Motu Tapu
Best for. Travellers who want the iconic Bora Bora picture and a calm snorkelling stop, booked as part of a lagoon day rather than as a beach you can walk onto freely.
Best spot. The clear water on the sheltered side of the islet, where a short snorkel over the sand and coral is the real reward, with Mount Otemanu filling the frame behind you.
Know this. Motu Tapu is private. You pay an operator for the setting and the snorkelling, not for more sand. For a free towel on a beach, Matira is the honest answer.
Motu Tapu is the islet you have already seen, whether you know it or not. It is the small green dot of palms in the turquoise that fronts a hundred brochures, said to be the most photographed islet in the South Pacific, and its name means sacred island for a reason. It was once the private retreat of Queen Pomare IV, and it has kept that air of being just out of reach. The truth a visitor needs is simple and easy to miss in the marketing. This is not a beach you go to. It is a beach you are taken to.
What you are really buying is a setting and a snorkel, not a stretch of sand. The islet is tiny, barely more than a ring of palms and a thin fringe of pale beach, so there is no question of laying out for a long day the way you would at Matira. The reward is the water around it, which is sheltered, clear and full of life, and the picture itself, with Mount Otemanu rising behind the palms. Booked as one stop on a wider lagoon tour, with a swim and a picnic, it earns its place in the day.
The honest caution is about value and access. Because the islet is private, the only way on is through an operator or a resort, and the Conrad Bora Bora Nui runs its own experience here for guests. Prices range widely and are always to be confirmed, so it pays to know whether you are paying for a shared passing visit or a private picnic on the sand. If what you want is a free beach and a towel, Matira gives you that and keeps your money. Come to Motu Tapu for the snorkelling and the photograph, and book it with your eyes open.
How you actually reach the sand
There is no beach club on Motu Tapu in the daybed and DJ sense, and no public landing. The honest picture is that access is run by lagoon tour operators and, on the islet itself, by the Conrad Bora Bora Nui for its guests. We list the routes factually and send you to the Bora Bora directory to arrange a day on the water.
Most visitors see Motu Tapu from the water on a half day or full day lagoon tour, which threads past the islet between snorkelling stops with sharks and rays. That is the accessible, good value way to take in the picture and the clear water, and it suits anyone who wants the setting without the premium of a private landing. The operators and what each includes are to be confirmed at the time of booking.
For the sand itself, the established route is the private experience run by the Conrad Bora Bora Nui, which arranges picnics and snorkelling on the islet for its guests. This is where the real exclusivity sits, and where you pay for it. Day access for non guests is not something to assume, so treat it as a request and to be confirmed. Tell us your dates and we will help line up a lagoon day or a private motu visit.
Western lagoon, Bora Bora
Motu Tapu sits in the western lagoon of Bora Bora, near the main reef pass and not far from the village of Vaitape. There is no road to it and no public ferry, so every visit begins with a boat arranged through a tour operator or a resort.
From Vaitape or the resorts, the crossing is short, often part of a wider lagoon loop that takes in snorkelling spots and a motu picnic. Bring a hat, reef safe sun cover, a mask and water, and confirm with your operator what is provided before you set off.
Photo: Tohora Bora Bora Snorkeling Lagoon Tours & Whale Watching via GoogleBook a beach club
Tell us your dates and party size and we will help arrange a lagoon tour or a private motu visit near Motu Tapu. We reply by email.
We are an independent editorial resource. Booking requests are passed to clubs and operators, and some may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices, availability and opening status are set by the venue and are to be confirmed at the time of booking.
Common questions about Motu Tapu
Can you visit Motu Tapu in Bora Bora?
Only with arranged access. Motu Tapu is a private islet, so you reach it on a booked lagoon tour or a resort excursion rather than as a public beach. The Conrad Bora Bora Nui runs a private experience on the islet for its guests, and several lagoon operators include the surrounding water on a tour. You cannot simply turn up by yourself.
Why is Motu Tapu so famous?
It is often called the most photographed islet in the South Pacific, a tiny postcard of palms and white sand set against Mount Otemanu. Its name means sacred island, and it was once the private retreat of Queen Pomare IV. The scale and the backdrop are what make it a picture, more than the beach itself.
Is there a beach you can swim from on Motu Tapu?
There is a small fringe of sand, but the real draw is the clear water around the islet rather than a long shore. Visits centre on snorkelling and a picnic rather than a full beach day. The lagoon here is calm and clear, though conditions are typical and never guaranteed, and there is no public lifeguard.
How much does a Motu Tapu visit cost?
It depends entirely on the operator and is to be confirmed at the time of booking. A shared lagoon tour that passes the islet sits at the lower end, while a private charter or a resort picnic on the islet itself costs far more. Treat any figure as a guide and confirm the price and what is included with the operator.
Is Motu Tapu worth it?
For the picture and the snorkelling, yes, if you book it as part of a wider lagoon day. For a simple stretch of sand to lay a towel on, no, because the free public beach at Matira gives you that without an operator. The honest read is that you pay here for exclusivity and a setting, not for more beach.
