Huahine Cruise Port
Fare, French Polynesia · Pacific
Cruise ships anchor offshore in Fare — tenders ferry passengers to the port.
Plan my port daysTender port with almost nothing at the pier: the day happens in Fare, at the Maeva marae, the sacred eels of Faie and the beaches of Huahine Iti. A shuttle or a rental car is essential; taxis are rare.
At a glance
Port summary
Huahine has no cruise terminal. Most ships anchor in deep Maroe Bay, the long inlet that almost splits the island in two, and run tenders to a flat wooden pier in Maroe village. There is shade, a bench, toilets and a few handicraft stalls on cruise days, but no town and no beach. Fare, the main village, is about 10 km away by road (20 minutes); many lines run 'Le Truck' shuttles there, often only until mid-afternoon. A few small ships anchor off Fare and tender straight to its harbour. The island is made for an easy road loop. Huahine Nui (the bigger, northern half) and Huahine Iti (the southern half) are joined by the short Maroe bridge, and a quiet coastal road of about 60 km circles both. Rent a car or scooter in advance and you can see the main sights in half a day: the Belvédère viewpoint over Maroe Bay, the sacred blue-eyed eels in the stream at Faie, a free boat ride to the pearl farm on the lagoon, and Maeva, one of the largest marae complexes in Polynesia, with the Fare Pote'e museum and 600-year-old stone fish traps on Lake Fauna Nui. In the south, Avea Bay on Huahine Iti has one of the best beaches in the islands and Marae Anini sits on the shore at its tip. Fare is small and walkable: a waterfront with the market hall, a Super U, two banks with ATMs, snack bars and roulottes, and a public beach with good snorkelling a short walk north. Life is slow, there are few taxis and most small businesses only take cash, so bring CFP francs. Keep an eye on the clock: allow at least 20 minutes from Fare back to the Maroe pier, and check both the last shuttle and the last tender in the daily programme.
Cruise docks
Maroe Bay tender pier
Main tender landing: ships anchor in Maroe Bay and tenders tie up at a flat wooden pier in Maroe village (Huahine Iti side). Shade, bench, toilets and craft stalls on cruise days; Le Truck shuttles and rental cars wait here. Fare is about 10 km / 20 minutes away.
Latitude: -16.763936, Longitude: -150.996846
See dock on port map →Fare harbour (small ships)
Fare's inter-island harbour on the waterfront. Used by the Aranui and by some small cruise ships that anchor off Fare and tender here; you land right in town.
Latitude: -16.714429, Longitude: -151.034938
See dock on port map →Getting to Fare
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Bring CFP francs (XPF) for stalls, entry fees and snacks; withdraw at the ATMs in Fare. US dollars are accepted in a few places only and euros hardly at all.
Build your perfect day in Fare
Tell us your cruise line, ship and departure date and we'll give you a complete set of full port information and playbooks of how to spend your day.
Inside the French Polynesia collection
Here's a peek at everything waiting for your Fare cruise day.
Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Excursions compared
3 comparedHuahine island drive: Belvédère, sacred eels, pearl farm and Maeva marae
≈ 3.5 h · sold by 3 cruise lines
Cruise line
€100$112
Do it yourself
€70$78
Save ≈ €30Save ≈ $34 (30% off)
Ships tender to the wooden pier at Maroe, 10 km / 20 min by road from Fare; there are no buses and very few taxis, so pre-book a rental car (Europcar, Avis or local agencies such as Isabelle Location, about F9,400–12,000 / €80–100 per car per day) and ask for handover at the Maroe pier. The loop is short: Maroe → Belvédère 11 min → Faie 15 min (eels free, tinned fish to feed them ~F300; the pearl-farm boat from the Faie shore is free) → Maeva 10 min (marae and fish traps free, Fare Pote'e museum ~F200 cash) → Fare 15 min for lunch → Maroe 20 min. Bring cash in CFP francs; ATMs are only in Fare.
See the DIY plan →
Sacred sites of Maeva: marae, Matairea Hill walk and ancient fish traps
≈ 3.5 h · sold by 5 cruise lines
Cruise line
€110$123
Do it yourself
€67$75
Save ≈ €43Save ≈ $48 (39% off)
From the Maroe tender pier there is no public transport, so pre-book a rental car with pier handover (about €80–100 per car per day) and drive 25 min via Faie to Maeva. Park at the Fare Pote'e (museum ~F200 cash, weekdays roughly 08:30–15:30, Saturday mornings only), walk the lakeshore marae and fish traps for free, then climb the Matairea Hill path (about an hour up and back; steep, slippery after rain, little fire ants, so closed shoes and long trousers). For a guide instead, Island Eco Tours sells its half-day tour direct at F7,000 (~€60) including the museum; email first to ask for a Maroe pickup on your cruise date.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
6 plansFare for Free: Market, Waterfront and a Snorkel Off the Beach
Ride the ship's shuttle into Huahine's sleepy main village, browse the market hall, then swim over coral a few metres from the sand — without spending a franc.
The Huahine Loop: Belvédère, Sacred Eels, Pearls and Maeva
Your own wheels and one quiet coast road: the view of your ship from the Belvédère, blue-eyed eels, a free boat to the pearl farm and Polynesia's great temple village.
Maeva's Sacred Sites and the Matairea Hill Climb
A slower, deeper day at Polynesia's great temple village: the lakeside museum, a sweaty climb to hilltop marae, and fish traps still worked after centuries.
Huahine Iti: Avea Beach and Marae Anini
Cross the bridge to the wilder southern island for a long white beach, a seaside temple and lagoon viewpoints most visitors never see.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Fare?
- Fare is a tender port: your ship anchors offshore and passengers transfer to shore by small boat.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Fare?
- Walking into Fare from the cruise port isn't practical. Plan to use a shuttle, taxi, or public transport.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Fare centre?
- Typical options include Shuttle bus, Car rental, Taxi, Other transport, On foot. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Fare?
- Plan for at least 3 hours ashore to see Fare independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Fare and are cards accepted?
- Fare uses the CFP Franc. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Wi-Fi isn't reliably available at the Fare cruise terminal. Consider a local SIM or your cruise line's data package.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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