Acting as an extremely popular island for North American honeymooning couples and the romantically inclined, Bora Bora has both its high season and the largest crowds during the months of June and July. With that said, for those with a choice of when to go there are probably better times of year, this of course being dependent on your goals. We'll dive into all of this down below.
As it is with all tropical islands, Bora Bora offers up two seasons rather than the usual four that most people are used to. Basically, in this region, you’ll find a rainy season and a dry season. Because Bora Bora is located just a tad south of the equator, summer is from December through February while winter runs from June into August.
As you can see on our main weather in Bora Bora by month article, the temperatures are pretty much the same throughout the whole year, with rainfall being rather consistent as well, at least when compared to many other islands in the South Pacific.
The rainy season here runs more or less from mid November through mid April, but cloud bursts are possible any time of the year.
As far as cooler temperatures are concerned, the best weather with lower humidity ranges, runs from May through August, but most hotels like to raise their rates from the month of June through October. You’ll want to note that this rate increase is partly due to the number of weddings and honeymoons during this period. With this, if you do decide to travel during June or July you’ll find a fair amount of newlyweds.
All the resorts, including those with overwater bungalows in Bora Bora, have their peak rates during this part of the year. Luckily, most of these are only 10% or 20% more than their low-season rates, so there isn’t a super large swing.
Those who enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling while on vacation will find that Bora Bora is a hot spot for both, and if these water sports are big motivators for you, they’ll serve as another reason to travel over between the months of April and November. The heavier rains that are present during the rest of the year tend to upset the clear water, which can be derail a snorkeling trip. This makes visibility less ideal for small periods of time, however there’s still plenty of great diving weather all year.
From November through March, the weather is both notably hotter and accompanied by higher humidity. You’ll find that this is true for the entire duration of the day. With that said, guests will quickly find that the rainfall is the most noticeable and dramatic. Like what you’ll find to be true for most tropical places, the rain in Bora Bora tends to come in dramatic bursts, and because of this, usually only lasts about 30 to 60 minutes, and then clearing right back up to how it was just an hour prior. This sometimes happens overnight, but you’ll find that it most often occurs in the late afternoon.
If you visit in December through March you might find yourself experiencing overcast skies for several hours each day, though it’s really rare for guests to experience longer periods of bad weather. Also, when the summer clouds move in quickly you can get some of the most stunning sunsets you’ll ever see in your life, meaning you’ll want to make sure you keep your camera close.
With all of the above advice in mind, the best time to go to Bora Bora is during either April or May. You’ll get the low-season hotel rates alongside the best weather and some great scuba diving opportunities. It’s just a matter of fewer people in North America taking vacations during these months, so demand is lower, and because of that, the resorts are more than happy to offer great rates to encourage visitors.
Im looking for an over water bungalow for 12 people (include 3 children). This is a family travelling for a milestone birthday in May 2020. Looking to stay for 6-10 days.
Mildred,
Unfortunately, there are no overwater bungalows that allow more than 6 people, and even those are extremely expensive. Most normal overwater bungalows allow 3 guests per room and a few of them allow 4 guests per room. So your cheapest option would be to find one of the places that allows 4 guests per room and book 3 separate bungalows. Sorry it’s not better news. -Roger