Thinking about a trip to Tahiti and its islands but not sure when to go? This guide breaks down all the bad and good times to visit French Polynesia.
Tahiti is a tropical island in the Southern Hemisphere that experiences warm weather year-round. Temperatures are mostly mild with average highs around 90°F (32°C) and lows around 72°F (22°C).
The good thing is that the weather here usually doesn’t get too extreme. You can visit any time of the year and still have a great time, and would find most activities available.
However, the weather isn’t pleasant here all the time. Since Tahiti has tropical climate, there’s always a risk of rain, and sometimes the weather can take a turn for the worse. So, it’s important to know seasons and weather of Tahiti before planning your trip.
Some important points to note:
- Tahiti is in tropics and weather is unpredictable here. It changes quickly and you can’t really say for sure when it’ll rain or what the weather will be when you go.
- If you’re travelling for more than a week, one thing is for sure that you’ll encounter rain, no matter if it’s the dry season or the wet season. But chances of you encountering rain are much higher during the wet season than in the dry season.
- Another thing to consider is that climate conditions like La Nina can affect the weather patterns and cause heavy rains and storms or even droughts. So, always check the forecast before traveling here.
- The mountainous parts of the island get more rain because the air drops its ocean moisture and rises when reaches the mountains, causing condensation and precipitation. Coasts, on the other hand, see less rainfall.
- Locals usually predict the weather by wind direction. Consistent southeast winds (Maraamu) means clear skies and less rainfall, so it’s the dry season. Winds from other directions, espacially the northwest, indicate that the wet season is on its way.
Best time to visit Tahiti
To get the most out of your vacations, the dry season from May to October is the best time to visit Tahiti. This is when weather is pleasantly warm, humidity is low, and most days are sunny with minimal rain.
Keep in mind that this is also the peak season, which means more tourists will be in Tahiti and prices will be higher. If you don’t mind the crowds and extra cost, this is your time.
Seasons in Tahiti
Tahiti goes through two seasons each year: the winter or dry season and the summer or wet season.
Wet season (Summer)
Wet season in Tahiti also referred to as the summer season lasts from November to April. During this time, weather is hot and humid with average temperatures around 90°F and humidity around 80%.
This is also the time when it rains the most in Tahiti. It can rain from an hour to a couple of days, and even a couple of weeks in rare cases. You might also get some storms which usually occur during the evening or overnight.
But don’t worry, it’s not cloudy and rainy all the time. The weather is usually a mix of sun and showers. Some days might be wetter with less sunshine, but other days are clear with little to no clouds. On average, wet season has 10-15 rainy days per month.
The good thing about this season is the rain makes the island lush and green, and waterfalls are at their full. Plus, the crowds thin out and prices drop down during this time of the year.
November in Tahiti
November is the start of the wet season or summer season in Tahiti. Temperatures stay around 85°F and it gets more humid as the month goes on. It also rains more often than the dry season; this month gets over 150 millimeters of rain on average.
Prices and crowds also start to drop this month.
December in Tahiti
From December, the chances of bad weather increase significantly on Tahiti Island. With nearly 300mm of rainfall, it’s one of the wettest months of the year.
Besides rain, temperatures also tend to climb up to around 88°F during the day, combined with high humidity. This can make outdoor activities feel a bit uncomfortable, and you would feel the need of AC.
The good part is that it doesn’t rain all month and you get some clear days with little to no clouds. And although the tourist numbers rise by about 15% compared to November due to Christmas holidays, prices are not as high as they’re in the peak season.
Tahiti in January
January in Tahiti is hot and humid, and precipitation rate is high. It’s actually one of the rainiest months of the year with an average of 11-17 wet days and average rainfall of 250-300mm.
Besides the rainy days, you’ll get some clear days with bright blue skies. The best part about this month is the lower prices and smaller crowds. In fact, Tahiti gets one of the lowest number of tourists in this month, averaging around 15,000.
February in Tahiti
February is the fourth month of the wet season and follows a similar pattern to January. The weather is hot and humid with daily temperatures averaging at around 86°F. Most days are cloudy with a high chance of rain, averaging around 200-250mm montly rainfall. That’s slightly less than January, at least on paper.
If you’re visiting this month, still, there will be some clear days to make your trip here worthwhile.
March in Tahiti
March is when rainfall starts to ease and tourist number starts to increase in Tahiti. In this month, showers usually last for 10 to 30 minutes and clear up quickly. Heavy downpour is less seen but still possible.
March is more humid and hotter with average highs around 90°F, which makes it one of the hottest months of the year. If it’s too hot and humid for you, you can always cool off in ocean which is comfortably warm during this time.
March 5 is Missionary Day in Tahiti and is observed as a public holiday. Additionally, schools have Easter holidays that start at the end of this month.
April in Tahiti
April falls in Tahiti’s shoulder season. This is when weather is shifting from wet to dry season. It’s still hot and humid but temperatures chill down a bit, and the chance of it raining the whole day is also reduced. Out of all the months of wet season, April gets the least rain, averaging between 100-150mm.
All in all, this a great month if you don’t want sky’s to be cloudy all the time and prices to be so high.
Dry season (Winter)
Tahiti’s dry season runs from May to October, which is austral winter there. During this time, the weather is comfortably warm during the day, and nights are a little cooler. Average temperatures typically range between 70°F to 82°F.
Tahiti sees a lot more sunshine at this time of the year as most days are clear with a few wispy clouds. It’ll still rain, but showers are usually short and heavy downpours aren’t as common. On average, there are about 5 rainy days per month during dry season.
If you’re travelling this time, don’t forget to pack an umbrella or raincoat. Even though it’s the dry season, you never know with tropical weather.
This is also when more tourists visit French Polynesia, so be prepared for high prices.
May in Tahiti
May is the first month of the dry season, or winter season, in Tahiti. This is when you’re transitioning away from cloudy and rainy weather, and hot and humid conditions.
In this month, it still gets pretty hot during the day, but a gentle breeze makes it feel nice. Temperatures range between 80°F – 90°F, with humidity around 85%. Although it’s the dry season, you’ll still get rain here and there.
As the weather gets better, more tourists start to show up, but nothing too crowded.
Pareo Day, a Polynesian celebration where everyone is encouraged to wear traditional pareo, happens on the last Friday of May.
June in Tahiti
In June, Tahiti sees nice warm weather, with average highs around 82°F and lows around 75°F. Most days are clear with little to no clouds, and there’s about a 20% chance of rain each day.
At the start of the month, it can be a bit hotter, but gradually temperatures drop and weather becomes more pleasant after mid-month.
Pentecost and French Polynesia Autonomy Day holidays are in the month of June.
July in Tahiti
July is the month when winds are potent in Tahiti, especially in “mara’amu” period when southern trade winds are very strong. Such conditions make ocean choppy and can make it difficult to snorkel or scuba dive. It’s not windy all the time, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind.
Other than this drawback, there’s nothing to worry about. Weather in this month is perfect for outdoor activities like going out in the mountains in Tahiti for hiking as there’s more sunshine, and temperatures are comfrotably warm with highs around 82°F and lows around 70°F.
July tends to be crowded not only by tourists but also by locals. It’s because July is when Tahiti’s schools’ winter holiday begins and the Heiva Festival happens that run entire month.
August in Tahiti
August is one of the best months to visit Tahiti because the weather is nicer with comfortable temperatures around 80°F. It’s usually less cloudy during this time, and in fact, August gets some of the lowest rainfall of the year, averaging around 50 mm.
Moreover, whale watching tours become available from the month of August.
September in Tahiti
September is one of the driest months of the year, just like July and August. The weather is nice with highs around 82°F and lows around 75°F. Winds can still be strong, which can make it feel cooler espacailly when you’re swimming or in the water.
The crowds and prices are still on the higher side this month.
October in Tahiti
October is the last month of dry season and the time when you start seeing signs of the wet season, like hotter temperatures, higher humidity, and more rain. The weather is still generally good but should expect some periods of downpours.
When is it busy in Tahiti?
Tahiti is most crowded during June, July and August. These months have great weather, so lots of tourists from Europe and North America come for summer vacations. Plus, many locals are out enjoying their winter holidays.
However, Tahiti is a big island and you only see it crowded in Papeete. As you move away from the city, it doesn’t feel busy at all.
When Tahiti is not crowded?
January and February are the months when Tahiti receives least number of tourists, averaging around 16,000 visitors. It’s because weather in these months tends to be bad, with high temperatures and more frequent rain than in other months.
Plus, holidays are over and everyone gets busy with their regular routines.
Wettest time in Tahiti
December to February are the wettest months in Tahiti, which fall in the summer season. During this time, the average monthly rainfall is between 200-300 mm with about 10-15 days of rain per month.
This is the time when it can rain for an entire day or a whole week, which may cause flooding and limit activities on the island.
Cyclones can also happen, but they are rare and only 20 have recorded in last 48 years. They are usually influenced by Tahiti El Niño conditions.
Besides all that bad weather, there are days when sun shines all day, which makes this time still good for travel if you’re unsure about going.
Inexpensive time to visit Tahiti
Prices in Tahiti drop significantly from December to March. That’s when you can find cheaper flights, accommodations and food, which makes these months most affordable and ideal for budget travelers.
Keep in mind that these months fall in the wet season and typically have high chances of bad weather. If you’re willing to take the risk, then this is your time to go.
If the risk feels too big for you but still want to save money on your trip, you can consider travelling during the shoulder season, which is from April to May and October to November.
Best time to go for snorkeling & scuba diving
If you’re traveling to Tahiti and plan to spend most of your time with water activities like snorkeling or scuba diving, the dry season is the best time to go. That’s when you’ll get more sunshine and less rain, meaning clearer ocean waters and better visibility.
Whale tours also run from August to November, and outside of these months, you can’t go on a whale-watching tour. So, that’s another reason to plan your trip during the dry season.
Expensive time to travel to Tahiti
Prices in Tahiti rise as the peak season begins in May, with June to August is the most expensive time to travel to Tahiti. Because this time weather is nicer, and there’s a notable increase in tourists compared to other times.
When to go for a honeymoon in Tahiti?
The dry season is often considered a great time for a honeymoon in Tahiti. But the shoulder season from April to May and October to November is great option too. The weather is warm and nice with not much rain, and crowds thin out, making it perfect time for a chill and romantic trip.
Worst time to go to Tahiti
December to February is usually considered as the worst time to travel to Tahiti because it’s the peak of the wet season, with the highest chances of rain and storms.
But this is also when Tahiti is the least expensive and a good option for travelers on a budget. As I mentioned above, Tahiti’s tropical weather can be unpredictable, and even during the best seasons, bad weather can show up and mess with your plans. So, there really isn’t a truly bad time to go if you ask me.
