Bora Bora Island vs Maldives: Which island to choose in 2026?

How do you decide: Bora Bora Island vs Maldives?

 

The decision should be based on more than just beauty—it’s about what you want from your honeymoon experience.

 

Let us guide you so you make the right decision!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Location and Distance: Winner: Bora Bora. Bora Bora is closer to the U.S., particularly from the West Coast, saving about 5 hours compared to a trip to the Maldives.

 

• Cost: Winner: Maldives. While both destinations are luxurious, the Maldives offers more accommodation options, from budget-friendly resorts to ultra-luxurious private villas.

 

• Activities: Winner: Bora Bora. Bora Bora offers unique activities like hiking, ATV tours, lagoon snorkeling, iconic views of Mt. Otemanu, and cultural experiences.

 

 

OVERVIEW Bora Bora Island vs Maldives

Based on our experience and facts, we have developed a short overview table below.

Item	Winner
Location	Bora Bora
Cost and Budget	Bora Bora
Overwater Bungalows	Maldives
Activities	Bora Bora
Marine Life	Bora Bora
Honeymoon	Maldives
Families	Maldives
Vibe	Bora Bora

Now, let’s dive into each item!

 

Location of Bora Bora Island vs Maldives

It won’t surprise you that both the Maldives and Bora Bora are pretty far from the U.S.

 

However, one is much easier to reach than the other.

 

Bora Bora is located in the South Pacific Ocean. It is ONE small island within French Polynesia’s Society Islands, roughly 230 kilometers (143 miles) northwest of Tahiti.

Bora Bora is closer to the U.S. than the Maldives. From San Francisco to Bora Bora is 4,181 miles (6,730 km), while New York is 6,300 miles (10,139 km).

 

You can use our interactive widget below to get an exact idea of the price on the dates you would travel to Bora Bora!

On the other hand, the Maldives is a region with 1,192 CORAL ISLANDS across the Indian Ocean, southwest of India and Sri Lanka.

 

You’ll enter the Maldives through the Malé International Airport (MLE), which is way further from the U.S. East Coast.

For example, a direct flight to Malé from New York City would be 8,721 miles (14,033 km) (compared to the 6700 miles to Bora Bora)—making it ONE OF THE LONGEST JOURNEYS FOR AMERICANS.

 

Take a look to discover how your flights would look like below!

INSIDER TIP: If flight distance is important for you, then Bora Bora is easier to reach from the U.S. West Coast, saving you around 5 hours of flying time.

 

Let’s look at that a bit in more detail.

 

 

Getting to Bora Bora and the Maldives from the United States

Getting to Bora Bora

Reaching Bora Bora, part of the Society Islands from the U.S. is quite easy from the WEST Coast.

 

There are direct flights (around 1000 USD round-trip) to Tahiti’s Faa’a International Airport (PPT) from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle (around 13 hours of flight time).

 

After landing in Tahiti, you still need to get to Bora Bora. To do so, you will take another one-hour-long flight to the main island at Bora Bora’s airport (BOB) via Air Tahiti.

 

This extra flight alone costs about $400 (€380) round-trip per adult.

 

When you arrive at Bora Bora’s airport, your resort will pick you up by boat and transfer you to one of the luxurious overwater bungalows!

 

FUN FACT: Both islands are paradise, and it’s easy to mistake one for the other, just as this story of a Maldivian politician sharing a sunset picture of Bora Bora claiming it was the Maldives.

 

Getting to Maldives

Reaching the Maldives from the U.S. EAST Coast is easy but it will take a lot of time (20-24 hours).

 

Cities like New York, Atlanta, and Boston have flights to the Maldives International Airport (MLE) (15-16 hours), but you’ll have a layover in Europe or the Middle East (Dubai or Doha). A layover also takes around 5 hours.

 

Once you land in Malé, you can take a seaplane or speedboat transfer to reach your luxurious overwater bungalow, often on private islands (a so-called resort island).

 

Seaplanes give you amazing views of the Maldives’ coral atolls and turquoise waters, but the transfer costs between $300–$500 (€285–€470) per person single-trip.

Cost and budget Bora Bora island vs Maldives (!)

When comparing Bora Bora Island vs Maldives on cost, both are very expensive, but there are some differences.

 

Cost comparison Bora Bora Island vs Maldives

Bora Bora is famous for its luxury resorts, with the overwater bungalows ranging from $700 to $1,200 (€665 to €1,140) per night.

 

Because it’s a small island, finding cheap resorts on the main island is difficult.

 

A one-week trip, for two people, including flights from the U.S., accommodation, and meals, totals between $13,000 and $40,000 (€12,350 to €38,000) in high season.

However, the Maldives offers (even) more luxurious overwater bungalows as well as budget options compared to Bora Bora.

 

Overwater villas at luxury resorts start at $2,000 (€1,900) per night and can reach $5,000 (€4,750) at exclusive resorts like the St. Regis Maldives or Six Senses Laamu.

 

The overall cost for a week in the Maldives, including flights (around 1,500 USD round-trip) from the U.S. East Coast, accommodation, and meals, falls between $10,000 and $50,000 (€9,500 to €47,500).

 

 

Luxurious Overwater Bungalows Bora Bora Island vs Maldives

Both islands are famous for their luxurious overwater bungalows. They have the BEST overwater bungalows in the world, according to Lonely Planet!

 

Maldives: overwater bungalows

 

With more than 500 resorts, the Maldives has a lot of overwater bungalow choices—compared to the 20 overwater bungalow resorts from Bora Bora.

 

Maldives resorts go from very very luxurious to more budget options.

 

Luxurious resorts like Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, famous for celebrities that book their stay there, even have an UNDERWATER villa (you read that right).

Also, the Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi is famous for its modern, innovative designs and extra luxuries, like the glass-bottom floors in your bungalow, so you literally look into the lagoon below your feet.

 

Top Resorts in the Maldives:

• St. Regis Maldives
• Ritz Carlton Maldives
• Conrad Maldives

 

DID YOU KNOW: many Maldives resorts are located on private islands spread across different groups of islands in the Maldives?

 

KEEP IN MIND: Most resort islands in the Maldives are private. This allows them to serve you alcohol and allows you to wear bikinis on the beach!

 

TRIPADVISOR REVIEW: The scenery at Bora Bora is beautiful. I loved to cycle the island around and also to see the view from Belvue. What I like about Maldives and why I go back is the feeling of seclusion. I find the atmosphere unique: the world and stress is far away and on that tiny island there is just relaxation and enjoyment. I have not found that elsewhere to the same extent.

 

Bora Bora: overwater bungalows

Bora Bora only has 20 overwater bungalow resorts with around 550 overwater bungalows in total—but it offers an AMAZING LANDSCAPE (something you do not see in the Maldives)

 

On one side of your overwater villa, you see the Pacific Ocean and white sand beaches, on the other side, you see the island’s iconic Mt. Otemanu (which we recommend climbing).

Resorts like the Four Seasons Bora Bora, St. Regis Bora Bora, and Intercontinental Bora Bora set the standard for luxury with private decks, lagoon access, and interiors designed to complement the island’s natural beauty.

 

You can even sail Bora Bora in a solar-powered overwater villa, according to Lonely Planet!

 

Below are our top recommendations for Bora Bora!

• 💎 Luxury Resort: Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora
• ✨ 5-Star: The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort
• 🏨 4-Star: InterContinental Bora Bora Resort Thalasso Spa
• 🛏️ 3-Star: Bora-Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa
• 💸 Cheap: Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach Resort
• 🏢 Overwater Bungalow: Conrad Bora Bora Nui
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For Families: InterContinental Le Moana Bora Bora Resort
• 🏩 For Couples: Bora-Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa

 

 

Best time to visit Bora Bora Island vs Maldives

So, when is the right time to visit Bora Bora island vs Maldives? You do not want to spend this much money and then end up going in the rainy season.

 

You want to be there when it’s paradise season. You want to take a postcard-perfect picture, am I right?

 

Bora Bora

For Bora Bora, we recommend reading our full guide on the best time to visit the island. It dives deep into the weather around the year and when the perfect time is to go diving with sharks and spot whales!

 

In summary, Bora Bora has a warm and tropical year-round with a dry season and rainy season.

 

So you want to make sure you go between May to October (DRY SEASON) for paradise weather.

 

However, this also means you’ll go there between peak season, June to August, with higher room rates and more crowds.

 

On the other hand, the rainy season runs from November to April, when you can enjoy some sunshine mixed with many rain showers.

 

INSIDER TIP: Traveling in the shoulder month of April/beginning of May offers great weather with fewer crowds and lower prices (WE RECOMMEND THIS).

Maldives

The weather in the Maldives is quite different from the Bora Bora weather.

 

For example, the dry season runs from December to April, when it’s winter in Europe and the US.

 

The rainy season runs from May to November.

 

So it fully depends on when you want to travel or do your honeymoon. During the summer months? Then go to Bora Bora! During the winter period? Then you want to go to the Maldives!

 

Marine life in Bora Bora vs. the Maldives

 

Both islands are famous for their marine life. They offer some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling spots in the world!

 

But in all honesty, their marine life is quite similar. Of course, it depends on the season, but you can mostly see the same fish at both locations.

 

Please take a look at the Bora Bora Island vs Maldives marine species table below!

Marine Species	Seen in Bora Bora	Seen in Maldives
Clownfish	Yes	Yes
Manta Ray	Yes	Yes
Reef Shark	Yes	Yes
Parrotfish	Yes	Yes
Moray Eel	Yes	Yes
Humphead Wrasse	Yes	Yes
Sea Turtle	Yes	Yes
Dolphin	Yes	Yes
Whale Shark	No	Yes
Lionfish	Yes	Yes
Spinner Dolphin	Yes	No
Maldivian Sponge Snail	No	Yes
Humpback whales	Yes	No

KEEP IN MIND: Both destinations offer so much and diverse marine life just outside your overwater bungalow. From sea turtles to manta rays to dolphins to reef sharks and even whale sharks or whales!

 

Snorkeling and diving locations Bora Bora Island vs Maldives

Both locations have some of the best snorkel and dive locations in the world!

 

FUN FACT: Both destinations no longer have the title ‘bluest water in the world’ as the Albanian beach Payara recently overtook both destinations.

Bora Bora

Top spots: Coral Gardens and the Bora Bora Lagoonarium. Both locations feel like you’re snorkeling in a real-world aquarium!

 

Marine life highlights: Blacktip reef sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, and dolphins.

TRIPADVISOR REVIEW: I have been to the Maldives 21 times and to the South Pacific once including Bora Bora that tells you my preference, however the South Pacific gave me the chance to swim with Humpback whales in the open ocean which you can’t really get in the Maldives, but pretty much all other underwater life is the same in both places.

Maldives

Top spots: Reefs and atolls, with resorts offering direct access to these snorkeling and diving sites.

 

Marine life highlights: Whale sharks, manta rays, dolphins, and large schools of tropical fish.

 

INSIDER TIP: Many resorts in the Maldives offer private diving excursions to beautiful spots around the different islands and atolls.

Culture and Food: Bora Bora Island vs Maldives

We’re sure you’ll like both the food and culture of Bora Bora and the Maldives.

 

BUT, what should you expect?

 

Bora Bora food and culture

 

In Bora Bora, the culture is deeply rooted in Polynesian traditions with strong French influences (it is still a French overseas territory).

 

French is the official language, though Tahitian, a Polynesian language, is also widely spoken. Don’t worry, all resorts and most locals also speak English.

 

The local kitchen focuses on fresh seafood served raw or grilled, tropical fruits, and a hint of French flair in pastries and baked goods.

 

MAKE SURE TO TRY the popular dish, poisson cru (a Polynesian-style ceviche).

 

TRIPADVISOR REVIEW: I find the food at French Polynesia not any less tasty than in Maldives, maybe less curry for curry lovers.

 

 

Maldives food and culture

In contrast, the Maldives is influenced by Islamic culture with Indian, Arab, and Sri Lankan traditions.

 

Dhivehi, the official language, is a mix from Arabic and Sanskrit. Of course, everybody also speaks English.

 

Most resorts also serve alcohol as they are located on private islands. Where locals live, it might be more difficult to drink an alcoholic beverage.

 

The Maldivian kitchen focuses on seafood, rice, and curries with South Asian flavors, with fish, coconut, and spices.

 

While local dishes are authentic and flavorful, many Maldivian resorts offer TOP INTERNATIONAL MENUS.

 

Honeymoon and Romance: Bora Bora Island vs Maldives

When it comes to a honeymoon destination, both Bora Bora and the Maldives are THE dream destinations for young couples.

 

Bora Bora provides an intimate and private experience. With fewer resorts and a focus on privacy, it’s ideal for couples wanting a more tranquil, personal escape.

 

On the island, you can enjoy romantic dinners on Tahiti beaches, sunset cruises around the island’s iconic turquoise lagoon, and romantic moments against the backdrop of the Mt. Otemanu landscape.

Conversely, the Maldives is called WINNER as the best honeymoon destination in the world, with Bora Bora coming in a close second!

 

You can choose from a range of resort styles and activities, from underwater dining and Tahiti beach picnics to sunset yacht cruises and spa treatments.

 

Imagine being on your own private island, having a sunset dinner on the most stunning Tahiti beaches, enjoying life…

 

Both options are equally great, but for the sake of the exervise, we’ll call Maldives the winner as they offer you more private islands than Bora Bora does!

 

Family-Friendly Bora Bora island vs Maldives

What you maybe did not know is that Bora Bora and the Maldives are also perfect holiday destinations for families, with many resorts offering special activities for children.

 

In Bora Bora, the Four Seasons Resort is popular with families, offering a kids’ club and a range of activities suitable for all ages.

 

The lagoon’s shallow, calm waters make it ideal for young swimmers, and the resort organizes fun, interactive experiences, from snorkeling excursions to Polynesian-inspired crafts.

 

The Maldives provides a broader selection of family-friendly resorts with options tailored to different budgets and interests.

 

Resorts like Soneva Fushi and Cheval Blanc Randheli are well-known for their exceptional amenities for kids, including kids’ clubs, creative workshops, and educational marine activities.

Many resorts also offer dedicated family villas and in-room babysitting services, allowing you some relaxation time while your kids enjoy supervised fun.

 

Overall, the Maldives’ larger variety of family-oriented resorts gives you more choices for unique experiences.

 

THE VIBE: Bora Bora Island vs Maldives

Bora Bora: chic, luxe, and resort-like

• Offers an upscale, comfortable experience with a touch of civilization.
• Polished and stylish, with a social atmosphere and access to island activities and dining.
• Great for couples who want the comforts of a resort while still feeling part of a small community.

 

Maldives: barefoot luxury and seclusion

• Embodies a “castaway” feel, with many resorts encouraging guests to go barefoot.
• Each resort is typically its own island, offering a private, secluded experience.
• Ideal for couples who crave solitude, privacy, and a sense of being on a deserted island paradise.

 

 

So, Bora Bora Island vs Maldives: Where should you go?

So, to answer the question: “what is best, Bora Bora island vs Maldives”, we have to look at a few items that come into play between these destinations.

 

Both Bora Bora and the Maldives offer beautiful landscapes and luxurious overwater bungalows.

 

However, we recommend to go to the honeymoon destination closest to you—Bora Bora is closer for U.S. travelers.

 

On top of this, Bora Bora’s 4 and 5-star luxury hotels tend to be slightly more affordable than those in the Maldives, so this might be a factor if you’re prioritizing budget.

 

Lastly, since Bora Bora Island vs Maldives have opposite rainy seasons, you should take into account when you want to travel. Based on your dates, you can determine weather its sunny season in Bora Bora or in the Maldives.

 

For example, if you’re traveling in the U.S. summer months, Bora Bora’s dry season may be preferable, while Europe’s winter travelers may find amazing weather in the Maldives.

 

Whichever you choose, staying in an overwater bungalow (or beach villas) should be on every traveler’s bucket list—nothing compares to waking up surrounded by crystal-clear waters.

 

FAQ