“I’m going to Tahiti!” It’s a phrase that everyone hopes to say at least once in their lifetime (hopefully more!) Oddly enough, it can be a little confusing because although ‘Tahiti’ can refer to the entire destination of multiple neighboring islands, it is only 1 of 118 islands that make up the 5 distinct island groups of French Polynesia.
Geography lesson aside, one of the top things to consider when visiting this tropical destination is the best time to visit Tahiti. Honestly? Anytime at all!
Ok, ok, there’s a little more to it than that, of course. But, if you’re not picky and just want to get yourself there to enjoy the crystal clear turquoise lagoons and overwater bungalows, then it’s just a matter of booking a ticket.
However, for those that may be a bit more discerning, there are better times and worse times to go depending on your goals and desires for your adventure.
Don’t leave home without: Lonely Planet Tahiti & French Polynesia Travel Guide
Discover the Best Time to Visit Tahiti
Table of Contents
First things first! Taking a vacation of any kind is an investment of your hard-earned money and the last thing you want is to risk a disruption or cancellation that ends with you losing that investment. This is one of the reasons we never leave home without travel insurance.
This is especially important if you’re planning a trip to Tahiti during the rainy season. Strong Pacific storms can crop up really fast causing trip delays, cancellations, or if you’re already there, the need to leave sooner than you planned.
There are a lot of options out there for insurance, but we use and stand by Allianz Travel Insurance. Full disclosure, we receive financial compensation as ambassadors for their company.
That said, we’ve been purchasing plans through them for the past 7 years and they have never let us down. Canceled flights, delayed flights, lost luggage, rental car damage, and a global pandemic, they’ve been there for us.
When people are standing at the counter fighting with the airlines over hotels or new flights, we don’t stress anymore because we know that we will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses caused by the delay.
We always renew their AllTrips Premier annual plan that covers all of our trips over a 12-month period. If you take more than 2 trips a year, it’s worth considering an annual plan.
For single trips, we recommend looking at their OneTrip Prime or OneTrip Premier plans.
Dry Season in Tahiti
Despite the overall air and sea temperatures only ever fluctuating by a minimal few degrees, there are two distinct seasons in Tahiti: wet and dry (with minimal shoulder seasons on either side.
The dry season is between June and October.
Despite its name though, just because the dry season gets less rain than its counterpart, does not necessarily mean it gets no rain. Keep this in mind as you plan your trip – there’s a reason why a place like Tahiti stays so lush and green year-round!
June in Tahiti
June marks the beginning of winter for Tahiti. That means the tradewinds begin to blow, bringing a calm wind across the islands that gently banish what remains of the oppressive humidity of summer. Wind-dependent sports become super popular around this time.
Average Temperature (high/low): 84F/70.2F
Average Rainfall: 2.4 inches
Pros of visiting in June:
- Overall temperatures and rainfall drop significantly; air quality will be near its best
- Perfect time to try out kitesurfing or charter a sailboat
- If it does rain, it’s usually a quick affair
Cons of visiting in June:
- High season rates make everything more expensive
- Summer crowds from around the world begin to arrive
- For those who were hoping for an adult-exclusive vacay – there can be lots of children out with their families
July in Tahiti
Just like for those accustomed to the Northern Hemisphere’s seasons, it’s actually the middle of summer for most of the foreign countries that frequently have patrons going to French Polynesia. As such, tourist density becomes quite heavy during July.
This will be the priciest, most busy month to visit. It is best advised to avoid this month if you can. Especially if you’re planning a special event of any kind or are looking for a quiet vacation.
Average Temperature (high/low): 82.9F/69.4F
Average Rainfall: 2.4 inches
Pros of visiting in July:
- Sunshine is a commodity that is not in short supply
- If you’re lucky, you may see whales out past the barrier reefs
- The underwater citizens of Tahiti’s lagoons tend to be their most abundant
Cons of Visiting in July:
- Everyone and their uncle will be swimming at the local beaches
- The first choice for accommodations and rental equipment is hard to come by
August in Tahiti
If you want to be in Tahiti in what is arguably the most popular month, you’ll need to plan and book your adventure sometimes a year in advance. August is the peak of the high season.
We generally advise people to consider shoulder season travel to avoid crowds and high prices. I think these days we could also say to keep your sanity.
Average Temperature (high/low): 82.8F/68.9F
Average Rainfall: 1.9 inches
Pros of visiting in August:
- Humpback whales migrate to Tahitian waters in earnest, which makes viewing them an easy and wonderful spectacle
- The weather is as perfect as you can get in the South Pacific
- Rain is practically nonexistent
Cons of visiting in August:
- You won’t have anything to yourself near the water
- Everything is at its most expensive
- There can be many families with children out and about
September in Tahiti
September shares many similarities to August, with perhaps fewer other people that you’ll need to fight tooth-and-claw for rooms, tours, restaurants, and space. It can be a nice alternative to full shoulder season and your chances of fewer rain storms are good.
Average Temperature (high/low): 83.5F/69.8F
Average Rainfall: 1.8 inches
Pros of visiting in September:
- At times, the weather can be even better than August’s
- Accommodation is a little easier to come by compared to previous months.
Cons of visiting in September:
- It’s still the high season, with all its expectations
- Plane flight costs will remain high
If you take one thing away from this Tahiti post book a Private Arrival Transfer: Papeete Airport to Hotel or Cruise Port or a Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel or Cruise Port to Tahiti International Airport
October in Tahiti
October is the final month of the dry season! This means it’s also still peak season, though it’s beginning to not be and you can luck out on some cheaper rates near the end of the month.
It’s also you last chance to catch the more reliably dry weather, as the average rainfall doubles from October to November.
Average Temperature (high/low): 84.4F/71.4F
Average Rainfall: 3.6 inches
Pros of visiting in October:
- Consecutive bright, sunny days remain an abundant commodity
- As the month nears its end, the population of tourists begins to dwindle
Cons of visiting in October:
- Rainy days begin to noticeably increase in frequency towards the end of the month
Rainy Season in Tahiti
Opposite of the dry season is the rainy season which covers the months between November and April.
The rainy season will receive much more precipitation than the dry by a factor of almost 4 to 5 depending on the year. If you’re in search of clear skies, then you’ll want to think hard about visiting during the rainy season.
November in Tahiti
November marks the start of spring in the islands. With that comes some cheaper accommodation, thinning crowds, and relatively stable weather. That said, the average rainfall does double from October, especially as you get later in the month.
One thing to consider is that late November, coinciding with the USA Thanksgiving holiday week, is a high-season spike for Tahiti. Accommodation will be sold out well in advance, along with day tours, and be quite expensive. There will also be an influx of people, so keep that in mind.
Average Temperature (high/low): 85.1F/72.7F
Average Rainfall: 6.4 inches
Pros to visiting in November:
- Accommodation rates are strikingly lower post-peak season
- The Hawaiki Nui Va’a, a one-of-a-kind canoe race, takes place in November
- Most of the crowds have left by this time
Cons of visiting in November:
- Precipitation amount almost doubles from October
- Humidity begins to noticeably increase as well
- There will be some unusual crowds following the Hawaiki Nui Va’a
December in Tahiti
Rainfall doubles in volume yet again from the previous month, and often rivals January for the wettest month on the calendar. You’ve been warned!
That said, there is a beauty to visiting a place when few others do. If lounging in the sun isn’t your thing, this can be a beautiful time of year to scuba dive and take in the lush beauty of the islands.
Average Temperature (high/low): 85.6F/73.6F
Average Rainfall: 12.5 inches
Pros of visiting in December:
- Low season means low rates!
- All the rain brings some of the best flower blooms to Tahiti
- On the nice days you have, you’ll probably have them to yourself
Cons of visiting in December:
- Mosquitoes enmasse seemingly appear out of thin air
- Thick humidity can be a bit uncomfortable at times
- When it rains, it can be for days on end
January in Tahiti
January is often the rainiest month on the calendar throughout the year. And with it comes plenty of humidity and mosquitoes. Depending on the length of your trip, plan on the weather being a bit unpredictable.
Average Temperature (high/low): 86.5F/74.1F
Average Rainfall: 12.4 inches
Pros of visiting in January:
- Hot weather will make all water sports and activities much more enjoyable
- Being in the middle of the low season (summer) means great rates all around
- You’ll often have many popular spots all to yourself
Cons of visiting in January:
- It can rain for days on end
- Storms will ruin most attempts to be outside for extended periods of time
- Poor weather can make it colder than expected – bring a jacket!
Our recommended top resorts in Papeete, French Polynesia:
February in Tahiti
The second month of the year brings with it just a little less water pouring from the skies, the tiniest bit more heat, and another reason for most of the tourists to stay away.
That said, this is off season travel at its finest! You’ll grab some amazing deals both on air and hotels.
Average Temperature (high/low): 86.9F/74.3F
Average Rainfall: 9.2 inches
Pros of visiting in February:
- The deals of the off season keep coming, with discounts often available at premium resorts
- Plane flights can be their cheapest at this time
- When the sun shines, which it will often, you won’t be fighting for room in the lagoons
Cons of visiting in February:
- Skies can be covered with clouds, even when rain isn’t present
- The outer seas can get a bit choppy with storms passing by
- Humidity remains very high
Our recommended top resorts in Moorea:
- Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa
- Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort
- Manava Beach Resort & Spa Moorea
- InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa
March in Tahiti
Though it’s the tail end of summer, it’s the hottest month of the year for Tahiti. Thankfully, the humidity begins to abate as we head into the first shoulder season of the year.
Average Temperature (high/low): 87.4F/74.3F
Average Rainfall: 7.7 inches
Pros of visiting in March:
- Tahiti’s lagoons are at their most warm and relaxing at this time
- You can score one of those overwater bungalows for super inexpensive.
Cons of visiting in March:
- The UV index will be strong – wear extra sunscreen and reapply frequently! You will burn very easily.
- Hot weather brings unpredictable storms that can hit randomly
Our recommended top resorts in Bora Bora:
- The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort
- Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora
- InterContinental Le Moana Bora Bora
- Conrad Bora Bora Nui
- Le Meridien Bora Bora
April in Tahiti
This is the beginning of the shoulder season just after summer; in between wet and dry seasons. April can be one of the best times to visit Tahiti overall!
Average Temperature (high/low): 87.1F/73.9F
Average Rainfall: 5.5 inches
Pros of visiting in April:
- Humidity and rainfall are much less than the summer
- Everything is still cheaper, while the weather reaches its ideal conditions
- Big crowds have yet to arrive
- Tahiti Pearl Regatta festivals begin
Cons of visiting in April:
- Heavy rainfall can still be expected at times
- You’ll be sharing spots with other shoulder season fanatics
Our recommended top resorts in the Society Islands:
May in Tahiti
May falls into the shoulder season as well, and it has many of the same reasons as to why it’s the best time to visit Tahiti. One could argue that it’s perhaps even better than April!
Average Temperature (high/low): 85.8F/72.5F
Average Rainfall: 3.6 inches
Pros of visiting in May:
- The weather is as close to the ideal dry season as possible without having the same crowds
- Depending on the year, the Tahiti Pearl Regatta may also begin around this time
- Humidity becomes practically nonexistent
Cons of visiting in May:
- Rain is uncommon, but if it does decide to pour it’ll likely be intense
This article is sponsored by Allianz Travel Insurance. As ambassadors we receive financial compensation. However, all opinions, stories, advice, and insane love for the Islands of Tahiti are 100% ours, as always.
You might also like:
- Ultimate Trip to Tahiti with Windstar Cruises
- 38 Beach Essentials: The Ultimate Beach Packing List
- How to Choose the Best Dry Bag for Your Next Adventure
- The Best Travel Towels for your Next Trip
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