7 Best Places to Shop in Bora Bora with Maupiti, French Polynesia

The gallery's French owners came to Bora Bora 38 years ago on their honeymoon, loved it, and returned a few years later to live there. The lovely thatched building displays both their works—she paints on canvas and he specializes in hand-painted pareos—and the work of local artists (painters and sculptors) who they nurture and promote. The gallery also sells etchings, tapas (Polynesian painted cloth), and books.

This French artist moved to Bora Bora in 1986, and from his hillside studio above Matira Beach, paints vivid Bora Bora scenes and depictions of tikis, using acrylic and enamel on canvas. He achieved international fame for his painting of a bottle of vodka floating in the Bora Bora lagoon to promote Absolut vodka.

Garrick Yrondi is a Frenchman who has lived on various islands of French Polynesia since he was two years old. He paints oils and watercolors and sculpts in a Mediterranean style villa studio 4 km (2 mi) south of Vaitape. His 2-meter rose marble statue of a woman, known as Vahine E ia is displayed on a tiny island in the lagoon just near Bora Bora airport. You can't miss it.

Owned by the 30-year-old Bora Pearl Company, this is one of those one-stop-look-and-shop places that a tour operator might take you to. You can walk along pontoons to see oyster leases in the water and take a free guided tour of the pearl harvesting, jewelry making, and retail sections. It's educational...and tempting.

From post cards and toothpaste to Vini cards for your mobile phone, you'll find most things you need at this popular supermarket. There are also upscale items as well, including foie gras and French champagne.

You'll hear the name Robert Wan all over French Polynesia, as he is the doyen of pearl production and design. There are four of his beautiful boutiques on Bora Bora: in Vaitape, the St Regis Resort, Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa, and InterContinental Le Moana Resort. A free shuttle boat is available to pick up customers from other resorts and transport them to Vaitape.

You'll find this supermarket near the Novotel and the Sofitel resorts at the southeast end of the island about 8 km (5 mi) from Vaitape. It carries all the essentials—from sunblock to toothpaste—and ingredients for self-catering meals.