#6 in Top 20 Bora Bora for A Honeymoon · ★★★★★
InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana Resort
Matira Beach side, smaller scale, the warmer-water honeymoon option.
Matira Beach side, smaller scale, the warmer-water honeymoon option.
"Matira Beach side, smaller scale, the warmer-water honeymoon option."
Our editorial scores across three headline criteria. See the full methodology.
Book Le Moana when you want Bora Bora's overwater romance without the motu price tag or the total dependence on boats. It sits on Matira Point, at the southern tip of Bora Bora's main island rather than on a separate motu, with direct access to Matira Beach, the island's best public beach. With around 64 overwater and beach bungalows it is one of the smallest and most intimate of the major Bora Bora resorts, well below the scale of the big properties across the lagoon.
The draw is that position. You step straight onto Matira Beach, and Vaitape town is a short shuttle away, so you are not boat-dependent for every meal or errand, which is a genuine advantage for a longer honeymoon. Rates run roughly 30 to 40 percent below the motu resorts, so a week here leaves budget for excursions or a night elsewhere. The honest trade-off is that being on the main island means less seclusion and slightly busier water than a private motu, and the bungalows are older than the newer Thalasso villas across the lagoon.
The best room to request is an overwater bungalow with a Mount Otemanu or lagoon view; if beach access matters more than being over the water, a beach bungalow is the smarter value. Le Moana's bungalows follow the classic Polynesian template: thatched roofs, warm wood interiors, direct lagoon access from overwater decks and, in many overwater categories, a glass panel in the floor for watching fish. They are comfortable and characterful rather than cutting-edge, and the resort has refreshed them over time rather than rebuilding from scratch.
Because the resort is small, categories sell out quickly, and the view-facing overwater bungalows are the first to go in high season. If your dates are fixed, book around the three-month mark, earlier for the July to October peak. Do not expect private plunge pools in the bungalows here; that is a feature of some newer or higher-tier Bora Bora resorts, not Le Moana, and the appeal is the lagoon at your doorstep rather than a private pool.
Matira Beach is a five-minute walk and the only public-access top beach on the island, so swim early before day-trippers arrive. The Vaitape shuttle makes it easy to reach town for dinner or supplies, something most motu resorts cannot offer, and a real money-saver over a week.
Location is Le Moana's single strongest card. Matira Point anchors the south of the main island, and Matira Beach, regularly ranked among the finest in the South Pacific, runs right beside the resort. That means you can walk the sand at sunset, snorkel from shore and reach independent restaurants and shops in Vaitape without booking a boat. The airport sits on Motu Mute, so arrival is a short catamaran transfer across the lagoon followed by a brief road transfer to Matira Point.
The counterpoint is that a main-island location is inherently less private than a motu. You share Matira Beach with the public and with guests of nearby properties, and the water can be busier with small craft. For couples who prize seclusion above all, that is a reason to pay up for a motu resort; for those who value the freedom to wander, it is exactly the point.
Le Moana is the value-and-beach choice in a field of pricier motu resorts. This table places it against three of the island's most-considered honeymoon properties so you can match the resort to your priorities.
| Resort | Setting | Best for | From | HFK score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Le Moana | Main island, Matira Point | Beach access, value | $700/night | 9.6 |
| IC Thalasso | Private motu | Seclusion, Otemanu view | $1,100/night | 9.7 |
| Four Seasons Bora Bora | Private motu | Families, full service | $1,400/night | 9.8 |
| St. Regis Bora Bora | Private motu | Large villas, butlers | $1,500/night | 9.8 |
The short version: choose Le Moana for beach walks, a smaller scale and lower rates; choose the InterContinental Thalasso for a private motu and the head-on Mount Otemanu view; and step up to the Four Seasons or St. Regis for the largest, most service-heavy villas on the island.
Across recent verified guest reviews, the praise clusters on three things: the beach location, with many couples calling the ability to walk onto Matira Beach the highlight of the stay; the warm, personal service that a small resort makes possible; and the value relative to the motu resorts. The famous canoe breakfast, floated to the bungalow deck, is a repeat favorite in honeymoon photos and reviews.
The recurring criticisms are just as consistent. Some guests note that the bungalows feel dated next to Bora Bora's newest resorts, that the main-island setting is less private than they expected, and that food and drink prices at the resort are steep, as they are island-wide. None of these are dealbreakers for the right traveler, but they are worth weighing before you book.
Le Moana is not the resort for a couple whose top priority is total seclusion or the newest design. The main-island location means shared beach and busier water; the bungalows are older than the Thalasso's and the ultra-luxury motu villas; and there is no private plunge pool in the rooms. On-property dining is limited and expensive, so the town shuttle becomes part of the plan rather than a nice extra.
If you want a private motu with head-on Mount Otemanu views and newer villas, book the InterContinental Thalasso instead. If budget is no object and you want the island's most spacious villas and service, look at the St. Regis. Le Moana earns its rank for couples who want real beach access and Bora Bora romance at a more sane price.
How many bungalows does Le Moana have?
Around 64, a mix of overwater and beachfront bungalows on Matira Point, making it one of the smallest of Bora Bora's major resorts.
Is it on a motu or the main island?
On Matira Point on the main island, which is why it has direct Matira Beach access and a short shuttle to Vaitape town rather than a boat-only motu setting.
Which bungalow should I book?
An overwater bungalow with a Mount Otemanu or lagoon view for the classic experience, or a beach bungalow if stepping straight onto the sand matters more than being over the water.
Le Moana or the Thalasso?
Le Moana for beach access, smaller scale and lower rates; the Thalasso for a private motu, newer villas and the head-on Otemanu view.
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