10 Best Things to Do in Kiribati for Tourists

Kiribati stretches across 33 atolls in the Pacific, home to untouched coral lagoons, the protected Phoenix Islands, plus a strong local culture living right near the equator. You can explore Kiritimati’s famous fishing zones, walk through old WWII sites on Tarawa, or stay with families on far-off islands - mixing great snorkel dives with real cultural moments. This guide covers what travellers actually do there, from beachside adventures to village life, highlighting where to go, what sights stand out, which spots draw visitors, hidden gems, unique island getaways, quiet lagoons, low-impact nature trips, guided island visits, and tips for staying online using eSIMs when moving between distant atolls.

Kiribati sits on both sides of the International Date Line, part but its islands lie below sea level - just 2 meters high - but teeming with life: huge seabird groups, rare fish, and a massive protected water zone. Travellers slow down here - try catching bonefish early morning instead, join locals under palm huts by evening sipping kava, then float across clear reefs helping keep oceans alive worldwide. It calls for mindful visitors willing to pay local charges that back protection work even when storms or warmer waters threaten.

Essential Kiribati Travel Tips

South Tarawa’s airport gets Fiji Airways from Nadi, while Nauru Airlines flies in from either Tarawa or Majuro - Air Kiribati links to Kiritimati. For hopping between islands, folks use cargo ships that run once a week, private charters, or tiny 20-seater planes you’ve got to book weeks ahead. Local talk varies by island, but everyone uses English too; money-wise, Australia’s dollar works just fine. It stays hot and muggy all year at around 86°F, though December through March feels drier, calmer - perfect time to check out reefs underwater or spot birds on the move. Visitors can stay visa-free for nearly three months if they show cash support ($250 per day), lodging plans, plus flight tickets home; trips beyond main spots need approval from local leaders called unimane, arranged through tourism offices.

Pack reef-safe SPF 50+ - bring your own dive kit since rentals are hard to find. Use motion sickness patches during those long 8-hour boat rides. Wear sulus that cover your knees when visiting local villages. Carry about AUD$800 in cash each week because card payments usually don’t work outside Tarawa, even at places like Otintautei. Watch out for dengue and malaria - use strong DEET bug spray plus preventive meds. There aren't any hyperbaric chambers nearby, so make sure you’ve got solid dive insurance. Book trips through outfits such as Terau Travel or Dive Kiribati way in advance if you’re aiming for the Phoenix Islands. Get a Kiribati eSIM with tourist data bundles to handle weak Telekom coverage - helps check tide times, arrange boats, snap underwater pics.

1. Fly-Fish Kiritimati Bonefish Flats

Kiritimati, also called Christmas Island, is Earth’s biggest atoll - spreading across 388 square miles - and it’s famous for huge bonefish. Some weigh 10 to 12 pounds and swim in skinny water near triggerfish, giant trevally, plus milkfish. Anglers come here, often staying at Captain Cook-style camps, to walk and fish with a guide. The area holds more than 70,000 acres of wild, shallow lagoons where top catches have been made. When the tide rolls in, bones feed with tails up in clear blue runs - and they’re easier to fool under calm weather. Local outfitters rent out 9-weight fly gear, strong 20-pound leaders, along with small boats. Since everyone lets fish go after catching them, populations stay healthy.

Dry months match when bonefish breed; evening trips show star trails during tackle prep. Ranger patrols get cash from conservation stickers - about a hundred bucks weekly - to stop unlicensed Asian boats.

Prime flats circuit:

• Golden Bight: Shallow stretches where groups move through seagrass, grabbing crabs when water rises - driven by hunger, guided by flow.
• Cook Island spots: GTs hit topwater lures near baby blacktips.
• London apartments: Milkfish gulps water when the moon's brand new, trying out heavy 12wt gear.
• Sunset makes surface flies explode by the mangroves.

All-inclusive trips costing five grand cover food, trip leaders, and also include entry papers.

2. Snorkel Phoenix Islands Protected Area

The Phoenix Islands Protected Area - Earth’s biggest ocean refuge, covering 408,250 square kilometres- is home to untouched coral, sharks, and manta rays. Access requires liveaboard trips with permits from Tarawa. These journeys unlock once-in-a-lifetime swim and dive sites across Kiribati waters, bursting with over 500 fish species and more than 100 reef varieties, preserved since protection began in 2008.

June through December trips run every 10 days at $8,000 each; divers switch locations regularly. Freedivers explore 40-foot drop-offs, maintaining buoyancy to protect reefs.

Signature drifts:

• Kanton Lagoon: manta cleaning stations
• Nikumaroro wreck: turtle-filled historic shallows
• Enderbury cliffs: dense reef fish along vertical walls

3. Experience Tarawa Maneaba Cultural Nights

Betio’s old war spots from WWII - battered weapons, concrete shelters, or the spot called Red Beach where a thousand Marines died in just over three days - give visitors a real feel for Kiribati's history through Terau-led hikes winding between palm trees. The wreck of the USS Nevada sits out at sea; small local halls show shells and torn banners. Morning visits match up with daily flag ceremonies. Entry costs fifty bucks, which helps keep the sites intact.

Key battle markers:

• Bloody Nose Ridge had hidden Japanese bunkers.

• Admiral Shibasaki HQ tunnel complex

• Wooden markers on shorelines where troops landed.

4. Explore Betio WWII Battle of Tarawa Sites

Betio’s old war spots from WWII - battered weapons, concrete shelters, or the spot called Red Beach where a thousand Marines died in just over three days - give visitors a real feel for Kiribati's history through Terau-led hikes winding between palm trees. The wreck of the USS Nevada sits out at sea; small local halls show shells and torn banners. Morning visits match up with daily flag ceremonies. Entry costs fifty bucks, which helps keep the sites intact.

5. Kayak Ambo Island Lagoon

Slip into Ambo Island’s calm lagoon just off Tarawa - kayak across mirror-like water, weaving around narrow sand ridges and tiny bird-covered islets. Dawn rides uncover turtle trails plus gliding eagle rays through untouched stretches of Kiribati atolls. Rent gear straight from Otintautei Hotel while hidden snack-sized islands pop up in the shallow flats.

6. Birdwatch Kiritimati Seabird Colonies

Kiritimati’s home to 18 kinds of seabirds - like unique warblers - spread through around 300 ponds. From June to December, you can hop on a 4x4 tour that climbs up near frigatebird and booby nesting spots while millions settle in. Bring binoculars - it’s key. And remember: never use flash photography

7. Visit Parliament Building & Sacred Heart Cathedral

When night falls, the light spills off Tarawa's Parliament Building into still lagoon water - its form echoing an old canoe design. Nearby stands Sacred Heart Cathedral, built from rough-hewn stone, steady and quiet beside the pulse of new government life. One sees how faith and rule sit side by side, not clashing but holding space under one sky. This stretch at dusk draws people who watch more than take pictures, listen rather than speak, move slow through layers of meaning made visible.

8. Hike Banaba Phosphate Plateau

Banaba's flat top holds traces of digging, struggle, leaving behind deep marks on the land. Craters from removed rock now meet old military passageways dug during wartime. Green growth slowly covers what was once stripped bare, creeping back inch by inch. Walking through brings sudden shifts - uneven mounds give way to steep drops into open sea. The wide horizon stretches beyond most places you’ll find in Kiribati. Far from regular routes, few come here; silence settles differently than expected. Quiet steps lead past remnants, where nature quietly rebuilds itself piece by piece.

9. Surf North Tarawa Breaks

When October arrives, waves begin hitting the reefs of North Tarawa, lasting through April as swells move in across the Pacific. Open stretches of water mean fewer people show up, leaving plenty of room to practice or improve away from crowds. Locals tend to be friendly, sometimes pointing newcomers toward calmer areas that aren’t well known. Water stays warm here, views stay beautiful, life moves slowly - this place feels distant from busy surf hubs by design. Quiet energy defines the rhythm of each day.

10. Dive Bay of Wrecks on Kiritimati

Floating above the Bay of Wrecks near Kiritimati means dropping into water so clear it feels unreal. Sharks glide through open blue, while big tuna cut fast paths around bright coral shapes. Old ships lie below, their broken frames telling quiet stories beneath the waves. With Dive Kiribati, gear fits well, and voices stay calm - knowledge flows like tide patterns passed down through the years. Confidence grows here, even if bubbles rise faster at first. What stays after surfacing? A kind of silence only deep places leave behind.

Capture and Share Your Kiribati Journey with SimCorner eSIM

Kiribati’s widespread means visitors need reliable eSIMs for flights, tide checks, and streaming, even where coverage lags. A SimCorner Pacific plan keeps 4G active across Tarawa and Kiritimati.

Stream fishing action, cultural nights, and ocean footage with flexible data plans.

Shahzeb Shaikh founded SimCorner to connect remote island cultures and conservation efforts. Explore Simcorner SIM and Simcorner eSIM options across the Pacific.

FAQs: Things to Do in Kiribati

Curious about Kiribati on your first trip there? Worthwhile spots might surprise you.

Out here, first-timers find calm on Kiritimati’s quiet flats - light bounces across thin water, ideal for casting flies. Just beyond the Phoenix chain, masks meet color: reefs pulse with fish, mantas drift past, turtles glide beneath. In Tarawa, evenings gather under maneaba roofs, voices rise in rhythm, roots show through ceremony and song. With an eSIM active, schedules adjust fast - tide times appear, ferries get booked, next steps unfold without pause.

How long do trips typically last while exploring attractions in Kiribati?

Spending around ten to fourteen days is common when visiting Kiribati. One part unfolds on Tarawa, where history lives in everyday places. Then comes a solid stretch on Kiritimati - think shallow waters, wide skies, open lagoons. Time here fits in swimming near coral, spotting rare birds, wandering quiet shorelines. Moving between islands needs planning, but it works within that window. Shorter visits? Five to seven days still covers city corners, sandy edges, village paths. Staying connected helps; a local eSIM keeps maps running, bookings confirmed, and tide times close at hand. Weather alerts pop up just in time. Each day feels fuller because of it.

Curious about whether forms are required to dive around Kiribati's submerged spots?

Getting into PIPA waters means paperwork. Permits are mandatory for diving or snorkeling, there just to keep coral and creatures safe. When heading toward far-off atolls, speaking with traditional chiefs comes first - no bypassing that step. Visitors from many countries stay three months without a visa, yet show up unprepared. Not smart. Sorting out forms early helps avoid hiccups later. Using an eSIM made in Kiribati cuts through red tape - you reserve tours, check in with officials, handle clearances - all before setting foot on sand. Fewer surprises when landing, more time enjoying untouched ocean spots.

December to March brings steady waves, wide blue skies, fresh breezes - perfect timing for exploring Kiribati’s wild corners. During these weeks, seabirds swarm in full force, underwater colors pop sharply beneath sunshine, while fish move fast and strong in shallow flats. When drier days roll in - from June till October - the scene shifts: light winds favour long casts on open water, villages hum with rhythm during local gatherings. With an eSIM card linked to your phone, updates flow smoothly - tide charts adjust live, alerts arrive ahead of storms, and booking slots appear just in time. This way, every dive, hike, or quiet watch among nature stays perfectly timed.

Worth trying those Kiribati island trips if you are just starting out?

Sure. On island trips, guided groups let new visitors explore more easily. One big plus: people pick up skills like paddling a kayak or snorkelling without stress. These outings open doors to faraway coral areas and quiet water spots you might miss alone. Locals often join to share stories and traditions during evening gatherings. Safety stays high, rules protect nature, and everyone follows clear plans. Remote fishing zones become reachable, even for those who have never been. Confidence grows when support is built into each day. Staying online in Kiribati? That’s easier with an eSIM - perfect for new travellers who need tide times, trip bookings, or island hopping updates. Instead of guessing, guided tours bring clarity; they deepen moments, spark interest, leave traces long after departure.