When to go · Kiribati
Kiribati in December
Mixed month. Rains begin; Christmas travel fills flights.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Crowds
- Medium
- Kiribati
- Prices
- Medium
- Kiribati
Verdict
Rains begin; Christmas travel fills flights.
Is another month better than December?
December is rated mixed. These months rate higher:
Weather in December
- Gilbert Islands · Tarawa, Abaiang, Butaritari, Abemamarainy
Hot all year; rains mostly Dec–Mar in normal years. El Niño years bring heavy rain, La Niña years severe drought, especially in the southern Gilberts.
- Line Islands · Kiritimati, Tabuaeran, Terainafine
Kiritimati is dry for an equatorial atoll; trade winds blow most of the year and fishing runs all year.
- Line Islands: Line Islands · central Pacificdry
Warm tropical climate year‑round; dry season April–October is best for outdoor activities.
- South Tarawa31 °C (88 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 16 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 79 °F (26 °C), 16 rain days
Festivals and holidays
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.
Human Rights and Peace Day
10 Dec
Public holiday.
Christmas big impact
25–26 Dec
People travel home to outer islands; services slow.
Christmas and Boxing Day
25–26 December · South Tarawa
Family holiday; shops and services closed.
Wetter season and king tides
Nov–Mar · South Tarawa
Roads can flood on high tides; flights may shift.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Kiribati
- Medium
- Prices · Kiribati
- Medium
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Kiribati, side by side.
Verdict
Dec: Mixed
May: Great (better)
Crowds
Dec: Medium
May: Low
Prices
Dec: Medium
May: Medium
Festivals listed
Dec: 4
May: 0
December: Rains begin; Christmas travel fills flights.
May: Trade winds; good for Tarawa.
Kiribati: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast