Half-Day Lagoon Tour in Bora Bora

A cruise to Tahiti and the Society Islands is a vacation of a lifetime. On a recent Paul Gauguin Cruises sailing, we spent two days in Bora Bora, the "pearl" of the Society Islands.

Bora Bora is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations on Earth

A few weeks before our cruise, we pre-booked a Half-Day Lagoon Tour with Vavau Land & Sea Adventures through their website (http://www.boraboraexplorer.com). We were told that a representative would meet us at the pier where the ship's tender drops off guests. As promised, Patrick was there holding a sign with my name when we disembarked the ship's tender.

We boarded Patrick's mini-van for the short drive to the MaiTai Resort where our outrigger boat was waiting for us.

Outrigger boat

We were greeted there by Rai and Ari'i, our local guides for the half-day tour. Another guest from the MaiTai Resort was already on the boat when we arrived. After we boarded the outrigger, we sailed off to the Intercontinental Resort to pick up a few other guests. We actually took about an hour of the tour time making stops at two different hotels/resorts to pick up guests for the tour. However, when sailing between the pick-up spots, we got some great views of Bora Bora while being entertained by Ari'i and Rai's musical talent along the way.

Rai and Ari'i sing Polynesian songs as we sail through the waters surrounding Bora Bora

With everyone on board (9 people total), we head off for our first stop where we will snorkel with black-tip reef sharks in the ocean!

Rickee watches a Black-Tip Reef Shark swim by

There are couple of other tour boats already anchored here with tourists snorkeling with the sharks. There is no shortage of sharks swimming through the clear waters. Guides throw fish out to feed the sharks, which draws them closer. Still, the sharks keep their distance, never coming closer than about 10 feet to snorkelers. And, if you do not want to get into the ocean with the sharks, the water is so amazingly clear that you can easily see them from inside the boat.

After about 30 minutes of swimming with the sharks, we are back on board the outrigger heading to a sandbar where we have the opportunity to swim/snorkel/stand with stingrays. The water here is no more than four feet deep, so even those who cannot swim can interact with the gentle, and quite friendly, stingrays.

Stingrays will swim right up to you

Unlike the sharks, the stingrays seem to enjoy interacting with swimmers. They glide past you under the water, brushing up against your legs, which can be unsettling at first. They definitely see people as a food source as guides hand feed the rays. You can feed the rays if you want. Just ask the guides to show you how. And, if you are feeling really affectionate, you can even kiss a stingray!

Rickee kisses a stingray

The guides are in the water with you the entire time, holding the rays for you to pet, kiss, or feed. There are also a few black-tip reef sharks here lurking around in the distance. We spent about 45 minutes at the sandbar and, for me, it was the highlight of the tour.

Tour participants stand on the sandbar as stingrays swim around them

Our next stop on the tour was the Coral Garden, a shallow area with several coral formations where guests can snorkel with the fish that inhabit the area.

Rickee snorkels above a large coral formation

There are many varieties of colorful fish to be found here, and I think this was Rickee's favorite spot. We spend about 45 minutes at this location.

Colorful fish inhabit the coral garden

After re-boarding the outrigger, Rai and Ari'i take us to a nearby motu (a small island) where we have the opportunity to hike up some steps to a great lookout spot.

Me and Rickee at the top of the lookout point

After the climb up to the lookout point, and back down, we are treated to some local fruit and pineapple juice.

Local bananas, grapefruit and pineapple juice.

After our brief visit to the motu, we board the outrigger one last time for the ride back to MaiTai Resort. We say goodbye to Ari'i and Rai and a 4X4 vehicle is there to take us back to the pier where we can meet the ship's tender. Our half-day tour began at 8:30am and ended at about 1:00pm. At a cost of around $105 ($US) per person, we felt like the tour was a great value and we can highly recommend it. Whether you are visiting Bora Bora as part of a cruise vacation or staying at a resort, Vavau Land and Sea Adventures offers a variety of tours to fit your schedule.

For more information, visit their website at http://www.boraboraexplorer.com

Zip Line in La Romana

We were interested in a zip line tour and after some Internet research we found that Runners Adventures had some excellent reviews. We were met by Enrique and our driver, Wilburt. The open-air truck provides protection from the sun and rain, if there is any, yet allows for great picture taking and fresh air as you travel to the zip line camp in the lush mountains of Anamuya. Depending on where you start your adventure, the drive to the zip line camp can take up to two hours.

Enrique and Wilburt meet us for our zip line tour

Along the way, Enrique explained various points of interest. Bottled water was offered to guests as we enjoyed the scenery on the road into the mountains. When we arrived at the zip line camp, the beauty of the location is overwhelming. This is definitely one of the most picturesque zip line destinations we have visited.

The view from the zip line base camp

The zip line adventure begins with a safety briefing conducted by one of the many guides. And, in case you are wondering, all of the guides speak excellent English. A great deal of time is spent on safety procedures, so it is obvious that Runners Adventures places a great deal of importance on safety. Next, the guides assist guests in putting on the safety harnesses, helmets, and other gear. We were given a demonstration of the proper hand placement on the zip line cable, how to hold our legs, and how to brake (slow down) as we approached a zip line platform. Cameras are allowed, but you have to strap them to your helmet and keep them inside your shirt when on the zip line to prevent them from swinging and smacking you in the head. Belts, caps, and backpacks must be left at the base camp and can be retrieved at the end of the course.

A guide explains the course

Before long, we were hiking toward the first zip line platform. Some of the platforms require walking up a few flights of stairs, so you need to be in relatively good physical condition to complete this course. You also need to wear comfortable walking shoes or sneakers.

The course consists of 16 platforms and 12 cables. The first three were "starter" cables that allow participants to get used to the zip line experience. They are shorter and slower and great for beginners to get a feel for what is to come. After cable three, things get really exciting. This zip line course is the most intense we have ever experienced, and, intense is good! There are some super long cables one of which is 800 meters long! Two of the cables cross a river and offer spectacular views as you fly above the jungle and river below.

Rickee comes in for a landing at one of the platforms

The guides are available on every platform to "catch" you as you come in for a landing. They will signal if you need to brake, or speed up. Rickee came in too slow a couple of times and the guide had to walk out and bring her in. Guides also get you "hooked up" for the next zip line and make sure your hands, head, and elbow are in the correct position before sending you on your way. They do a great job of making sure everybody has a fun, but safe, experience.

At the end of the zip line adventure cold drinks and fresh fruit are offered. There is also a small gift shop with souvenirs. Participants also have the opportunity to purchase a photo ($10) taken by a guide as you fly toward one of the platforms on the course.

Sample photo from Runners zip line adventure

We have done at least six different zip line tours over the past seven years and we think it is one of the best experiences you can have. The zip line from Runners Adventures is our favorite one to date. If you find yourself in La Romana or Casa de Campo, don't hesitate to take this tour. Runners also offers some other very interesting local tours that you can check out on their website: http://www.runnersadventures.com.

Originally posted on: 9/10/2014