Ferry from Tahiti to Bora Bora

Hello,

Does anyone know where I can find updated and accurate info on the ferries that run between Tahiti and Bora Bora? The info I have been reading says the ferry schedules are not realiable and change often.

Also, any info on camping or cheap places to stay on Bora Bora?

Thank you.

You can try emailing aremiticata@mail.pf to find out if they still are running the high speed ferries from Papeete to Raiatea. (Let me know what you find out.) If they are, you would then connect to Bora Bora via the Maupiti Express maupitiexpress@mail.pf

Otherwise, your only option is via cargo boat. For the Hawaiki Nui try sarlstim@mail.pf and for the Vaeanu try torehiatetu@mail.pf

Thanks silvanocat.

I tried to email the aremiticata@mail.pf address a couple times but it came up with an invalid email. I found a ferry schedule under http://www.tahiti-tourisme.com that shows a high speed ferry from Papeete to Bora Bora that leaves every Monday and Friday. I am still trying to confirm if this is correct/accurate - the journey time would be about 8 hours stopping in two islands before reaching Bora Bora.

Do you know of any discounts on Air Tahiti other than the air passes they offer? Is their any discounts if I buy through Air Tahiti Nui or Air France? Any airlines that may partner with Air Tahiti that I may be able to get a free frequent flier ticket on? I have about 3-4 days in Tahiti and want to spend my time in Bora Bora.

Thanks again

The question is, is that ferry still running? Last year on the Aremiti web site they had the high speed ferry schedule. Now, it still says "Aremiti 4 will begin service between Tahiti and Leeward Islands during July 2005. She will carry 420 passengers and 20 cars at a speed of 30 knots." but when you click on details for the Aremiti 4 it says in part "She is now using as spare ship on between Papeete and Moorea, she can be charterd for any French Polynesian destination." I noticed last year that they cut the schedule from twice a week to once a week. If Tahiti Tourisme has an office in your country you can try calling them. (I emailed Tahiti Tourisme in the U.S., New Zealand and Tahiti this week with a question and no one has responded to me.) Let me know what they say. I may try calling the U.S. office on Monday.

If you buy your Air Tahiti ticket in Tahiti (meaning you arrive without reservations) it will cost you about $60 to $90 less. They also have a youth pass (under 25) and a senior pass (over 60) which you have to buy there for 1000 plus a passport photo (I believe you have to go to the Papeete Air Tahiti office vs. the one at the airport). Then you get discounts from 10 to 50% off flights. I must note that someone who bought a similar family pass was told that he was not eligible for a discount because he was a tourist and he then had to point out where it was written (in French) that the only restriction was that the tickets had to be purchased in Tahiti with no mention of by whom.

I've never heard of anyone getting a frequent flyer ticket on Air Tahiti nor have I heard of a discount for purchasing the ticket from ATN or Air France. ATN will mail you the ticket for no extra charge (along with your ATN ticket) but I've just picked up the ticket at the Air Tahiti office at the airport or shown my confirmation email at the check-in counter.

Try also emailing aremiticruise@mail.pf

I had a lot of difficulties dealing with Aremiti and the other lines last year. I eventually gave up and got an Air Tahiti airpass.

Ed

Also it should be noted that the week I spent in Maupiti the Express didn't make it in about half the time because of weather and rough seas. Planning on its timeliness is probably not a good idea. A lot of FP's islands have only one pass large enough for ships the size of ferries. If that pass is badly impacted by weather, even steady winds from the wrong direction, they just can't get through. It was beautiful on Maupiti, Tahaa etc every day I was there, but still the ferries often didn't run.

Ed

how much is a air Tahiti pass? Also, SILVANOCAT, you mentions that a ticket is onyl $60-90 without reservation, does that mean that it is more with a reservation? Thnaks!

#7 A ticket on Air Tahiti from Tahiti to Bora Bora will cost about $60 - $90 LESS if purchased in French Polynesia vs. purchased overseas. What I meant "without a reservation" is that you are will not have a flight reserved when you arrive in FP if you are planning on buying your tickets there and run the risk of not getting the flight that you want (or even getting where you want to go on the day that you want to go). It's where you buy the ticket that makes the difference.

Here's the Air Tahiti airpass info.

That's less on a round trip.

I just received a email from Aremiti in regards to the Papeete-Bora Bora ferry. Here is what they said -

"In answer to your demand, we regret to anounce you that AREMITI company have no more boat who assures the leeward islands connexion."

The only option by ship/ferry to Bora Bora is on the Cargo ships - nothing faster.

I found the info on the ferries on the Tahiti Tourism website - if you are doing any logistical research on FP, you are best to contact the companies directly.

Thanks for all the help.

Number 10 is right. We were on Bora Bora in december and we reckoned there was an Aremiti boat service between Bora Bora and Pape'ete. However, this serviced appeared to be suspended and we had to take a plane anyway. Indeed the cargo ships mentioned earlier in this thread still operate services between Bora Bora and Pape'ete but only once or twice a week, also they have very limited passenger space. The Vaeanu for instance, will only take 12 passengers.

In addition to #3, note that you can get a discount with a card of between 10% and 50% depending on the number of seats available on the flight and the flight itself. So that means on some (popular) flights you can only get a maximum discount of 10% while on other flights that are less popular you can get a 50% discount, IF there are still seats available for that discount. What I mean is that I'd suggest you to plan your flights well in advance as this may save you a considerable amount of money!

Hello to everybody, in particular to Silvanocat:

Is there also a discount for people under 25 as regards the airpass?

Also, as we are going to FP for two weeks at the beginning of August, would you still recomend to buy the domestic air tickets (in our case I suppose this means the airpass, as we will go to 3 islands) after arrival, or is it too risky as the planes may tend to be full in that period?

Thanks a lot.

# 12 - No, there is a pass called Pass Bleu that is available to anyone who puchases it in FP. It is only valid on the blue flights from Tahiti (and white and blue between islands), which with a youth pass you would get 50% off (for the blues and 30% off for the whites), if buying tickets seperately.

There are two Blue passes available, one from Tahiti to Huahine, Raiatea and Moorea for 19200 (I'm quoting last summers fares) and the other including Bora Bora for 25200. The regular airpasses that are shown on the Air Tahiti Web site are discounted so minimally in FP that it would not be worth buying in advance.

August is the busiest month. I did read a report of someone who used a family pass (same deal as the youth pass) and was able to get a flight from Tahiti or Moorea to Bora Bora with no problem in August. He did not request a flight for the day that he arrived but rather spent the first few days of his vacation on Moorea (accessible via ferry and the Air Moorea shuttle). There are many flights to Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea per day (some days have a few blue fares, some days none) . However, last year I was trying to make reservations using a regular airpass to the Tuamotus over a month in advance for travel around Easter. I was not able to get on a flight from Rangiroa to Fakarava (which only runs twice weekly) so I had to revamp my plans.

I'll going to start writing about the airpasses on my blog and will post more information there this week.