Futuna Island (Wallis and Futuna) Voyage Tips and guide

Welcoming only a few tourists a year, Futuna Island is definitely off the beaten track. However for those who make the trip, this remote and rustic destination offers plenty to explore over a couple of days.

Futuna Island and Alofi Island together are known as the Hoorn Islands. Only Futuna Island is inhabited and the village of Leava is its administrative capital.

French and Futunian are the major languages spoken on the island. Very few people understand English.

The best time to visit the island is during the dry and cool winter months of June, July and August. The main cyclone season is during the summer months of December, January and February when temperatures, rainfall and winds can be high. Futuna receives about 3 meters of rain a year.

• Wallis and Futuna government website (tourism)
• Wallis and Futuna Tourism

14°16′54″S 178°7′27″W

Map of Futuna Island (Wallis and Futuna)

Air Loyauté/Air Oceania provide daily flights between Aéroport de Hihifo (NLWW) on Wallis/Uvéa Island and Aéroport de Pointe-Vele (NLWF) on the southern tip of Futuna Island. A one-way flight takes an hour but high winds can delay or cancel flights in either direction.

There are no buses or taxis on the island. However, hotels offer airport transfers as well as sightseeing tours. Rental cars are also available to hire. Cars can be rented from:

• Corail Renting: across the road from the Delegation offices. There is no charge for insurance, but if you damage the car you have to pay for its repair.

It is not possible to drive in a circle around the island because RT1 is closed due to a landslide between Eglise Ste-Famille/Famili Tapu and Anakele.

Government road maps of the island are available online .

Futuna uses a type E, C or F plug. The power supply is 220V 50Hz.

The island’s currency is the CPF franc. XPF is the currency code.

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted. Cash can be withdrawn from the Banque de Wallis et Futuna (BWF) at its Leava office near Cowafdis or from its ATM beside the Post Office. BWF is the only bank on the island and it offers a foreign exchange service.

• Basilique de Poi: the major cathedral on the island and an annual pilgrimage site on April 28 for the commemoration of the martyrdom of Saint Pierre Chanel.
• Chappelle Ste-Pierre Chanel/Sagato Petelo Sanele: A colourful memorial to Saint Pierre Chanel
• Mata ki Uvea: Lookout point with a great view of the Basilique de Poi and Futuna’s northeast coast
• Anakele: Tomb of King Fakavelikele and cradle of the Tui’Agaifo dynastic clan
• Four Cannibale: a well maintained historic cannibal oven (lovo pit)
• Eglise de Vilamalia: Large church with a splendid view overlooking Sigave Bay (Anse de Sigave) and the villages of Leava and Nuku.
• Eglise de Sausau: largest church in Nuku with good views from its tower
• Tarodiere de Nuku: irrigated taro fields behind the Nuku cemetery
• Plage Noir: a remote beach with black sand

• A four hour guided tour of the island (in French).
• Attend a katoaga and kava ceremony on Bastille Day (14 July) or the Territory’s national holiday (29 July).
• Download the Futuna events calendar

There are two large grocery stores on Futuna:

• SERF, in the village Nuku
• Cowafdis, in the village of Leava

Both of the island’s hotels have restaurants. Across the street from the Hotel Fiafia is a snack shack which serves hot food in the evenings.

Bottles of alcohol can be bought at the grocery stores. The island’s hotels serve alcoholic beverages.

• Hotel Fiafia in Nuku:
• Somalama Park Hotel in Toloke:

The tap water is not safe to drink. Only drink bottled water. When planning a hike take sunscreen and lots of water because, even during the winter, sunlight, temperatures and humidity can be high.

Good wifi is available at the hotels and the Vele Airport has free public wifi. Mobile phone SIM cards can be bought at the Post Office.

Hire a boat to make the 1.5 km voyage from Futuna to Alofi to explore this uninhabited island.