The only public white-sand beach on the main island of Bora Bora, and one of the finest in French Polynesia. The long, shallow crescent of sand at the southern tip of the island faces west into the lagoon, with the motu islands visible across the water and sunset views that are hard to beat anywhere in the Pacific. The water here is calm, shallow, and warm — ideal for swimming, snorkelling, and paddling.
Matira Beach is public and free, which distinguishes it from most of the beach access on the island, which is controlled by resort hotels. The cluster of small restaurants and shops at the southern tip of the main road serves reasonably priced food and cold drinks. This is where locals swim and where budget travellers base themselves — small guesthouses near Matira offer a dramatically cheaper alternative to the overwater bungalow resorts on the motu.