If you’re looking for a laid-back island lifestyle, French Polynesia is the place for you. With its verdant peaks and endless shades of blue water, this is the true definition of paradise. It’s more spectacular than you could imagine!
You can spend your time island-hopping, hiking, exploring volcanoes, spotting marine life, or relaxing on white-sand beaches. Ready to sit back and relax?
This is the best time to go to French Polynesia!
January to April
The start of the year means the wet season has begun. You will most likely find warm weather with averages between 70 and 80 degrees. It rains an average of 30cm per month during the rainy season, but that means emptier hotels and fewer tourists. If you can handle the rain, you’ll have the islands all to yourself.
During Chinese New Year, you can also witness parades, music and dancing.
May to June
In May and June, you will see a drop in humidity and rain, which means sunshine! In fact, in May, the Papenoo region of Tahiti hosts the Matari’i Raro, a festival that celebrates the start of the dry season. However, few people know that this is when things start to clear up, so the crowds are still pretty quiet.
May and June are two of the best months to visit the country, both in terms of weather and availability. The fact that there are fewer people than in high season means that the rates are lower.
July and August
As in many other islands around the world, July and August are high season for tourism. With sunny and mild weather, French Polynesia becomes the ideal place to spend a vacation.
Hotels tend to fill up months in advance as local and foreign travelers flock to the smaller islands.
If you are ready to fight against the crowds, you will have the chance to experience unforgettable parades and festivals. The Heiva in Bora Bora is an annual festival that takes place in July and includes songs, dances and sports competitions. If boats are more your style, consider the Tahiti Moorea Sailing Rendez-Vous, a three-day sailing rally that takes place in July.
September to October
With the onset of autumn, the humidity on the islands begins to rise. However, it’s still an amazing time to visit, especially as the crowds calm down again.
Late September marks the spring equinox, which means the sun hits the island’s lagoons in just the right way, turning the water extremely turquoise. It looks like it came straight out of a postcard.
November to December in French Polynesia
And here we go again for the wet season. As the humidity continues to rise, air conditioning becomes a necessity.
Rain can become very unpredictable at this time of year. You may experience days when it only rains for half an hour, or when it rains all day. It’s still worth a look, but be prepared! You never know what mother nature has in mind.
