Have you ever dreamed of having an entire tropical island completely to yourself? While Bora Bora is famous for its ultra-luxury resorts and iconic overwater bungalows, there is a hidden gem on the lagoon that offers something even better: absolute seclusion. Motu Only You takes the concept of a private getaway to a whole new level, giving you exclusive access to your own private island paradise with no other guests in sight. Imagine stepping off the boat, kicking off your shoes, and spending days exploring a vibrant turquoise lagoon entirely on your own schedule. If you are looking for the ultimate luxury of total privacy blended with an authentic, effortless island vibe, here is what it is really like to have a piece of Bora Bora all to yourself.
Read more: Motu Only You – Airbnb Review, Bora BoraLocation and How To Get There
Motu Only You has a prime location on the famous Bora Bora lagoon. It is the very same lagoon that all the ultra-luxury hotels share, and yet it offers a completely unique experience.
If you’re flying in from abroad, you will land at Tahiti’s International Airport in Papeete (PPT) and then take a short, scenic flight under an hour to Bora Bora through either Air Tahiti or Air Moana. Both carriers offer similar pricing, so it really just comes down to what times work best for you. Just remember to leave a bit of a buffer between landing on your international flight and catching your domestic flight, as the immigration queues can take a while!
Air Tahiti offers some appealing multi-island passes that often work out cheaper than a standard round-trip flight. Be sure to check them out if you plan on visiting more than just Bora Bora, and keep an eye on the rules, as you sometimes have to visit the islands in a specific order. I’ve found their customer service to be incredibly helpful if you need assistance with your itinerary. Air Moana is a fairly new carrier to the region and offers a similar multi-island option called an “experience,” but at the time of writing, they only fly to six islands.
Once you land in Bora Bora, which is in my opinion the most beautiful airport in the world, Vincent, the co-owner and manager, will pick you up and whisk you away to paradise in just ten short minutes. During our visit, we were actually staying at another property in Bora Bora first, and Vincent kindly offered to pick us up from the ferry port in Vaitape, the island’s capital. Best of all, your stay at Motu Only You includes round-trip airport transfers, which is easily a hidden $400+ expense at some of the other resorts in Bora Bora.
Check-In Process
I was in contact with Vincent, the host and co-owner of Motu Only You, in the months preceding our visit. He very kindly came to scoop us up from Bora Bora’s capital, Vaitape, since we were coming from another part of the island rather than the airport. His boat clearly said “Only You Motu” on the side, so it was incredibly easy to spot. The boat ride took maybe ten minutes, and soon we were pulling up to the most picturesque place I had ever seen.
Ken, the other co-owner and excursions expert, was waiting on the deck to greet us. He blew a traditional conch shell to welcome us, which is a famous custom in French Polynesia, and opened up fresh coconuts for us to drink. Talk about transitioning to island time!
Vincent and Ken showed us around the motu, our private little space that was literally just for us. I was completely blown away and utterly in awe that this whole island was ours, and only ours, for three whole nights.
We were given Vincent’s WhatsApp number, which was comforting to know he was just a message away. He lives discreetly onsite, though we only ever saw him when he was serving meals or meeting us for excursions. We also got connected to the Wi-Fi, which I have to say was actually the best connection we experienced during our entire French Polynesia trip, including the high-end resorts. After showing us around, they left us to enjoy our own perfect piece of paradise.
The Space
While Motu Only You might not be a traditional five-star luxury resort, it more than makes up for it with its outdoor space, incredible location, and the absolute privacy and seclusion it boasts. The motu was a lot larger than I was expecting, featuring multiple seating areas scattered all around the island so you can chase the sun or the shade as the day goes on.
The deck where you arrive has a cool modular seating area that expands onto a large, open sandy stretch. I remember taking my shoes off here on the first day and not putting them back on until we checked out, which was such a wonderful feeling.
In the middle of the motu sit the living quarters. There is a large, open-plan living area with a kitchenette, a bar area, and a large dining table right in the center. You will have access to a refrigerator and freezer, as well as a chargeable minibar stocked with a few drinks like beer and wine, which was a nice touch. You just pay for what you consume in cash when you check out.
Because the stay is half-board, breakfast and dinner are included, but lunch is up to you. Some excursions with outside providers include lunch, or you can catch a boat ride to a local restaurant on the main island. Since we were coming from the mainland, we chose to grab a few things at the local supermarket before meeting Vincent on our arrival day so we could make snacks and drinks throughout the day. There is a gas BBQ, a hot plate, a kettle, and a Nespresso machine available, so you can plan your grocery run accordingly!
From the main living area, steps lead up to the bedroom. The room was clean and comfortable, perhaps a little rough around the edges, but it had far more amenities than I was expecting for such a remote location. Not only did we have an electric fan over the bed and great Wi-Fi, but there was also a flat-screen TV with Netflix.
One thing I really want to note is that even though the motu is completely off-grid and relies on solar energy, we experienced zero power or Wi-Fi outages during our stay. I was incredibly impressed. While we did everything we could to conserve energy, we were happy to keep the overhead fan running all night. I have stayed at similar solar-powered establishments in the past that suffered from multiple outages or had no power at all during certain points of the day or night, but I am pleased to report that was not the case here.
There was a small storage area in the corner of the room that we used for our suitcases, and a door in the back led to the outdoor bathroom, which features an outdoor shower and a separate walled-in toilet. I was pleasantly surprised to find that we had both hot and cold water in the shower, which is no easy feat for a solar-powered property.
There are a number of loungers scattered along the beaches of the motu, as well as a sofa area, a couple of dining setups, and a high-top bar. For dinner, we could choose to eat anywhere we wanted. While we chose to eat by the campfire we built on the first night, we ended up eating most of our meals in the main living area with a couple of mosquito coils set up at our feet.
Speaking of the food, it was wonderful. Vincent was so accommodating, especially given my last-minute gluten-free dietary restriction. Every night brought something different. We enjoyed the tuna steak with lemon butter sauce, poisson cru and vanilla chicken.
Breakfast is typically an arrangement of breads and pastries with jams and jellies alongside fresh fruit. Because I am gluten-free, Vincent thoughtfully prepared a yogurt with honey and fresh fruit just for me.
Facilities
You really do have nature’s best swimming pool right on your doorstep, which is the exact same lagoon that all the five-star luxury resorts share. With clear-bottom kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and a selection of snorkels, masks, and water shoes, you have everything you need to explore this paradise.
There is also a small fire pit in one corner of the motu that we utilized on a couple of occasions. Sitting by the fire with a glass of wine while watching the sun set over our own private paradise was a moment I will never forget.
Activities
What is truly wonderful about staying on the motu is that you essentially have your own private concierge to organise whatever excursion or activity you fancy. Bora Bora is famous for its beautiful blue lagoon that is teeming with life. It is especially known for its shallows, where you can swim with sharks, stingrays, all sorts of reef fish, and even manta rays.
When we arrived, Vincent talked through our specific interests and the activities we wanted to do, and he had us set up to go swimming with sharks the very next day! Ken is an island local who knows the waters like the back of his hand, making him the absolute best captain to take you out on the water.
Beyond water activities, if you want to have a meal at one of the upscale restaurants on the mainland, that can easily be arranged. If you want to go deep-sea fishing, they can set that up too. They can also drop you off by boat for any other activity, whether you fancy exploring more of Bora Bora by land or simply need a quick supermarket run.
One great tip mentioned to us was the proximity to the resort, Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts. While it looks miles away when you first arrive at the motu, Vincent assured us it is just a thirty-minute walk or a quick two-minute transfer in his boat. They offer day passes so you can enjoy their facilities, get a massage, swim in the pool, or have lunch at their restaurant. I thought this was an excellent idea, especially if you have an extended stay on the motu or want to experience a luxury resort for less. You can grab a few pictures in front of those famous overwater bungalows and then return right back to the privacy of your own island!
Our water excursion to swim with sharks and stingrays was nothing short of spectacular. While I had been to that particular area of the lagoon on a previous trip to Bora Bora, this felt so much more special. We had our own private boat with just the two of us, meaning we were never rushed and didn’t have to wait on anyone else like you might do in a large group tour. The water was shallow enough to stand in, so nervous swimmers would be completely fine. Once we were in the water, it wasn’t long before numerous stingrays, nurse sharks, blacktip reef sharks, and vibrantly coloured fish descended on us. They were not the least bit phased by our presence and would swim incredibly close to us. If anything, they were a little too close! We were told there was nothing to fear, but my survival instincts definitely kicked in a couple of times after a few close encounters.
After a little while, we boarded the boat and Ken took us to a spot known for manta rays. I had never seen them in the wild before, and they had been on my bucket list for years, so I was crossing everything that the odds would be in our favor. Fortunately, they were! Not only did we see one, but we saw multiple, and one even did some tricks for us, performing underwater somersaults to our absolute delight. With our camera memory cards full and our minds exploding, we headed back to our private motu with wide grins plastered across our faces.
There are also plenty of activities that you can enjoy without even taking a boat off the motu. You have full access to clear-bottom kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. One morning, we took Vincent’s advice and kayaked to a nearby sandbar to snorkel the coral gardens. It was maybe ten minutes of paddling before we arrived at the reef, and of course, we were the only ones there enjoying it. The motu keeps a supply of snorkels, masks, and water shoes should you need them, though we brought our own. I couldn’t believe what vibrant life was thriving just a short distance away. Vincent also mentioned a few other motus in the area that we could kayak around.
You can also snorkel right from the shore of the motu. I dunked my underwater camera into one of the deep pockets just off the beach and was blown away by how many fish were right below the surface, literally hundreds of them! The lagoon around the back of the motu is affectionately known as the natural jacuzzi simply because the water gets so warm during the day. I honestly spent most of my time in the water during our stay and have absolutely zero regrets.
Communication
I was in contact with Vincent long before our trip commenced, and he provided incredibly fast communication and advice. He even accommodated my last-minute gluten-free requests within forty-eight hours of our arrival! He gave me his WhatsApp number when we arrived, and with the super-fast Wi-Fi, it was comforting to know he was just a message away should we need anything.
Vincent would come by at the designated meal times to serve our dinner, always asking if we needed anything or had any requests for activities and excursions later in the day or for the following morning. He was so welcoming and genuinely excited to hear about our ideas and how our day went. I honestly left feeling like family, and I am already longing for the day I can return.
Closing Remarks
I had such a phenomenal time during my stay at Motu Only You. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and not one I will forget anytime soon. It is such a unique and memorable place that I previously never would have guessed was even an option on the stunning island of Bora Bora. I don’t think my husband has ever been so relaxed! Vincent and Ken made our entire time there completely effortless and easy, yet perfectly tailored to as much or as little as we wanted to do.
I would highly recommend Motu Only You for anyone looking for an off-the-beaten-path adventure, all while enjoying the famous backdrop of Bora Bora and the ultimate luxury: complete privacy.
Ready to book Motu Only You? Click here!
You can find out more about my stay on my “Bora Bora” Highlights on Instagram @chase.the.rainbows.
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