Bora Bora Tahiti Overwater Bungalows: St. Regis Resort
"Like you, I'd seen the photos," writes photographer Zach Stovall in the Wish List issue of ISLANDS magazine. "In the weeks leading up to my first trip to Tahiti, all I could think about were those overwater bungalows. Staying in one has topped my wish list for at least 10 years." | Zach Stovall
ByZach StovallJan. 23, 2015
Stay in an overwater bungalow in Tahiti. It's the No. 1 Wish on the ISLANDS Wish List 100. To prove why it's number one, photographer Zach Stovall chose these 15 amazing images from his Bora Bora bungalow stay.
"I know how daydream travel rarely coincides with feet-on-the-ground travel. So somewhere between Los Angeles and villa 231 at the St. Regis on Bora Bora, I cool my expectations." | Zach Stovall"From a distance, the bungalows look surreal. The thatch makes them appear more natural than I expected." | Zach Stovall"The view from inside is as epic as the view from outside. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a view of Mount Otemanu and the electric-blue lagoon. I also have a floor window, so I can watch the marine life in action — far better than watching a 52-inch HDTV." | Zach Stovall"My only concern is making sure I swim back to the right bungalow. The one that, even when I'm in it, still tops my wish list." | Zach Stovall"During my planning, one of the last amenities that came to mind was a swimming pool. And during my stay, I didn't use it. The lagoon off my porch was the best pool I've ever been in." | Zach Stovall"Maybe you don't want to hear this, but it only gets better." | Zach Stovall"This is the water that I woke up in every morning, and relaxed in every evening." | Zach Stovall"It's a long walk back to the bungalow if you forget your key. The pitfall of living out over the sea." | Zach Stovall"At dawn, while waiting for breakfast to be delivered by outrigger canoe, I watch a steady stream of locals paddle to work. Their commute is serene, punctuated only by the sounds of paddle strokes. I step off the deck and land in the bathlike water." | Zach Stovall"I wrote down the drink recipes, but the truth is, my replicas don't have the most important ingredient: the Bora Bora atmosphere." | Zach Stovall"When I'm shooting on assignment it's rare for me to stay in one spot for more than a few minutes. When I took this shot, I'd been in the same spot for nearly two hours. And I stayed here until it was completely dark." | Zach Stovall"Yep, the resort has a beach, sun umbrellas, and drinks. Don't get me wrong, I love the beach. But sitting on one wasn't part of my ultimate wish." | Zach Stovall"If I could do it over again (and I will), I'd be here with my wife. Staying here solo is not the ideal way to go." | Zach StovallTo book a bungalow and see for yourself, visit the St. Regis Bora Bora resort website. | Zach Stovall
