Visit Wallis-et-Futuna: when to go and how to get there

Wallis-et-Futuna is the most distant and least visited French collectivity: two islands 2,000 kilometres from New Caledonia, a lagoon and crater lakes on Wallis, a forest-covered mountain on Futuna, and a still-living customary organisation into three kingdoms.

Why visit Wallis-et-Futuna?

Wallis-et-Futuna is a French collectivity in Oceania where customary authority, three kings and their chiefdoms, coexists with the state. Part of France, it is one of the few places in the world where you can see a Polynesian society run by its own institutions, with almost no tourism and a welcome that goes through custom.

What is there to discover in Wallis-et-Futuna?

Wallis (Uvea), the lagoon and the crater lakes

Wallis, called Uvea, is a low island of volcanic origin ringed by a 15-kilometre lagoon dotted with about twenty motu. Mata-Utu, the main town, lines up its coral-stone cathedral and the palace of the Lavelua, the king. Inland, several crater lakes with dark green water, including Lalolalo and its 30-metre vertical walls. You reach the island only by plane, via Noumea or Nadi.

Futuna and Alofi, the mountain and the forest

Forty minutes by plane, Futuna is the opposite: a high, narrow island with no lagoon and no beach, whose ridge reaches 524 metres at Mount Puke. The coast is rocky, the villages cling to the shore. Facing it, the islet of Alofi, almost uninhabited, is covered in dense forest and holds the Loka cave; Futunians cross by outrigger every day to tend their gardens and raise pigs there.

Custom, the three kingdoms and daily life

The territory is divided into three customary kingdoms: Uvea on Wallis, Sigave and Alo on Futuna, each with its king and village chiefs. Custom governs land use, ceremonies and the welcome of visitors: ask before crossing land or photographing, dress modestly, and know that Sunday is entirely devoted to mass and rest. Kava, dance and tapa set the rhythm of social life.

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Wallis and Futuna in pictures

Wallis-et-Futuna highlights

Eight places that sum up a territory where nature and custom count for more than infrastructure.

Mata-Utu cathedral

A large coral-stone church by the lagoon, the religious heart of the Uvea kingdom, facing the king's palace.

Talietumu site

A 15th-century Tongan fort on Wallis, with its walls and stone platforms, restored and open to visitors.

Lalolalo lake

The most spectacular of the Wallis crater lakes: a disc of dark green water ringed by wooded vertical walls.

Wallis lagoon motu

About twenty islets of sand and coconut palms, including Nukuatea and Faioa, reached by outrigger for swimming and snorkelling.

Poi sanctuary

On Futuna, the church where Saint Peter Chanel rests, the first martyr of Oceania, killed in 1841 and a pilgrimage site.

Mount Puke

The territory's high point at 524 metres, on Futuna; the climb crosses the forest and offers a view over both kingdoms.

Alofi island

A wooded, almost deserted islet facing Futuna, with the Loka cave and empty beaches, kept as a garden by Futunians.

Tapa

Traditional cloth made from beaten paper-mulberry bark then painted by hand, still produced in the villages for ceremonies.

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Frequently asked questions about Wallis-et-Futuna

How do you get to Wallis-et-Futuna?

Only by plane, with the airline Aircalin, from Noumea in New Caledonia, or from Nadi in Fiji. There is no direct flight from mainland France: the journey takes two or three legs and needs a passport for the stopover.

Are there hotels and tourism in Wallis-et-Futuna?

Very little. Lodging is limited to a small hotel in Mata-Utu, a few guest rooms and staying with locals, often arranged through contacts. There is no incoming travel agency: visitors are mostly families, civil servants and enthusiasts.

What is the difference between Wallis and Futuna?

Wallis is a low island with a large lagoon and crater lakes; Futuna is high, narrow, mountainous, with no lagoon and no beach. The two have distinct Polynesian languages and cultures, and are separated by 2 hours by boat or 40 minutes by plane.

What currency and time zone does Wallis-et-Futuna use?

The currency is the CFP franc, fixed to the euro. The time zone is UTC plus 12: it is one of the first territories in the world to enter a new day, about 11 hours ahead of mainland France in winter.

What is custom in Wallis-et-Futuna?

It is the traditional authority system, with three kings and their chiefdoms, which coexists with the French administration. It governs land use, ceremonies and the welcome of visitors: it is best to learn the customs before arriving and to be accompanied.

What is the best time to visit Wallis-et-Futuna?

From June to September, the least rainy season, with a clearer lagoon and slightly less crushing temperatures. Territory Day, on 29 July, and the customary festivals of August are a chance to see dances and ceremonies.

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