In September, 1923, Washburn sailed from San Francisco to Tahiti with a relative, Prof. F. L. Washburn, of the University of Minnesota, who was embarking on a scientific expedition to the Marquesas Islands. From Papeete they left on a small schooner for the Marquesas Islands, a trip that took them 28 days according to notes made some years later by the artist. They settled on Atuona, on Hiva Oa island, in a vacant schoolhouse which they used as a studio and laboratory. The professor returned to Tahiti in six weeks (in CLW’s later account); the artist stayed on, visiting other islands, and returning by outrigger when the yacht that had taken him there capsized.

While at Atuona he visited Gauguin's grave and “Learned interesting anecdotes of his daily life from natives who knew [him]”. He remained there until the Spring of 1924, when he returned to Papeete, from there onward to San Francisco.

Only a few images are known from his roughly 18 months in French Polynesia, but luggage space would have been extremely limited. Aside from a few plates, the De Young Museum in San Francisco has some of his sketches from the islands.

Washburn wrote a brief account of his travels to and around the Marquesas