When is the best time to go to Tahiti?

When to go to Tahiti to enjoy the best weather conditions? Even though the island can be visited almost all year round, know that the most favorable time is undoubtedly the dry season, which corresponds to the austral winter and extends from May to October. Pleasant water and air temperatures, clear blue skies, rare rains... everything is there to spend a memorable stay in the tropics!

The school holidays in July and August are very popular with vacationers for several reasons: travelers can stay longer, the weather is perfect, and the islands of French Polynesia offer several festivals and cultural events. For example, you can attend the Heiva, which takes place every year in July in Papeete.

Although the austral winter is the best time to go to Tahiti, it is also the most expensive: airlines apply quite high fares and bookings must be made well in advance. Otherwise, to get airline tickets at more affordable prices and enjoy this paradise in peace, opt for the months preceding the high season, in May and June, or those following, in September and October.

The rest of the year is also suitable for tourist visits, but rain and heat are often present, especially in January. If you want to live an unforgettable experience, go celebrate Christmas in Tahiti! The garlands are wrapped around the coconut trees and tradition dictates that the December 25th barbecue be held on the beach: a moment you will remember for a long time...



Annual weather in Tahiti

For information about the climate and the weather city by city in Tahiti for a specific month, click on the corresponding line below:

January 79°F to 83°F
20 to 22 days*
February 81°F to 83°F
17 to 18 days*
March 81°F to 83°F
16 to 19 days*
April 81°F to 83°F
12 to 13 days*
May 81°F
9 days
June 79°F
7 days
July 77°F to 79°F
4 days
August 77°F
5 days
September 77°F to 79°F
5 to 6 days*
October 77°F to 79°F
7 to 8 days*
November 79°F to 81°F
11 to 12 days*
December 83°F
19 to 20 days*
* weather varies across the country

Best time to travel to Tahiti by cities

Chargement en cours
See full list of cities


Climate and Weather in Tahiti

Thanks to its geographical location in the heart of French Polynesia, the climate in Tahiti is tropical of the equatorial type. The trade winds provide some consistency to water and air temperatures, allowing the inhabitants of the archipelago to enjoy beach activities all year round. Thus, the weather in Tahiti is temperate and the average annual sunshine hours are high, around 3000 hours. However, there are two seasons, a wet one and a dry one.

Tahiti: Plage de la Pointe Venus

The climate in Tahiti during the rainy season

Tahiti, being located below the equator, experiences seasons that are opposite to those in Europe. Summer generally extends from November to April and corresponds to the rainy season. It is characterized by warm temperatures, rarely exceeding 30°C (86°F) , and tempered by the omnipresent winds.

During this period, like in other islands in Polynesia, rainfall is frequent and abundant. However, it mostly consists of showers: it is rare for it to rain all day. Showers can also be very localized due to the relief. Thus, it can be sunny in Papeete and pouring rain on the Tahiti Iti peninsula to the east. This area is actually much rainier than other parts of the island.

If the sky remains overcast where you are staying, don't hesitate to take the car to check the weather in other parts of the island, so you can fully enjoy your day without having to wait for the rain to stop!

In addition to the rain, two things can be bothersome if you travel to Tahiti at this time of the year: the humidity, which can be very stifling, and the mosquitoes that love passing tourists. For the humidity, there isn't much you can do except sleep in an air-conditioned room. For mosquitoes, remember to use appropriate repellents and cover up before the swarm that occurs in the evening.

Summer is also the time when Tahiti can experience tropical depressions, or even cyclones. However, this is relatively rare, especially compared to other areas in the South Pacific that are more affected. If this happens during your stay, follow local instructions carefully and avoid unnecessary travel.

The climate in Tahiti during the dry season

As mentioned earlier, the dry season in Polynesia corresponds to the austral winter and extends from May to October. An anticyclone settles over the South Pacific during this time, protecting the region from bad weather.

The climate in Tahiti and its many islands is therefore drier than the rest of the year, while still remaining tropical. Showers are still possible during this period, but much less frequent. Likewise, the humidity level significantly decreases.

Winter is also characterized by lower temperatures. During the day, the thermometer shows ideal averages, but early in the morning or in the evening, it can occasionally drop below 20°C (68°F) . So, pack a sweatshirt or a light sweater to stay comfortable. During this time, it is common to see Tahitians wearing puffer jackets with a hat on their head: surprising for the French, but completely appropriate for them!


Temperatures and rainfall in Tahiti

On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Tahiti and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Papeete, Faaa, Paea, Taunoa and Arue, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.


Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Tahiti

Find out when Tahiti has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.

Tourist seasons in Tahiti

The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, April and June. The number of visitors to Tahiti is high in: May, July, August, September, October, November and December.

  • Very low season in Tahiti: January and April.
  • Low season in Tahiti: February, March and June.
  • High season in Tahiti: May, July, September and December.
  • Peak season in Tahiti: August, October and November.

Figure: Visitor index for Tahiti month by month



Where to go in Tahiti?

This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).

Cities jan.feb.mar.apr.mayjun.jul.aug.sep.oct.nov.dec.
Papeete83°F83°F83°F83°F81°F79°F79°F77°F79°F79°F81°F83°F
Faaa83°F83°F83°F83°F83°F81°F79°F79°F79°F79°F81°F83°F
Paea83°F83°F83°F83°F83°F81°F79°F79°F79°F79°F81°F83°F
Taunoa83°F83°F83°F83°F81°F79°F79°F77°F79°F79°F81°F83°F
Arue83°F83°F83°F83°F81°F79°F79°F77°F79°F79°F81°F83°F
Faaone83°F83°F83°F83°F81°F79°F79°F77°F79°F79°F81°F83°F
Haapupuni83°F83°F83°F83°F81°F79°F79°F77°F79°F79°F81°F83°F
Hitia'a83°F83°F83°F83°F81°F79°F79°F77°F79°F79°F81°F83°F
Mahaena83°F83°F83°F83°F81°F79°F79°F77°F79°F79°F81°F83°F
Mahina83°F83°F83°F83°F81°F79°F79°F77°F79°F79°F81°F83°F
Mataiea83°F83°F83°F83°F81°F79°F79°F77°F79°F79°F81°F83°F
Papara83°F83°F83°F83°F81°F79°F79°F77°F79°F79°F81°F83°F
Papeari83°F83°F83°F83°F81°F79°F79°F77°F79°F79°F81°F83°F
Papenoo83°F83°F83°F83°F81°F79°F79°F77°F79°F79°F81°F83°F
Pirae83°F83°F83°F83°F81°F79°F79°F77°F79°F79°F81°F83°F
Pueu83°F83°F83°F83°F81°F79°F79°F77°F79°F79°F81°F83°F
Taravao83°F83°F83°F83°F81°F79°F79°F77°F79°F79°F81°F83°F
Tautira83°F83°F83°F83°F81°F79°F79°F77°F79°F79°F81°F83°F
Teahupoo83°F83°F83°F83°F81°F79°F79°F77°F79°F79°F81°F83°F
Tepati83°F83°F83°F83°F81°F79°F79°F77°F79°F79°F81°F83°F

Legend:

good weather

tolerable weather

bad weather

very bad weather


About Tahiti

What can I do in Tahiti?

Beaches / swimming

Nature and countryside

Culture and heritage

Sports

Family travel

Crafts / shopping

Gastronomy

Nightlife



Is this weather information for Tahiti reliable?

Climate data for Tahiti has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Tahiti allows us to determine the average for each month in Papeete, Faaa, Paea, Taunoa, Arue, Faaone, Haapupuni, Hitia'a, and 15 other cities.

So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.

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