Part of French Polynesia
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March is French Polynesia’s hottest month, with highs close to 90 °F, the warmest water of the year and rain that is still frequent but easing as the wet season winds down. It’s quiet until spring break and Easter, and it’s a prime month for divers, with Rangiroa’s hammerhead window still open. Pack for heat, and keep plans flexible for the tail of the cyclone season.
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- Season
- Late wet season
- Typical weather
- The year’s hottest; highs close to 90 °F
- Rainfall
- Still frequent, easing toward April
- Crowds & pricing
- Quiet early; spring-break demand later
- Best islands this month
- Rangiroa, Fakarava, Moorea
- Don’t miss
- Warm-water diving in the Tuamotu passes
Best this month
Rangiroa
Tuamotu · Warmest water
Tiputa Pass drift dives with dolphins, and the last weeks of hammerhead season.
ExploreFakarava
Tuamotu · UNESCO biosphere reserve
The south pass wall of sharks in comfortable, warm water.
ExploreMoorea
Society Islands · Pre-spring-break calm
Lagoon tours, valleys and resorts that are quiet until late March.
ExploreShark and ray snorkeling
Experience · Lagoon
Waist-deep encounters with blacktip reef sharks and stingrays.
ExplorePoint Venus
Tahiti · Matavai Bay
Black-sand beach where the 1797 missionary landing is remembered each March 5.
Explore
How hot and wet is French Polynesia in March?
March is the peak of the heat. Papeete’s long-term averages put daytime highs close to 90 °F, with warm, muggy nights in the mid-70s. The lagoons reach their warmest, which makes snorkeling and diving especially comfortable.
Rain is still part of the picture, but averages fall steadily from January, and sunny days become more common as the month goes on. The cyclone season continues through March, so choose flexible rates and keep an eye on forecasts in the week before you fly.
What’s happening in French Polynesia in March?
March 5 is a public holiday marking the arrival of the Gospel, commemorating the London Missionary Society missionaries who landed at Matavai Bay on Tahiti in 1797. Expect church services and community celebrations, and some closures of shops and offices.
Late March brings US spring breaks, and Easter sometimes falls this month. For divers, it’s the last stretch of the great hammerhead window in Rangiroa’s Tiputa Pass, and the warm water keeps manta rays, reef sharks and dolphins in their usual haunts.
Which islands shine in March?
The Tuamotu atolls are at their best for divers. Rangiroa offers dolphins, drift dives and the hammerhead chance, and Fakarava has its famous south-pass wall of gray reef sharks. See our guide to scuba diving in French Polynesia for certification advice.
For a mixed trip, Moorea is the easy add-on from Tahiti: lagoon snorkeling with rays and reef sharks, pineapple valleys and quiet resorts before spring-break families arrive. Save hikes for early morning, before the heat builds.
How should you book a March trip?
Early March books easily, often three to six months out. Spring-break and Easter weeks move faster, especially for family villas on Moorea and Bora Bora, so lock those in six to nine months ahead. Our guide to how far ahead to book international travel explains the timing.
Divers should reserve dive packages and pension rooms with the trip, not on arrival. Tuamotu flights run less often than Society Islands routes, and Air Tahiti seats on popular days can fill.
What should you pack for March?
Plan for maximum heat and the occasional storm:
- A wide-brim hat with a chin strap for boat days.
- Your dive certification card and logbook; pass dives call for proof of experience.
- A thin rash guard instead of a wetsuit in the warm water.
- Electrolyte tablets and a refillable water bottle for hot afternoons.
Frequently asked questions
Is March a good time to visit French Polynesia?
Is March still cyclone season in French Polynesia?
Is March good for diving in French Polynesia?
What is the March 5 holiday in French Polynesia?
Official sources
Rules, fees and schedules change — confirm the latest details at the source before you travel.