Hi, all.
We're planning a trip for mid-March to Tahiti, specifically to Bora Bora. Will the weather there be enjoyable or is it too risky? Thank you.
Weather in Tahiti in March?
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Have been to the South Pacific twice now in late March/early April - once to FP at the end of March (for 1 week) and once in the "nearby" Cook Islands from the middle of March to the end of the first week in April (for 3 weeks). Of that time we've had a total of 1 day that I would call a "rainy" day - that was on Bora Bora - the rest of the time the weather was pretty darned nice. That may or may not be typical, but I can tell you that we enjoyed ourselves and would not hesitate to return again that time of year.
I believe the typical pattern is for scattered HARD showers (usually lasting 20 minutes or so) from time to time throughout the day and night, followed by dry periods with sunny to partly cloudy skies - essentially an ever-changing pattern that will probably bring you showers once or twice a day (often these actually come at night). They do sometimes get days and days of rain, but that is not the typical pattern as I've esperienced it in the South Pacific.
The main weather impact is that it is very warm and very humid (so any rain showers actually feel pretty good). You will certainly feel like you are in the tropics.
Don't really want to tell you what to do, but I personally WOULD risk it. The water is at its warmest that time of year and I actually don't mind a bit of rain from time to time as it really makes me feel like I'm in the tropics.
If in doubt however see if you can delay the trip until April - which tends to be a bit dryer/sunnier month.
Ken
For easy to read detailed historical weather charts for Tahiti go to www.weatherbase.com and click on "All Countries" then "French Polynesia. You'll find answers to all your weather related questions.
And can I ask about bugs? how big of an issue are they, especially in March?
Sad to say, bugs are always an issue anywhere in the tropics. The good news is that mosquitoes are not usually a problem when the wind is blowing (as it usually does) as they tend to be very poor flyers - so when you are out on the water (either snorkeling, in a boat or in an overwater bungalow) or at the beach (both places where they the trade winds tend to be blowing) you will rarely see one. Anywhere sheltered from the wind (ie in a garden bungalow or on a hike into the interior) you will need bugspray applied to you.
To avoid attracting other types of bugs (ants, roaches etc) be sure and keep food sealed. Opened food containers such as cracker, cookies etc should be placed in a fridge.
In general we found that the resorts don't tend to have too many bugs (as they spray for them) - particularly in the OW bungalows - but they may not be completely bug free. Mosquitoes of course are an issue as described above even if they do spray as new ones easily fly in to replace the old ones.
Ken