When to go · French Polynesia
French Polynesia, month by month
The best months for French Polynesia: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
Month by month
- JanuaryMixedHot, humid and rainy; cyclone risk; good hammerhead diving in the Tuamotu.Society Islands: rainy · Tuamotu atolls: rainy · Marquesas: fineCrowds: Medium · 3 festivals or holidays
- FebruaryMixedWettest weeks and cyclone risk; lower resort rates.Society Islands: rainy · Tuamotu atolls: rainy · Marquesas: fineCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
- MarchMixedStill humid and showery; clearer spells late in the month.Society Islands: rainy · Tuamotu atolls: fine · Marquesas: fineCrowds: Low · 4 festivals or holidays
- AprilGoodShoulder month: rain easing, green islands, fewer people.Society Islands: fine · Tuamotu atolls: fine · Marquesas: fineCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
- MayGreatDry season starts; one of the best value months.Society Islands: best weather · Tuamotu atolls: best weather · Marquesas: fineCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
- JuneGreatDry and cooler; Heiva rehearsals and the festival begins late in the month.Society Islands: best weather · Tuamotu atolls: best weather · Marquesas: fineCrowds: Medium · 3 festivals or holidays
- JulyGreatHeiva i Tahiti and European holidays: book flights and pensions early; humpbacks arrive.Society Islands: best weather · Tuamotu atolls: best weather · Marquesas: fineCrowds: High · 2 festivals or holidays
- AugustGreatPeak French holidays; trade winds (maraamu) can blow for days; whales off Moorea and Rurutu.Society Islands: best weather · Tuamotu atolls: best weather · Marquesas: fineCrowds: High · 1 festival or holiday
- SeptemberGreatDry, calm and whale season; the Marquesas enter their best months.Society Islands: best weather · Tuamotu atolls: best weather · Marquesas: best weatherCrowds: Medium
- OctoberGreatStill dry; last whales; good shoulder rates.Society Islands: best weather · Tuamotu atolls: best weather · Marquesas: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
- NovemberMixedHumidity and showers return; Matari'i i ni'a ceremonies.Society Islands: fine · Tuamotu atolls: best weather · Marquesas: best weatherCrowds: Low · 5 festivals or holidays
- DecemberMixedRainy start of cyclone season but Christmas fills everything — book early.Society Islands: rainy · Tuamotu atolls: fine · Marquesas: best weatherCrowds: High · 3 festivals or holidays
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in French Polynesia, side by side.
Verdict
May: Great
Jun: Great
Crowds
May: Medium
Jun: Medium
Prices
May: Medium
Jun: Medium
Festivals listed
May: 2
Jun: 3
May: Dry season starts; one of the best value months.
June: Dry and cooler; Heiva rehearsals and the festival begins late in the month.
French Polynesia: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
Weather by region
How each climate zone rates each month.
| Region | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Society IslandsTahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea | Wet | Wet | Wet | OK | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | OK | Wet |
| Tuamotu atollsRangiroa, Fakarava, Tikehau | Wet | Wet | OK | OK | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | OK |
| MarquesasNuku Hiva, Hiva Oa, Ua Pou | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK | Best | Best | Best | Best |
| Austral IslandsRurutu, Tubuai, Raivavae | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK | Cool | Cool | Cool | Best | Best | Best | OK |