Booking choice: The Lagoon Service full day, from $172 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Lagoon tours run all year. What changes is how often wind or heavy rain cancels a trip and how clear the water is.
The single best piece of advice from guests: book early in your stay, so you have time to rebook.
The quick answer
Roughly May to October is the drier, slightly cooler season; November to April is warmer and wetter. Humpback whales visit French Polynesia from July to November. Whatever the month, book your lagoon day early in your stay and keep a spare day for wind.
What is the best season for a lagoon tour?
Roughly May to October, the drier and slightly cooler months, though tours run in every season.
November to April is warmer and wetter, with more frequent showers. Rain does not always stop a tour: one guest called it a wonderful day out despite rainy weather.
Dates set? Check availability for Lagoon Service's full day.
Check dates for the Lagoon Service full dayWhen can you see whales?
Humpback whales visit French Polynesia's waters from July to November.
Lagoon tours stay mostly inside the reef, so whales are not part of the plan.
How does wind affect the day?
Strong wind can cancel a tour and makes the water choppier and less clear.
One H2O guest wrote that on a windy, cloudy day visibility was not the best. One guest was told of a weather cancellation only at the pier, so keep your phone on the morning of your tour.
What time of day is best?
Morning: the tours here start around 8:30 to 9 AM, and a morning half day leaves the afternoon free.
One H2O guest wrote that their small boat reached the spots before the larger boats arrived.
Prefer an early start and a free afternoon? H2O's morning snorkel picks three or four spots for the day's conditions.
Explore the H2O morning snorkelWhen in your trip should you book?
In the first half of your stay, so a weather cancellation still leaves time to rebook.
Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before on every tour on this site, so you can move the date if the forecast turns.
Is the lagoon busy in high season?
Groups are small on these tours (12 travelers at most on Lagoon Service's canoe), and one guest described snorkel sites that were never crowded.
Check your date early, and book as soon as your dates are firm.
What if you are on a cruise?
Your date is fixed, so check the forecast and your all-aboard time, and pick a tour that fits.
Two Lagoon Service guests were collected at the cruise tender pier in Vaitape. If time is tight, a half day is safer; see half day vs full day.
Cruise stop in Bora Bora? Check dates for Lagoon Service's full day.
Check dates for the Lagoon Service full dayFrequently asked questions
Is December a good time for a lagoon tour?
Yes, tours run, but December falls in the warmer, wetter season, so keep a spare day in case of rain or wind.
Do lagoon tours run every day?
Availability varies by operator and date; check your date on the listing.
Will I see whales on a lagoon tour?
Possibly between July and November, but the lagoon tours are built around rays, sharks and coral, not whales.
Ready to book
Choose your day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Lagoon Service Full Day Group Tour
- Snorkel stops for stingrays, a coral garden and sharks
- Buffet lunch of local dishes on a motu
- Soft drinks, bottled water and towels
H2O Small-Group Morning Snorkel
Three or four spots chosen for the day's conditions
Sharks, Stingrays & Motu Lunch Cruise
- Local guide and snorkel equipment
- Stingray stop, coral garden and a manta ray search
- Buffet lunch on a private motu: grilled meats, fish, salads, fruit
