Best Time to Visit Palikir

A year of warm rain

Palikir sits on Pohnpei, one of the wettest places on Earth, and the weather barely changes from month to month. It's 28°C by day and 27°C at night all year. What changes is how much it rains and how often.

Every month is rated Poor on our comfort score. That's mostly the humidity and the cloud, not any real danger. Expect showers on most days, usually warm ones that pass fast. The island's green interior, with its waterfalls and mossy hills, exists because of that rain.

Drier, but only a little

February is our top pick. It has the least rain of the year, at 153 mm over 20 days. January and December are close behind, with a bit more rain and the same warm air. Between them, these are the months where you have the best shot at a dry morning.

August is the other pick, and it's a surprise. It still rains on 28 days, but it has the most sun of any month, at 4 hours a day. Think of it as a good month for brief breaks in the cloud rather than a dry one.

May and July are the wettest stretch, with rain on 29 days each. September, October and November are nearly as wet. November has the most rain overall, at 280 mm, just under May's 284 mm. May is the true peak.

Which trip, which month

Want to dive or snorkel the lagoon around Nan Madol? Go in the drier months, when you'll get more calm, clearer mornings. Nan Madol is the ancient stone-built island city on Pohnpei's east side, and you reach it by boat. Hiking to Sahwartik or Pahn Takai waterfall is muddy in any month. Wear shoes you don't mind ruining, and go early in the dry stretch for a firmer trail.

If you just want to see Palikir's government buildings and the nearby villages, any month works. Pack a light rain jacket and carry on.

Crowds and events

Pohnpei is never crowded. Visitor numbers are small all year, so there's no real high season to dodge. Flights are limited, so book those early whatever the month.

Pohnpei's best-known local custom is sakau, a calming drink made from pounded roots and shared in a formal ceremony. You can find it year-round. Ask your guesthouse to point you to a respectful setting rather than turning up unannounced.