Why Honeymoon in Huahine
Huahine offers the lagoon colors of Bora Bora with a fraction of the people. Many beaches are quiet and some are almost empty, especially on Huahine Iti.
The island also has real cultural depth. The marae at Maeva and the stone fish traps in the channel nearby show how Polynesians lived here for centuries. Village life continues around them.
It suits couples who like to explore by car, bike or boat. You can rent a car and circle both islands in a day, stopping at viewpoints, vanilla farms and beaches.
Stays are smaller and more personal than in Bora Bora. Many couples remember the hosts at their guesthouse or boutique hotel as much as the views.
When to Go
The dry season, roughly May to October, is the best time. Days are sunny and warm, humidity is lower and trade winds keep things comfortable. This is also the busiest period, though Huahine never feels crowded.
November to April is the wet season, hotter and more humid with heavy showers. Cyclones are rare in the Society Islands but possible, mainly from about January to March.
Shoulder months such as April, May and October often bring good weather with fewer visitors. Humpback whales visit French Polynesia from about July to October. Sightings are sometimes possible around Huahine.
Where to Stay
Huahine has a handful of small resorts and many family-run guesthouses, called pensions, plus villas and bungalows.
Le Mahana, on Avea Bay in Huahine Iti, has beach bungalows facing one of the island's best stretches of sand. Maitai Lapita Village Huahine, near Fare, has bungalows set around gardens and a lake, close to archaeological sites.
Pensions and private villas around the lagoon offer a more local feel, often with kayaks and bikes included.
There are no overwater bungalows here, which keeps prices lower than on Bora Bora. As a rough guide, expect about US$200–450 a night for a good boutique hotel or bungalow. Pensions often cost less.
Romantic Things to Do
Book a full-day lagoon tour by outrigger canoe or boat. Most include snorkeling, a visit to a pearl farm and a picnic on a motu, a small islet on the reef.
Explore the Maeva archaeological site, with marae temples along the lake and V-shaped stone fish traps still in use. A small museum explains the history.
Visit Faie village to see the sacred blue-eyed eels in the stream.
Drive to the Belvedere viewpoint above Maroe Bay for views of both islands.
Spend an afternoon swimming and snorkeling at Avea Bay, then watch the sunset together from the beach.
Getting There and Around
International flights land at Tahiti Faa'a Airport (PPT), with nonstops from Los Angeles and San Francisco on Air Tahiti Nui, Air France, United and French bee, plus Honolulu on Hawaiian Airlines. Flight time from Los Angeles is about 8 hours.
Air Tahiti flies to Huahine from Papeete several times a day in about 40 minutes. It also links Huahine with Bora Bora, Moorea and Raiatea.
Huahine Airport (HUH) is about 15 minutes by taxi from Fare. Most hotels arrange transfers.
Rent a car, scooter or bike to explore. The roads are quiet and a full loop of both islands takes a few hours with stops.
Food and Drink
Fare's waterfront has roulottes, food trucks serving grilled fish, steak frites and Chinese-Tahitian dishes in the evening.
Try poisson cru, raw tuna marinated in lime and coconut milk. It is the national dish and Huahine's versions are excellent.
Vanilla grows on Huahine. Many local dishes and desserts use it. Visit a farm to see how it is pollinated and cured.
Resorts and some pensions offer set dinners, often with fresh fish from the lagoon. Grocery stores in Fare stock French cheese, baguettes and wine for picnics.
Prices are high by US standards. Budget accordingly and enjoy roulottes for good-value meals.
Honeymoon Tips
Bring cash in French Pacific francs (XPF). Smaller pensions and roulottes may not take cards. ATMs are limited outside Fare.
Respect marae sites. They are sacred places, so do not climb on the stones or remove anything.
Mosquitoes are present and dengue occurs in French Polynesia. Use repellent and cover up at dusk. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices.
Book Air Tahiti flights early, especially in peak season. An island-hopping air pass can save money if you visit several islands.
Shops and restaurants close early and on Sundays, so plan meals ahead.
