Month guide · Tahiti · French Polynesia
Tahiti in January
What January is really like in Tahiti: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Teahupo'o, Tahiti · Photo: Saga70, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 31°C (88°F), lows of 23°C (73°F), about 16 rainy days and roughly 13.1 hours of daylight. The heart of the wet season: hot and humid with heavy showers and thunderstorms, though sunny spells are common.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 31°C (88°F) / 23°C (73°F)
- Rainy days
- About 16
- Daylight
- About 13.1 hours
- Sea temperature
- 28°C (82°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Plan a trip to Tahiti
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Weather in January
January is the warmest month in Tahiti: days average 31°C (88°F) against a yearly average high of 30°C (86°F), and nights fall to about 23°C (73°F). Rain falls on roughly 16 of its 31 days. Compared with December (30°C (86°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 31°C (88°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 05:35
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 18:39
- Daylight
- About 13.1 hours
- Sea
- 28°C (82°F)
Early wet season (November–December). Showers become more frequent and humidity rises; holiday flights are busy around Christmas.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 3 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in July). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in January
- Chinese New Year celebrations in Papeete (January or February)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Punaauia
Musée de Tahiti et des Îles
Allow time to walk the seafront garden afterwards, which looks across the channel to Moorea.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Market · Papeete
Marché de Papeete
The two-level covered market in central Papeete sells tropical fruit, fish, flower crowns made of tiare blossoms, vanilla and monoi oil downstairs, with pareos, carvings and pearls upstairs.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- Photo spot
Experience · Papeete
Roulottes at Place Vaiete
Arrive around sunset, browse all the trucks before choosing, and order crêpes for dessert from one of the dedicated crêpe vans.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- Kids
- Iconic
Nature · Tahiti Iti
Teahupo'o
The road ends at this village on Tahiti Iti, beside a reef pass where one of the world's heaviest waves breaks over shallow coral.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Active
The sea averages 28°C (82°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Tahiti.
What to pack
For highs near 31°C (88°F), lows near 23°C (73°F) and 16 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Tahiti?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Tahiti in other months
Questions travellers ask
+What time does the sun set in Tahiti in January?
At about 18:39 local time in mid-January, with sunrise at about 05:35: roughly 13.1 hours of daylight.
+How warm is Tahiti in January?
Average highs are around 31°C (88°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Tahiti in January?
Expect rain on about 16 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.