Why Bora Bora's Overwater Bungalows Are Still the Benchmark, Not the Imitation

The overwater bungalow, copied by island resorts from the Maldives to the Caribbean, did not actually start on Bora Bora. Three American hoteliers known locally as the "Bali Hai Boys" built the first version on stilts over the lagoon at neighbouring Raiatea in 1967. Bora Bora's own Hotel Bora Bora followed with its version in 1970, and it is Bora Bora's lagoon, not Raiatea's, that the format has been associated with ever since.

The lagoon that made the idea stick

Bora Bora's coral-ringed lagoon, calm and shallow enough for glass-floor viewing in places, sits beneath Mount Otemanu, a 727-metre extinct volcanic peak at the island's centre that gives many overwater suites the same dramatic backdrop. That combination of flat water and a fixed, photogenic landmark is a large part of why the format has stayed concentrated on this one island rather than spreading evenly across French Polynesia's other lagoons.

What's actually on the water now

Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, St Regis Bora Bora Resort and Conrad Bora Bora Nui each build the majority of their room inventory as overwater suites reached by private jetty, several with glass floor panels the format's 1960s originators never had. InterContinental's Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa and Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts round out the island's small cluster of overwater-led properties, each occupying its own motu, or small islet, around the main lagoon.

Getting there is part of the exercise

Bora Bora has no direct international flights. Visitors arrive via Tahiti's Faa'a International Airport near Papeete, then take a connecting flight to Bora Bora's own airport, itself built on a separate motu, before a resort boat transfer completes the journey; most properties on the lagoon are reachable only by water, not by road.

Traveller tips

• Air Tahiti operates the connecting flight from Papeete to Bora Bora; onward resort boat transfers are typically arranged directly with the hotel.
• The dry season, from May to October, offers the most reliable weather for lagoon visibility and water activities.
• Overwater suites vary significantly in reef access and privacy between resorts; checking a specific bungalow's position on the motu is worth doing before booking.
• French Polynesia's currency is the CFP franc, pegged to the euro; most resorts also accept major credit cards directly.