Top attractions Wallis and Futuna

Wallis (Uvea)
The main island of the archipelago is a hilly peak of an ancient volcano with numerous ancient craters filled with lakes and surrounded by steep cliffs. The island is rather harsh and inhospitable in terms of its conditions, and erosion processes caused by cutting down trees have severely destroyed its slopes. Due to the increasing desertification, Wallis has practically lost its original flora and fauna, and therefore the only sights here are the same coral reefs and rocky shores, which contrast brightly with the boundless blue of the ocean. This is the most densely populated island, which is why you can find some signs of civilization here – several large shops and even discos!

Mata Utu
The quiet capital of the entire island group, whose population barely exceeds one and a half thousand. The city center is located around the Cathedral of Mata Utu (Cathe’drale Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption de Mata Utu), which has the status of a national monument. Within one block around the cathedral are several restaurants, hotels, a police station, a shopping center, a post office and the palace of King Ovea. And this is where the sights of the capital end, except, of course, for the picturesque panorama of the slopes of Mount Lulu-Fakakhega on one side and the blue ocean on the other.

Talietumu
A magnificent and little known archaeological site, within which you can see a carefully restored fortified settlement from the period of the capture of the island by the Tongans (approximately 1450 AD). A thick wall with narrow gates surrounds tree-lined lawns and many ancient structures, including large ritual platforms and stone walkways around, which were only allowed to be used by the king, whose feet were not supposed to touch the ground.

Volcanic lake Lalolalo.
Forming an almost perfect circle, thirty-meter cliffs break off to the black waters of a deep-sea (maximum depth of 80 m) lake. The area around the lake is a kind of protected area (it is forbidden to cut trees and engage in other farming), so you can often see tropical birds literally gliding over the dark mirror of the water, and the surrounding forest is considered one of the most intact areas of vegetation on the island suffering from erosion.

Futuna
Futuna Island lies in the northwestern part of the island group of the same name, consisting of two large islands – Futuna (Huru) and Alofi. The mountainous Futuna (62 sq. km) has no lagoon, and its coast rises sharply from a narrow coastal plain to a central ridge that stretches along the entire length of the island. The main attraction of the island is the Church of Saint-Pierre, or Petelo Sanele-in-Futunan, named after the first missionary and patron saint of Oceania. The decoration of this church, which lies to the northwest of Futuna Airport, are relics associated with the name of Pierre Chanel, as well as a large wooden statue of him.

Leava
Known for its carved wooden statues, whose hands support the roof rafters, the colorful traditional buildings of the islanders in the village of Vaisei (here you can take part in traditional kava drinking ceremonies), as well as numerous salt lakes and coastal reefs. Although Futuna, like all islands in the archipelago, suffers from erosion, many rare birds can be found in the dense undergrowth of the mountain range, including the local variety of the Collard kingfisher (Halcyon chloris regina), the Polynesian nightingale (Lalage maculosa futunae) and other endangered species.

Alofi
Alofi Island lies just 2 km south of Futuna and is very similar to its neighbor. However, the lack of fresh water has led to the complete uninhabitability of the island. However, the inhabitants of the neighboring island prefer to explain the lifelessness of Alofi in a different way – supposedly its population was simply eaten by cannibals from Futuna in a single raid in the 19th century. The village of Alofitai on the west coast is home to only two or three shepherds who look after the pigs that are bred on this island as in one large natural paddock. There are also orchards here, the owners of which specially sail here from Futuna several times a week to harvest. However, here you can find the best beaches of the archipelago, famous for their white coral sand, crystal clear waters and shady shores. The island itself is framed by a wide strip of reefs with numerous underwater caves and caverns. Local reefs are considered one of the oldest in the Pacific Ocean and are inhabited by a wide variety of inhabitants. Diving off the coast of Alofi is quite difficult (local currents are strong – especially at depth – and unpredictable), but excitingly interesting: gray whales and whale sharks pass along the eastern coast of the island, and innumerable flocks of squid rise to the surface at night.