French Polynesia in May

Dry season starts; one of the best value months.

No other month rates higher than May for French Polynesia in this guide.

• Society Islands · Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiateabest weather

  Dry season May–October with trade winds (the maraamu can blow hard for days in July–August); December–March brings heavy showers, humidity and the main cyclone risk.

• Tuamotu atolls · Rangiroa, Fakarava, Tikehaubest weather

  Drier than the high islands; diving is good all year, with hammerheads Dec–Mar and the Fakarava grouper spawning around June–July.

• Marquesas · Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa, Ua Poufine

  Close to the equator, hot all year with no clear wet season; September–December is usually the driest and seas calmest for the Aranui.

• Austral Islands · Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivavaefine

  Cooler and windier; humpback whales at Rurutu from July to October.

• Marquesas Islands: Marquesas Islands · Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa and the smaller islandsfine

  Hot and humid year-round; the drier, cooler stretch runs roughly September to November. Rain is possible in any month, and the islands sit outside the main cyclone belt but can still be hit.

• Society Islands: Society Islands · Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'abest weather

  Dry season roughly May–Oct, cooler and breezier; wet season Nov–Apr is hotter, humid and cheaper, with cyclone risk Jan–Mar.

• Tuamotu Islands: Tuamotu atolls · Rangiroa, Fakarava, Tikehau, Manihibest weather

  Hot and humid all year, water around 27–29 °C (81–84 °F). The drier, cooler months are roughly May to October; November to April is the wet season and the cyclone season, and a passing system can cancel inter-island flights for a day or more.Hot and humid all year, water around 81–84 °F (27–29 °C). The drier, cooler months are roughly May to October; November to April is the wet season and the cyclone season, and a passing system can cancel inter-island flights for a day or more.

• Papeete30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 10 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 10 rain days
• Bora Bora30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 12 rain days
• Fa'a'ā27 °C (81 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 5 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 5 rain days
• Fakarava29 °C (84 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 7 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 7 rain days
• Hiva Oa28 °C (82 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 8 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 8 rain days
• Manihi28 °C (82 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 5 rain days
• Rangiroa29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 8 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 8 rain days
• Tikehau30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 7 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 7 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• French spring holidays

  1 May, 8 May, Ascension, Whit Monday

  Long weekends; local families head to Moorea and the islands.

• Feast of the Ascension and Whitsun holidays check

  Movable · Papeete

  Banks and shops shut; ferries fill.

Crowds · French Polynesia

Medium

Prices · French Polynesia

Medium

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in French Polynesia, side by side.

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

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Rated best or good this month

• Society Islands

  Best weather of the year (Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea)

• Tuamotu atolls

  Best weather of the year (Rangiroa, Fakarava, Tikehau)

• Papeete

  Drier, cooler; good walking.

• Bora Bora

  Best months: May–Oct (dry season)

• Fa'a'ā

  Best months: May–Oct

• Fakarava

  Best months: All year; May–Oct for drier weather and calmer seas

• Manihi

  Best months: May–Oct (dry season, calmer seas)

• Tikehau

  Best months: All year; May–Oct for drier weather