Skip to content

Destination library

Kiribati country guide

4 questions, each answered from published authorities with the sources listed.

Aerial view of South Tarawa's narrow ribbon between lagoon and ocean — "South Tarawa from the air" (Government of Kiribati), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Author Photo taken by Government of Kiribati employee in the course of their work · CC BY 3.0 File source

When to visit 1

When is the best time to visit Kiribati for Tarawa?July — the heart of the dry trade-wind season (May–October) and the month of Independence (July 12, 1979), when Tarawa's maneabas fill with a week of dance…

Food and drink 1

What local dishes should I try in Kiribati, and where should I look for them?Fresh-caught tuna and reef fish in coconut, babai (pit-grown swamp taro) at feast level, breadfruit in season, and te karwe — coconut toddy, sweet at dawn and something…

Places and experiences 1

What should a first-time traveler see in Kiribati beyond the obvious highlights?Kiritimati's bonefish flats and bird sanctuaries, Abemama's great maneaba and Stevenson shoreline, Butaritari's green war history, North Tarawa's village quiet — and…

Trip planning 1

How can I plan a memorable first trip to Kiribati without rushing?Give it 2 weeks and 2 arcs — Tarawa and 1 outer Gilbert island first, Kiritimati second — built backwards from the handful of weekly flights, with the maneaba, the war…

Browse every destination