Toa Boat Bora Bora Private Lagoon tour with Lunch On Majestic Pontoon Boat

Bora Bora’s lagoon is the star here, but the best part is having a private boat and a captain who can shape the day around your group. You’ll swim near rays and sharks, visit several snorkel spots, then eat a generous local lunch on a comfortable pontoon with music and drinks.

I like the small private-group setup, especially if your party includes a weak swimmer or children who need closer attention. I also like the fresh Polynesian-style meal, with raw fish in coconut milk, skewers, rice, local vegetables, and tropical fruit.

The main consideration is the $725 per-person price. That is a serious outlay, even in Bora Bora, though it includes six hours, food, unlimited drinks, equipment, towels, and exclusive use of the boat for your group.

Key points to know before booking

• Private six-hour outing: Your group has the boat to itself, with room to adjust the pace and stops.
• Sharks, rays, and more: The route can include traditional shark and stingray encounters, plus leopard rays and manta rays.
• Local lunch on board: Expect fish and meat skewers, raw fish with coconut milk, rice, local vegetables, and tropical fruit.
• Captain-led snorkeling: Ma Tai, Didi, and DD are among the captains associated with this experience.
• Three-seat towable buoy: Ask for it in advance if you want a faster, more playful ride.
• Everything needed for the water: Masks, snorkels, fins, towels, entrance fees, and licenses are included.

Six hours on Bora Bora’s private lagoon

This is not a quick boat ride with a fixed route and a crowd of strangers. It is a private lagoon day beginning at 9:00 a.m., with pickup offered and a boat reserved only for your party.

That private format changes the feel of the outing. You can spend more time at a snorkel site if the water is good, move on when someone is cold, or slow down for a less confident swimmer. The exact route is not laid out stop by stop, so you should think of this as a captain-guided day rather than a rigid sightseeing schedule.

The pontoon is designed for comfort. You have a lounge area, towels, music, and a stable platform for getting in and out of the water. You can expect lounge or local music, and unlimited soft drinks, beer, and cocktails are supplied.

The boat is also practical for a mixed-age group. One parent specifically noted that the captain kept an eye on each person in a group that included someone who was not a strong swimmer. That does not replace your own supervision, but it is a useful benefit of a private captain-led trip.

Meeting the captain at 9:00 a.m.

The stated start time is 9:00 a.m. Pickup is offered, and the meeting area is near public transportation. The experience has also worked well for cruise passengers. One group stepped off an NCL tender and found the boat waiting at the same pier, making the transfer unusually simple.

Still, you should confirm the exact pickup point after booking. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability. Since the tour is commonly booked about 65 days ahead, I would not leave this one until the last minute if your Bora Bora dates are fixed.

The captains named in the available information include Ma Tai, Captain Didi, Captain DD, and Tiba. The person steering your boat may vary, but the pattern is clear: this is a captain-host experience, not a large commercial cruise with a scripted presentation.

The strongest praise has gone to the captains’ attitude and flexibility. Ma Tai is described as professional and upbeat, while Didi and DD are noted for being accommodating and fun. One group even had an afternoon rain shower and still enjoyed a full day because the captain adjusted as needed.

Snorkeling with rays and sharks

The water time is the heart of the tour. Your captain takes you to several snorkeling spots, including less obvious places, where you can swim with rays and sharks in the lagoon.

The familiar encounters are stingrays and sharks. You may also see leopard rays and manta rays, which adds variety to the usual Bora Bora wildlife experience. The supplied information does not promise a particular animal on every departure, so I would treat manta rays and leopard rays as possible sightings rather than guaranteed stops.

Your equipment is included: adjustable masks, snorkels, and fins. That saves you from packing bulky gear and lets you focus on fit before entering the water. Towels are included as well, a small detail that matters after several swims.

The private boat is especially useful for snorkeling because you are not tied to the pace of a large group. If one person wants to remain in the water, another wants to rest, or the captain sees a better spot, the day can be adjusted. This is one of the clearest reasons to choose this outing over a cheaper shared boat.

You should still be comfortable with open-water swimming, or tell the captain early if someone in your group needs extra care. The experience is suitable for most people, but the phrase most travelers can participate is not the same as a guarantee for every medical condition or mobility need.

A local lunch served on the pontoon

The midday meal gives this tour more substance than a simple morning of swimming. Rather than sending you back to shore, the crew serves lunch on the boat, allowing you to keep the lagoon around you while you eat.

The Vaiana lunch includes several distinct parts:

• Fish and goat skewers
• Meat skewers
• Raw fish with coconut milk
• Rice and local vegetables
• Tropical fruits

The raw fish with coconut milk is the dish to pay attention to if you want a taste of French Polynesia rather than a generic picnic. Skewers make the meal easy to eat on a boat, while rice, vegetables, and fruit round it out.

Fresh fruit is included, and beverages are unlimited. That covers soft drinks, beer, and cocktails. I would still ask about any dietary restrictions before the morning begins, since the supplied information does not spell out vegetarian, allergy, or special-meal options.

Food quality has been one of the most praised parts of the experience. The meal is described as fresh and very good, not merely convenient. That matters at this price, since the lunch is part of what separates the package from a basic snorkeling charter.

The boat setting also makes the meal feel like part of the day rather than an interruption. You are already on the lagoon, with no need to find a restaurant or spend time getting ashore.

The towable buoy for a burst of speed

If your group wants more action, the boat carries a three-seat towable buoy. You must tell the operator if you want to use it, so do not assume it will be included automatically in your plans.

This is a good add-on for families and friends who want a change from snorkeling. The buoy offers a faster, more playful ride behind the boat, while the lounge area gives less adventurous members somewhere to relax.

Because the information does not specify age, weight, or weather restrictions, ask the captain about suitability on the day. It is an optional feature, not the main reason to book the tour. The lagoon wildlife and private boat are the core experience.

Why the private format matters

At $725 per person, this is positioned as a premium day on the water. The price makes the most sense when your group values privacy, flexibility, and a full package rather than simply the lowest cost for a swim.

You are paying for:

• A private boat reserved for your group
• About six hours on Bora Bora’s lagoon
• A local captain and guide
• Snorkeling equipment and towels
• Lunch and tropical fruit
• Unlimited soft drinks, beer, and cocktails
• Entrance fees and licenses
• The option of a three-seat towable buoy

Group discounts are offered, which may improve the calculation for a larger party. The value is also easier to see when you compare the cost of buying a private charter, a separate lunch, drinks, equipment rental, and a water activity one by one.

That said, a couple looking for an inexpensive snorkeling morning may find the price hard to justify. You are likely to get more value if you are traveling with family or friends, want the boat to yourselves, and plan to spend most of the six hours on the lagoon.

The current rating is 5 out of 5 from 13 ratings, with 100 percent recommending the experience. That is a small sample, but the praise is consistent in the areas that matter most: captain service, snorkeling variety, food, boat comfort, and flexibility.

What happens if the weather changes

Bora Bora’s weather can shift during the day. One departure encountered an afternoon downpour, yet the captain kept the outing enjoyable by adjusting the plan.

That is encouraging, but you should not read it as a promise that every water condition will be perfect or that every activity will operate in heavy weather. The captain’s flexibility is a plus, but the final route and snorkeling time can depend on conditions.

A private boat gives you more control than a fixed group schedule. If the rain passes, you may be able to continue. If someone needs a break, you can return to the lounge rather than keeping pace with strangers.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 9:00 a.m. start time. Inside that 24-hour window, the amount paid is not refunded, and changes are not accepted. The cutoff follows Bora Bora local time.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would choose this experience for a family, a group of friends, or a cruise party that wants a full private day rather than a short boat transfer. It also suits groups with mixed swimming ability because the captain can give closer attention than a large shared excursion normally allows.

It is a particularly good fit if you care about food. The lunch is not an afterthought, and the combination of local fish, coconut milk, skewers, vegetables, and fruit gives the day a clear Polynesian flavor.

You should also consider it if your group wants several kinds of fun in one outing: wildlife viewing, snorkeling, a relaxed boat meal, music, drinks, and an optional towable buoy.

I would be more cautious if your main goal is a cheap way to see the lagoon, if you do not drink and place little value on unlimited beverages, or if your group prefers a tightly scheduled sightseeing route. The flexible format is a strength, but it means the exact sequence of stops is not guaranteed.

My booking advice

Book the Toa Boat experience if you want a private Bora Bora day built around time on the water. The combination of sharks, stingrays, possible leopard and manta rays, a local lunch, and captain-led flexibility gives it more range than a basic snorkeling trip.

Before paying, confirm the pickup point, tell the operator that you want the towable buoy, and mention any weak swimmers or food restrictions. If you are visiting by cruise ship, check the timing carefully around your tender schedule.

At $725 per person, this is not a casual splurge. But for a group that will use the full six hours, eat on board, enjoy the drinks, swim at several sites, and value having its own captain, the package can make practical sense. For the right group, it is the kind of Bora Bora day that feels easy from start to finish.

FAQ

How long is the Toa Boat Bora Bora tour?

The tour lasts approximately six hours.

What time does the tour start?

The stated start time is 9:00 a.m.

Is the boat private?

Yes. This is a private activity, and only your group participates.

Is pickup available?

Pickup is offered. The meeting area is also near public transportation.

What food is included?

Lunch includes fish and goat skewers, meat skewers, raw fish with coconut milk, rice, local vegetables, and tropical fruits.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Unlimited beverages are supplied, including soft drinks, beer, and cocktails.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Adjustable masks, snorkels, fins, and towels are included.

Can I use the towable buoy?

Yes, a three-seat towable buoy is available, but you must tell the operator if you want to use it.