A guided circuit of Bora Bora by four-wheel drive is the best way to see the island's interior and reach the World War II fortifications that are scattered across the hillsides and headlands. Tours depart from Vaitape and circumnavigate the island over three to four hours, stopping at gun emplacements, viewpoints over the lagoon, a marae (ancient Polynesian ceremonial platform), and usually a vanilla plantation — vanilla is one of the few agricultural products that survives Bora Bora's rocky volcanic soil.
The jeeps bounce through interior tracks that are inaccessible by scooter, reaching elevations that give wide-angle views across the lagoon to the outer reef. Guides vary considerably in their knowledge; ask locally for recommendations. Tours typically run in the morning when light is better for photography and the heat less brutal. Half the island's appeal is visible from the road; the jeep tour gives you the other half.