sunbeds, nets, swimming, rays, snacks, and boat views gives different ages something to do.

For couples, the private setting is attractive, but the cost is harder to spread out. Couples who want privacy, photographs, sailing, and drinks may find it worthwhile, especially for a major celebration. Couples focused mainly on snorkeling should compare the price with a smaller shared water trip.

For friends, this is perhaps the strongest match. Nine people can share the cost, choose a relaxed or active mood, enjoy music together, and spend the day without negotiating with another party. Kiki’s rum punch has earned a particularly strong reputation among returning customers, so ask about it if it is available as part of the onboard drinks.

Most people can participate, but the supplied details do not give specific information about mobility equipment, step-free access, or swimming support. If anyone in your group has access needs, confirm those points with Sailing Bora Bora before paying.

Practical planning for the morning

The start time is 9:00 am, and hotel pickup and drop-off are included. Have your group ready on time so you do not cut into the six hours on the water.

Wear or bring what you need for both a boat ride and swimming. The catamaran has sunbeds and nets, but the supplied details do not specify towels, changing areas, or sun protection. You should confirm those items directly rather than assuming they are included.

The onboard snacks and drinks are useful, but they are not a substitute for planning around lunch. Since the restaurant meal costs extra, ask how the lunch stop fits into the schedule and what payment arrangements apply.

The activity is a private tour, so only your own party participates. That makes it easier to discuss preferences at the start: who wants snorkeling, who prefers time on deck, how much music suits the group, and how long you would like to stay at a swimming stop.

Service that shapes the day

The strongest part of the experience is the crew’s role in making a private charter feel personal. The names attached to the trip include captains and crew members such as Thelma, Nick, Alex, Clement, and Perla, along with David, one of the owners, who has handled dock transfers.

The team’s job goes beyond steering. The captain manages the sailing, the hostess takes photos and shares information, and the crew helps keep the day moving between swimming, snorkeling, refreshments, and scenic sailing. When the engine is turned off and the sails go up, the crew also creates the quietest and most memorable part of the outing.

The service is not a guarantee that every day will feel identical. Crew assignments can vary, and conditions on the lagoon can affect the pace. Still, the repeated praise for both individual crew members and the overall first-class feel makes service a central reason to choose this charter rather than a bare boat rental.

Cancellation and booking notes

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience begins. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows Bora Bora local time.

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability. Because the outing is commonly reserved well ahead, I would arrange it early if you have a fixed vacation schedule or a special event in mind.

Should you book this Bora Bora catamaran?

Book it if you want the boat day itself to be a highlight, not simply transportation to a snorkeling site. It is especially good for a group of six to nine people that values privacy, flexible pacing, drinks, photos, and a mix of sailing and swimming.

Think twice if you are a couple watching costs closely, or if your only goal is maximum snorkeling time. The price makes the most sense when shared, and lunch adds another charge.

For a family celebration, a group of friends, or a special Bora Bora day with a captain and crew focused only on you, this private catamaran offers a strong blend of comfort, scenery, marine life, and personal service.

FAQ

How long is the private catamaran trip?

The experience lasts about six hours and begins at 9:00 am.

How many people can join the private charter?

The price covers one private group of up to nine people. Only your group participates.

Are hotel transfers included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Are food and drinks included?

Snacks, bottled water, other beverages, and alcoholic drinks are included. Lunch at a restaurant is not included.

Can the itinerary be customized?

Yes. The private charter can be adapted to suit your group, including how you balance sailing, swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing on deck.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.