Tahiti Weather

About the author, Michael Cottam Founder of Visual Itineraries, Michael lives in Bend, Oregon. He's an avid traveler, scuba diver, photographer, and a private pilot, and also the founder of Bright Yonder, which offers marketing tools to travel agents. He's been to Fiji, Thailand, Vietnam, Seychelles, Kenya, France, England, New Zealand, Jamaica, Belize, Costa Rica, Turks & Caicos, British Virgin Islands, Mexico, and the major islands in French Polynesia. He's been in Rotary for 23 years, currently on the board of the Greater Bend Rotary Club. Here's his LinkedIn and Pinterest.

Tahiti Weather: High Season vs. Low Season

During the high season, temperatures are milder and there are fewer rain showers with less humidity, and better visibility for divers. However, there are two or three times as many tourists per resort – thus increasing demand for sightseeing activities and prices for lodging and events.

Throughout the slower months, the costs are lower and there is less competition for spots on popular tours. Additionally, just because it’s off season it doesn’t mean the sun completely disappears! Tahiti still receives warming rays, although consecutive days of rain are possible.

Tahiti Weather: Average temperatures

The annual average temperature in Tahiti is 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or 27 degrees Celsius. Closer to the equator, the Tuamotu Atolls and the Marquesas Islands have slightly warmer temperatures than Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora.

During the high season, or winter, temperatures range from 70-82 degrees Fahrenheit, while in the low season, summer, temperatures vary from 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit. December and January average 12 inches of rain a month, however, Tahiti receives more hours of sun than Hawaii during the comparable humid season. Less than three inches of rain fall per month from June through September.

Tahiti Weather: Average precipitation

TRAVEL SPECIAL: Royal Huahine

Royal Huahine 5 nights from 1,890 per person

This resort is the most recent luxury hotel developed in Huahine, the
"Garden Island". Each bungalow provides modern comfort in a Polynesian atmosphere.

Complimentary activities include scheduled boat transfers to and from the main town of Fare, snorkeling, kayak and outrigger canoe paddling, table tennis, beach volley and local cultural activities.

Other activities include: botanical garden and vanilla plantation visits, picnic and circle island tour by canoe, horse back riding, sunset cruises, deep sea fishing, scuba diving, surf transfers as well as car, scooter, motor dinghy and bicycle rentals.

Learn more about Royal Huahine

The combination of a lush botanical garden and pristine white sand beach is the perfect location for this traditional Polynesian resort.

Tahiti Weather: Storms in French Polynesia

The humid season in Tahiti is from November to April. Occasionally, strong storms do develop. There actually ARE NO hurricanes in Tahiti (or anywhere in the South Pacific). That's not as good news as you might think--it's because they're not called hurricanes in that region, they're called cyclones :-). But there is good news: cyclones are rare, with the last powerful one occurring in 1982. You can get some pretty dramatic heavy rainfall however--during the humid season, it will often rain hard enough at night to wake you up.

High and Low Season Prices in Tahiti

The overall high season in French Polynesia extends from May 1 to October 31, although some resorts change their prices starting April 1. The low season covers November 1 to April 30.

TRAVEL SPECIAL: Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts

Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts 5 nights from 2,975 per person

Poised on Motu Tevairoa, only a ten-minute boat ride from the airport and fifteen minutes across the lagoon from the village of Vaitape, Le Bora Bora combines heavenly location and proximity to the mainland.

The resort boasts authentic Polynesian style and architecture and certainly offers some of the most traditionally designed rooms and villas in Bora Bora.

While overwater bungalows are Bora Bora’s iconic accommodation type, the resort also features spacious Garden Villas with Pool and Beach Villas with Pool and magical views of iconic Mount Otemanu. The 108 rooms and villas are nestled in a beautiful tropical garden, on the beach and of course above the turquoise lagoon.

There are three restaurants and two bars, and cuisine is international with a Polynesian twist.

At the TAVAI Spa, the islands’ generous nature has been captured to create decadent treatments that will rejuvenate and renew. Vichy shower body scrubs, hot stone massage with fragrant ‘monoï’ oil, or the local ‘taurumi’ massage, there is a lot to choose from and spa lovers will not be disappointed.

As far as recreation, a variety of non-motorized water toys are available : stand up paddle boards, kayaks and outrigger canoes, snorkeling equipment. On land : tennis court, mini golf, ping pong, pool table, volleyball, pétanque and a fully air-conditioned gym.

Learn more about Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts

Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts boasts authentic Polynesian style and architecture and certainly offers some of the most traditionally designed rooms and villas in Bora Bora.

Scuba Diving Visibility

French Polynesia's dry season has better visibility for scuba divers, as in the rainy season there's a lot more plankton.

However, that plankton brings the big pelagic creatures like whales, so you might actually PREFER to go in the wetter season. Peak visibility is going to be June through September--with visibility up to 60 meters.

If you're in the Society Islands (Bora Bora, Moorea, etc.) the visibility is actually pretty stable, at around 40 meters year-round.

Map of all Resorts in French Polynesia