Things to Do in Tarawa in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Tarawa
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + December trade-winds slice the humidity just enough to let you breathe on South Tarawa's causeways, turning sticky afternoons into something you can handle as you hop between islets.
- + Christmas week slams Bairiki Square with the annual Te Kaoi dance competition, the single moment all year when every island village hauls out traditional stick dances and performs them in one packed place.
- + Rain showers come and go, and right after they pass the lagoon around Abatao islet turns glass-clear, grab your mask between 8 and 11 AM for two or three hours of snorkeling that feels almost unreal.
- + Hotel prices fall 25-30% from November peaks yet the nights still hover at a comfortable 25-28°C (77-82°F), good for slow sunset strolls along the water.
- − Afternoon storms barrel in fast, mis-time the walk between islets and you'll be drenched, with zero cover on the causeways once the sky opens.
- − After heavy rain the main South Tarawa road floods in patches, creating knee-deep puddles that swallow bus timetables and bump taxi fares sky-high.
- − Crabs own December. Coconut crabs migrate at dusk in rolling waves that can hold up traffic for 20 minutes while they scuttle across the road.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
December's shifty winds flatten the water between 7-10 AM, giving you mirror-smooth paddling from Betio to Bairiki. You'll spot coral heads 4 m (13 ft) below and the angled light turns even a basic phone into a decent underwater camera. By afternoon the breeze stiffens, turning the return leg into exercise. But locals aim to land just before the daily 2 PM downpour.
December's cooler dawn makes the 15 km (9.3 mile) coastal ride from Betio to Bikenibeu feel almost easy. You'll still soak your shirt by 10 AM, yet the payoff is huge, storm-lit skies frame the rusted Japanese coastal guns at Betio, and the guide's 1943 battle stories hit harder when you're standing on the exact sand.
December's mixed skies force fishermen to work harder, so they're happy to take visitors aboard. You'll learn to flick a handline for reef fish while wedged in a narrow wooden boat that three generations of the same family have patched and repainted. Morning sessions end with your catch grilled over driftwood on Abaiang islet, nothing beats fish you hooked sixty minutes earlier.
December means Christmas choir practice, and every village church turns its evening rehearsal into a community meet-up. The coral walls throw sound in strange ways, four singers multiply into forty as harmonies ricochet overhead. You'll sit on woven mats while kids dart between pews and elders nod to melodies they learned as children.
Extreme December tides yank the water off reef flats that stay submerged eleven months of the year. For two or three hours around midday you can stroll on coral that hasn't tasted air since last season, spotting thumb-sized octopus, bright starfish and sluggish sea cucumbers in ankle-deep pools. The water's warm enough for bare feet. But reef shoes save you from fire-coral slashes.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Each 26 December, Bairiki Square hosts a village stick-dance showdown rooted in centuries of tradition. This isn't staged for tourists, it's the year's cultural apex, judged by elders from every island with prize money high enough to matter. Drums start at sunset and roll on until the generator coughs out around 1 AM.
On 24 December, decorated fishing boats glide the lagoon blasting carols through megaphones while kids onshore wave homemade lanterns. Sound skims the water and bends familiar songs into something you've never heard. Families line the causeways with smoky barbecues and fresh coconut drinks.
Packing Checklist
Bookmark this page — your progress is saved between visits
Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Tarawa Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Tarawa.
See All Tarawa Tours on Viator