Huahine isn’t the first island most travelers think of when they imagine visiting French Polynesia; Bora Bora, Tahiti and Moorea usually come to mind long before this oft-forgotten island, which has been nicknamed “Garden of Eden.”
But for me, Huahine was the ultimate tropical paradise. It was the first island we explored during our 10 days in French Polynesia, and as we wrapped up our time on the island and prepared to hop over to Moorea, Derek said it best: “I think it’s going to be hard to beat Huahine.”
We fell in step with the slow pace of life on Huahine from day one: morning bike rides through coconut plantations, mid-day hammock naps, afternoon swims in the ocean, sunset cocktails by the water, falling asleep with the windows open when the stars come out…
Simply put, the magic of Huahine is so real and so addictive, and I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to experience even a brief glimpse of it.
Huahine Travel Guide: Table of Contents
- Why Visit Huahine?
- How to Get to Huahine
- Where to Stay on Huahine
- Best Things to See & Do on Huahine
- Where to Eat on Huahine
- How to Get Around Huahine
Why Visit Huahine?
Close your eyes and imagine the quintessential, picture-perfect Polynesian island. What do you see?
Wild, untamed landscapes dotted with lush green peaks, white sand beaches and turquoise lagoons, perhaps? Or maybe coconut plantations, vanilla farms and quiet villages, complete with crowing roosters and colorful pareos strung up on clothes lines? How about fluffy palm trees swaying in the warm island breeze, lively tiki bars, and thousand-year-old Polynesian ruins?
Welcome to Huahine, where you will find all of that and more!
Whether you’re a backpacker, an independent traveler, a pair of honeymooners or a family, if you’re looking to get off the beaten path in French Polynesia, Huahine is your island.
This island of roughly 6,000 people measures 10 miles in length, and just 8 miles at its widest point across. Despite being a short flight from the islands of Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora, Huahine remains largely undeveloped and untouched by tourism.
It contains a single supermarket, a single bar, and a single overwater resort (isolated on a private bay). The vast majority of locals support themselves through small-scale farming of coconuts, melons and vanilla, as well as through fishing.
Unlike the more touristed islands of French Polynesia, there are a very limited number of actual hotels on Huahine. The vast majority of accommodation options are locally-owned guesthouses, pensions and even Airbnb rentals.
Likewise, there aren’t a whole lot of genuine “attractions” on Huahine; visitors can fill their days with leisurely bike rides around the island, swimming and snorkeling in crystal clear lagoons, sunbathing on white sand beaches, boat excursions, exploring the remnants of ancient ruins, enjoying excellent fresh seafood, or simply snoozing in a hammock or lounge chair.
Does Huahine sound like your version of a South Pacific paradise? It’s mine too, and I can’t recommend it enough if you’re looking to experience something a bit different from the norm on your trip to French Polynesia.
How to Get to Huahine
Huahine is a quick and easy 40-minute flight from Pape’ete, the international hub and jumping off point of French Polynesia, located on the island of Tahiti.
We booked our flights on Air Tahiti; the number of weekly flights are limited, so I recommend booking your airfare as soon as you’re ready to lock your travel plans into place.
Where to Stay on Huahine
Huahine is actually made up of two separate islands connected by a bridge: Huahine Nui (Big Huahine) to the north, and Huahine Iti (Little Huahine) to the south. The two islands are surrounded by several smaller motus (islets) and coral reefs, which is what keeps the lagoon waters so clear and calm.
Fare is the administrative capital of the island, and is located on Huahine Nui, just 10 minutes from the airport. It’s the only true town on Huahine, and is where I recommend basing yourself during your stay.
In Fare you will find several banks and ATMs, gas stations, the largest grocery store in all of French Polynesia (Super U Fare Nui), and a very small selection of dining options (we really only frequented two restaurants).
Moving clockwise from Fare, the other towns and villages on Huahine Nui include Maeva, Faie and Fitii. Keep in mind that these are very small, blink-and-you’ll-miss-’em places; you might find a pension or two and a mini-mart, but not much else.
Huahine Iti is even quieter; going clockwise again, the villages and towns here are Maore, Tefarerii, Parea and Haapu. Again, don’t expect much more than a handful of accommodations and roadside stands here. If you’re looking to stay on Huahine Iti, Parea will most likely be your best choice.
Accommodations in Fare:
Bungalow Bali Hai: We spent four blissful nights in this bungalow, which cost $120 per night (including airport pickup and drop-off). Our hosts were so welcoming and provided the best recommendations on where to eat and what to do, and even gave us a quick tour of town in their truck upon our arrival. Even with no A/C we slept extremely well here, and I loved how airy the interior of the bungalow was, as well as the lush landscaping. Highly recommended!
Maitai Lapita Village: This upscale hotel has an excellent location near Fare, just a short walk down Fare Beach. We stopped by for a cocktail one afternoon; the pool and and restaurant are right on the beach with beautiful views.
Chez Guynette: A pension/restaurant/cafe owned by an expat from Monaco. Private rooms and dorms are available, making it an ideal option for budget travelers.
Other Huahine Accommodations:
Royal Huahine: If you’re looking for luxury on Huahine, this is it. The Royal Huahine boasts the island’s only overwater bungalows, and is only accessible via boat.
Relais Mahana: Highly rated accommodations on the water in Parea (on Huahine Iti). The property is beautiful, but I’m not sure I’d recommend staying here unless you’ll have a rental car or scooter the whole time—it’s quite isolated.
Best Things to See & Do on Huahine
1. The Pregnant Woman of Huahine
They say that the island of Huahine looks like a pregnant woman lying on her back. Can you see her?
In the photo above, the mountain on the far right is the side profile of her face (see her nose?), the middle mountain is her breast, and the mountain on the far left is her rounded pregnant stomach.
Fun fact, the name Huahine actually means “sex of the woman.” Hua means sex and wahine or vahine means woman!
2. Fare & Fare Beach
Fare is the place to be when you come to Huahine—it has the island’s only supermarket, only happy hour, and only breakfast joint. In the morning, vendors will line the street outside the Super U selling freshly caught fish, coconuts, bananas, eggs and other goods.
Locals, sailors and tourists alike gather at the Huahine Yacht Club each evening (but especially on Fridays) to watch the sunset and sip happy hour cocktails and Hinano beers.
Conveniently located directly next to town is one of the island’s most gorgeous beaches: Fare Beach. Derek I spent countless hours strolling along this sandy shoreline and floating in the crystal clear lagoon water, which fluctuated between vibrant turquoise and calm cerulean, depending on the sun and wind conditions.
3. Huahine Nautique Lagoon Tour
If you only have time for ONE activity on Huahine, make it the full-day lagoon tour with Huahine Nautique. The company lists several tour options on their website; the one you want to select is “Motu Picnic 3-in-1.”
We spent an entire beautiful day boating around the islands of Huahine Nui and Huahine Iti, drift snorkeling above coral gardens, picnicking on a motu, and even snorkeling with sharks!
It was the absolute quintessential, picture-perfect day in paradise—THIS was the French Polynesian scenery of my wildest dreams.
I’m not going to lie, I was absolutely TERRIFIED submerging myself in water that I knew was teeming with blacktip reef sharks, but it was hands-down of the coolest experiences of my lifetime. And that was only the beginning of the day!
Another highlight from the Lagoon Tour was having a private picnic on a motu, which had some of the most ridiculously beautiful tropical scenery and blue water I’ve ever seen. And the food was amazing.
4. Rent a Bike & Explore Huahine Nui
One of our first days on the island, Derek and I grabbed a couple of bicycles and spent five hours making our way around the upper half of Huahine Nui.
Exploring by bike is a great way to slow down and immerse yourself in the destination in a way that a rental car just doesn’t allow for; you get to feel the wind and sun, smell the fresh island air and notice easy-to-miss details as you slowly pedal down the road.
Mostly we saw a whole lot of nothing: overgrown coconut plantations and vanilla farms; quiet villages and local homes; jungle, jungle and more jungle…
Some of the highlights of our bicycle adventure included:
Lake Fauna Nui: A large brackish lagoon fringed by palm trees, lush jungle and local homes.
Maeva Marae Complex: Historians believe that the ancient Polynesians first inhabited Huahine sometime during the 9th century AD. You can see remnants of the island’s rich and storied past in the village of Maeva, which contains the highest concentration of marae (ancient temples) in all of French Polynesia.
Fare Pote’e: While you’re in the area, might as well stop by this small museum housing architectural treasures from Polynesian culture, like tattoo hammers, paddles, hooks and artwork.
V-Shaped Fish Traps: As you continue down the road beyond the marae, you’ll eventually come to a bridge that veers off towards the left. If you cross this bridge, you’ll be able to see the stone fish traps that were designed by the ancient Polynesians and are still in use today.
Marae Manunu: After crossing the bridge, if you take another left you’ll stumble across an even more impressive ancient temple: the Marae Manunu. This ruin is set amidst wild overgrown jungle, and looks like something straight out of an Indiana Jones film.
Gallery Umatatea: In need of a cool-down after all that peddling? Surprisingly, way out here in the middle of nowhere is one of Huahine’s most prominent art galleries, owned by American artist Melanie Dupre. Her paintings depict the beautiful scenery and vibrant local culture of Huahine…and best of all (according to Derek, anyways) is the fact that you can enjoy an ice cream cone here! Melanie only had Tahitian vanilla when we stopped in, but she typically stocks other fun flavors like coconut and taro.
Beach at the Abandoned Sofitel: Want to experience one of the best-kept (and most beautiful) secrets on all of Huahine? Those who venture all the way to the very end of the road will find the abandoned Sofitel Resort, which is home to an unbelievably stunning beach. And if you’re lucky (like we were) you might have this gorgeous blue lagoon all to yourself!
5. Circle Island Tour by Scooter or Car
A bicycle will allow you to see many of Huahine Nui’s highlights, but if you want to venture further around the island—for instance, on a circle island tour all the way around Huahine Nui and Huahine Iti—then you’ll want to rent a car or a scooter.
Always up for an adventure, we ended up going with the scooter! Below were some of the highlights of our circle island tour of Huahine:
Sacred Blue-Eyed Eels: Local legend has it that these blind, blue-eyed eels carry the souls of the island’s deceased ancestors. You can find them in a small mountain stream in the village of Faie; keep an eye out for the signs, as well as for local kids gathered around to watch the eels. They’re perfectly safe—you can even hop down into the stream to feed them tins of mackerel!
Belvedere Lookout Point: For the best fews of the island’s interior, head up to the Belvedere Lookout Point, one of the highest accessible points on Huahine. It’s nothing but wild, lush landscapes up here, showcasing how truly undeveloped the island actually is.
Maroe Bay: Located between the sister islands of Huahine Nui and Huahine Iti is Maroe Bay, one of the prettiest spots on the island. This bright blue bay is encircled by overgrown jungles, swaying palm trees and gorgeous cliffs. Trust me when I say that you’re going to want to pull over again and again to snap some photos and soak in the breathtaking views! You can see Maroe Bay from both islands (as well as the bridge that connects them), but I think the scenery is most impressive from the smaller Huahine Iti.
Avea Bay: In fact, Huahine Iti just might be home to some of the most beautiful views on the entire island…especially in the vicinity of Avea Bay. Located west of the southernmost point on the island, this bay boasts picture-perfect white sand beaches and bright blue waters. The Relais Mahana (hotel) and Chez Tara (restaurant) are two worthwhile stops in Avea Bay.
Where to Eat on Huahine
Huahine Yacht Club: Among locals and visitors alike, the Yacht Club is THE place to eat on Huahine. It’s the only true bar on the island, and has a nightly happy hour which begins at 5:00pm. The Yacht Club can get quite busy at dinnertime, especially on Friday evenings when the live band starts up. Between the gorgeous sunset views, strong cocktails, amazing seafood and convenient location, we ended up eating here every single day. My favorite dishes were the poisson cru, breaded coconut fish and tuna sashimi!
Chez Guynette: When it comes to breakfast joints on Huahine, there’s no place better than Chez Guynette (…and that’s not just because it happens to be the only breakfast joint on Huahine). The food is legitimately very good! The “Denver” omelette is excellent, but our favorite dishes here were the croque monsieur and croque madame. The portions are very filling, too!
Chez Tara: This beachside restaurant in Avea Bay is famous for its Sunday Brunch. Reservations are highly recommended, although we managed to (just barely) squeak in by showing up an hour early. The brunch is served buffet-style, and although the food wasn’t our favorite (especially considering the $30 per person price tag, not including beverages) it was a fun opportunity to sample some local Tahitian cuisine we may not have otherwise tried, like chicken fafa, roasted taro, breadfruit and suckling pig.
Roulottes: If you’re feeling adventurous, try the roulottes (food trucks) that gather in Fare each evening. Poisson cru, burgers, pizza and crepes are all on the menu!
How to Get Around Huahine
I’m not going to sugarcoat it: getting around the island of Huahine is not easy without renting a car or scooter. Public transportation is essentially nonexistent; taxis are scarce and crazy expensive, and the island’s bus system doesn’t appear to be frequent or reliable.
The good news? You likely won’t need to rent a car or scooter for your entire trip, especially if you’re basing yourself in Fare. We opted for a single 8-hour scooter rental from Europcar, which was conveniently located just down the road from Bungalow Bali Hai.
This ended up being plenty of time for our circle island tour of Huahine Nui and Huahine Iti. Europcar also rents out bicycles, quads and cars (manual transmission only, unfortunately). You can choose from 4-hour, 8-hour, 24-hour, or multi-day rentals.
Other scooter and vehicle rental options on Huahine include Avis (near the Mobil gas station in Fare) and the Isabel Location (near the supermarket in Fare).
Bicycle is a decent option for getting around Huahine as well, if you don’t mind doing a bit (…okay, maybe a lot) of sweating. But it’s a great way to truly experience the island’s sights, smells and sounds.
Shop the looks in this post:
Pin It!
Have you ever visited this picturesque French Polynesian island? If so, what would you add to this Huahine travel guide? Or if you’re currently planning a visit, what else would you like to know before your trip?
Note: This post contains several affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. My affiliate income helps offset the cost of running this blog, and allows me to keep this site free of sponsored posts. So, thank you!!
This is absolutely what I imagine when I think of what paradise must be! Gorgeous! I can’t believe your bungalow was so affordable…it makes me think a trip there is actually possible! All I’d ever really seen much of were those super expensive resorts in Tahiti.
Emily recently posted…3.5 Years in RVA
YES! It was so exciting finding affordable options for this trip…Moorea (blog post on that island coming soon!) had a ton of very reasonably priced options. Our biggest expense definitely ended up being food, actually. Dining out is super expensive on all the islands, but cooking a few meals would help a lot with that.
Where is the Catholic Church from where the
MS Paul Gauguin tender lands?
Heading here with husband and two boys ages 4 and 2 next month. I don’t suppose you noticed bike hire with seats for children at all?
How fun! Sorry but no, I didn’t notice any bikes like that. It’s possible though? I would check with Avis and Europcar, they seemed to have the most diverse selection of rentals, including bikes.
Thanks for the reply and thank you for posting the blog. I found you on Instagram. I’m Lynn’s travels and travails on there and was doing research before we head over from Scotland.
Thank you so much Kelly for a wonderful guide to one of the most amazing islands of the Society group.
Also thank you for your kind words and beautiful pictures of our little Bungalow, we aim to attract people like yourself who loves nature and the simple life without sacrificing a few creature comforts such asWiFi , clean linen & towels and fly screens!
I hope you come back soon
❤️
Bungalow Bali Hai
Of course! 🙂 We had the best time staying in your beautiful bungalow, it was the perfect choice for us! ❤️
Just beautiful! I love all your posts!!
Thank you so much, Samira!
I have not heard of Huahine before but it looks simply stunning! What an amazing place.
It’s truly one of the most magical and unique places I’ve ever been!
I envy you so much, that place looks breathtaking. I hope that I will get a chance to visit it as well after all this stuff ends. And I must say that whoever took those photos has an eye for photography.
Wrencher recently posted…Best Lightweight Touring Motorcycles
My wife and I are going to French Polynesia for the month of February. We will be staying on Huahine for a week. Thank you so much for your reviews and tips. We will definitely be going on the 3-in-1 boat tour!!