Tuvalu
The best time to visit
When to go to Tuvalu
Go from June to September, the drier trade-wind months, for calmer seas and the clearest water in Funafuti's lagoon. The wet season, November to April, brings heavy downpours, king tides and the South Pacific cyclone season.
A 0 to 100 comfort rating from daytime heat, overnight chill, rainfall and storm risk, for Funafuti. Higher is better. Some links on this page are affiliate links, at no cost to you.
The steadiest weather, peaking around Sep.
Either side of peak, with thinner crowds and better rates.
Cyclone season.
In short
The year at a glance
Tuvalu is one of the smallest and least-visited countries on Earth, nine low coral atolls midway between Hawaii and Australia. It is hot and humid every month and rain falls year round, which is why the rating above never quite goes green. Do not let that put you off: the year still has a clear better half.
That better half is the dry season, May to October. June to September is the sweet spot, when southeast trade winds take the edge off the heat, seas settle for boat trips, and the lagoon is at its clearest. September is often the driest month. November to April is wetter and stickier, carries the cyclone risk, and king tides flood low ground around February.
Month by month
Tuvalu month by month
Highs, lows, rainfall and the rating, for Funafuti.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Rating | What it is like |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°C / 88°F | 26°C / 79°F | 400 mm | Avoid 0 | Hot and very wet, storm season. |
| February | 31°C / 88°F | 26°C / 79°F | 360 mm | Avoid 4 | Hot and very wet, storm season. |
| March | 31°C / 88°F | 26°C / 79°F | 320 mm | Avoid 10 | Hot and very wet, storm season. |
| April | 31°C / 88°F | 26°C / 79°F | 280 mm | Avoid 15 | Hot and very wet, storm season. |
| May | 31°C / 88°F | 26°C / 79°F | 250 mm | Fair 42 | Hot and very wet, monsoon rains. |
| June | 31°C / 88°F | 26°C / 79°F | 230 mm | Good 45 | Hot and very wet, monsoon rains. |
| July | 30°C / 86°F | 26°C / 79°F | 260 mm | Fair 41 | Hot and very wet, monsoon rains. |
| August | 30°C / 86°F | 26°C / 79°F | 250 mm | Fair 43 | Hot and very wet, monsoon rains. |
| September | 31°C / 88°F | 26°C / 79°F | 210 mm | Good 47 | Hot and wet. |
| October | 31°C / 88°F | 26°C / 79°F | 250 mm | Fair 42 | Hot and very wet, monsoon rains. |
| November | 31°C / 88°F | 26°C / 79°F | 260 mm | Avoid 18 | Hot and very wet, storm season. |
| December | 31°C / 88°F | 26°C / 79°F | 360 mm | Avoid 4 | Hot and very wet, storm season. |
By region
Where you go changes when you go
Funafuti and the lagoon
Almost everyone stays on Funafuti, and the huge lagoon is the show. Clearest and calmest June to September.
Funafuti Conservation Area
Uninhabited islets, reef, turtles and seabirds on the lagoon's western rim, a boat ride from town. Only worth it in calm dry-season seas.
The outer atolls
Reached by infrequent passenger boat, a genuine expedition. Sensible only in the dry season.
Go for
Best time to visit Tuvalu for
Snorkelling and the lagoon
June to September, when the trade winds settle the water and visibility peaks.
Village life
The airstrip doubles as Funafuti's evening common: football, volleyball and picnics on the runway at dusk. Best in the dry months.
Having a country to yourself
Any month. Tuvalu sees only a few thousand visitors a year, fewer than almost anywhere on Earth.
Sundays and church
Everything stops on Sunday, year round. Slow down with it, and cover shoulders and knees in the villages.
On the calendar
What is on, and when
Dry season, May to Oct
Trade winds, calmer seas and the clearest lagoon water of the year.
Independence Day, 1 Oct
Parades, feasting and dancing for Tuvalu Day close out the dry season.
Cyclone season
Nov to Apr.
Rainy season
all year.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Tuvalu
Compare hotels and rentals around Funafuti, then book the month you want.
Ready to book?
Rates climb in peak season, so the best-weather months pay to book early. Shoulder and low months are the value windows.
Prefer to sort flights first? Compare flights
Questions
Good to know
Is there a good time to visit Tuvalu, or is it wet all year?
When is cyclone season in Tuvalu?
How do you get to Tuvalu?
Where else, and when
Every country on one map, or jump straight to another guide.