Kiribati

Eco-friendly travel guide to Kiribati advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to travel in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Kiribati, Oceania.

View of the beach in Kiribati

Air quality: 3 / 5

Bus connections: 4/ 5

Train connections: 3.5 / 5

Hitchhiking: 2.5/ 5

National parks: 3 / 5

Outdoor activities: 3/ 5

Locals' English level: 3 / 5

Safety: 3 / 5

Accommodation: US$70 - $400

Budget per day: US$55 - $225

Responsible Travel

Kiribati is a very beautiful island country which consists of three main islands, there are two three inhabited islands in this country while several smaller uninhabited islands are also present in Kiribati. The island country of Kiribati is a tourist spot and every year more than a million people pay a visit to the island country of Kiribati. It is extremely important for all the tourists to follow all the guidelines which are being made by the government of the country Kiribati. Tourists should travel responsibly in Kiribati, they should throw garbage at the public places and they should consume alcohol in public places of Kiribati. The island of Kiribati has a very less population which is about 119000, Kiribati comes under the continent of Oceania whose capital is Tarawa.

Air Quality and Pollution

The air quality of the island country Kiribati is moderate which can cause several health complexities to the sensitive groups, the rate of pollution in the country Kiribati is also slightly high although the government is trying so many measures to control pollution. People of Kiribati who have allergies should wear a mask and then go out of their house so that the small particles which are present in the air cannot enter the body. Vehicles which run on fossil fuels in the country Kiribati are the main reasons for the increasing pollution rates in this island country, local people of the country Kiribati should limit the use of vehicles which increases the rate of pollution. Some local people of the island country Kiribati have started using air purifiers which purifies all the harmful chemical compounds and particles which can cause adverse effects.

Respect the Culture

Tourists who are on a trip to the island country of Kiribati should respect the culture of this country, there are very strict rules and regulations which are set by the government of Kiribati regarding the respect of the culture of this island country. Tourists who are on a trip to the island country of Kiribati should strictly not say anything against the culture of this country as they can face some serious problems later, tourists should not disrespect the culture of Kiribati in any way of this country. Tourists should attend the cultural programs which are carried out in the country of Kiribati as this will help them to understand the culture of this island country better. The local people of the country Kiribati are very conscious when it comes to the respect of their culture, Kiribati has a rich heritage of culture which fascinates most of the tourists.

Top 10 Places to Visit

There are so many places in the island country of Samoa where tourists should definitely pay a visit during their trip to this country. Reaching to these places is extremely easy for the tourists as they can opt for any of the public transportation as per their convenience. Names of top ten places that tourists can visit during their trip to the island country of Samoa are mentioned below

Nikumaroro Island - Nikumaroro Island or Kemins island is a small island which is present in the western region of Pacific Ocean of the country Kiribati. This island belongs to the island group of Phoenix islands which is 7.5 kilometres in length and 2.5 kilometres in width.

Banaba - Banaba is an island which comes in the island chain of Gilbert islands of the country Kiribati, Banaba island has a surface area of about 6.29 square kilometres and has a very less population of about 250 people. The language which is spoken in the island of Banaba is Gilbertese so tourists will find it difficult to communicate with them.

Makin Island - Makin island is present in the island group of Gilbert of the country Kiribati, Makin island has a surface area of about 7.89 square kilometres and with a population of about 2000 as per the census of 2015.

Rawaki Island - Rawaki Island is a very small uninhabited island which comes under the island group of Phoenix of the country Kiribati, Rawaki Island has a surface area of about 65 hectares and this island is a protected area so the tourists should be extremely careful when they are traveling to this place.

Arorae - Arorae is also very small island which comes under the island group of Gilbert of the country Kiribati, Arorae has a surface area of about 9.5 square kilometres having length of somewhere around 9 kilometres and a population of approximately 1000 people and is not so inhabited.

Bonriki - Bonriki is one of the most popular islands which comes under the island groups of Gilbert of the country Kiribati, Bonriki is famous because one of the two international airports of the country Kiribati is present here so this island accommodates a lot of visitors every year.

Vostok Island - Vostok Island is a small uninhabited island which comes under the island groups of Line of the country Kiribati, the island is Vostok has a surface area of approximately 24 hectares but is one of the favourite islands for the tourists to visit in the country of Kiribati.

Enderbury Island - Enderbury Island is also a very small island which comes under the island groups of Phoenix of the country Kiribati, Enderbury Island has a length of about 3 miles and has a width of approximately 1 mile and is an uninhabited Island where no-one resides.

Tamana Island - Tamana Island is considered to be as the smallest island which comes under the island groups of Gilbert, Tamana Island is an inhabited island which has a population of more than 1000 inhabitants. The tourists who want to reach the Island of Tamana can opt for either air transportation or they can also opt for water transportation.

Bikeman Island - Bikeman Island is a small submerged islet which is present in the country of Kiribati, due to water currents this island got submerged in 1990s and if anyone wants to visit this island then he/she only has the option of water transportation as no other transportation facilities are available at this Island.

Nikumaroro Island

Explore

In the island country of Kiribati there are so many places for the tourists and also for the local people of this country, the country of Kiribati is a tourist spot which accommodates millions of tourists every year. There are a lot of things to do in Kiribati and a lot of places to explore for the tourists although they cannot cover all the places in one trip but they can choose the best places which they should definitely visit in the island country of Kiribati. The tourists can explore various historical landmarks which are present in the island country of Kiribati as landmarks are the most ideal places for exploration in this country.

City Parks

City parks are one of those places which people prefer to visit on holidays and the city parks of Kiribati are very relaxing and help people to reduce their stress. Names of city parks which are present in the island country of Kiribati are mentioned below

Cook Islet - Cook islet is a very popular nature reserve which is present in Palmerston Island of the country Kiribati, Cook islet was named after James Cook and is a must visit place for the nature lovers as the environment of this place is very soothing.

Motu Upua - Mota upua is a protected area which is present in the country of Kiribati as there are so many diverse species of both flora and fauna which are kept away from human interaction. People who are visiting the place of Mota Upua should be extremely careful as they should not harm the plants and animals of this place in any way

Cook Islet

National Parks

National parks are one of those places which the tourists should definitely visit when they are on a trip to the island country of Kiribati as here they will get to watch so many different varieties and species of flora and fauna which they might not be able to see in their own country. Names of national parks which are present in the country of Kiribati are mentioned below

Birnie Island - Birnie Island is a very small island which is present in the country of Kiribati, in 1975 Birnie island was declared as a wildlife sanctuary because of the diversity of flora and fauna which is available at this island.

McKean Island - McKean island is also a very beautiful wildlife sanctuary which is present in the country of Kiribati, McKean island has more than 85000 of birds so this island should be definitely visited by those people who love to do bird watching. McKean Island is uninhabited Island which makes the life of all the animals and birds species very easy.

Birnie Island

Beaches

Beaches are perfect for a family outing where people of Kiribati can visit with their families and spend some good time with them and they are also good for doing outdoor activities. Names of beaches which are present in the country of Kiribati are mentioned below

Betio - Betio is a very small beach island which is present in the country of Kiribati, the beach and the water body of Betio are very neat and clean as it is maintained very nicely. The beach of Betio has a very large area where so many visitors at a time can relax over this place.

Bathing Lagoon - Bathing Lagoon is one of the best beaches which is present in the country of Kiribati as this beach accommodates hundreds of people everyday. The crystal clear water body of this beach looks very fascinating and this beach is also covered with the beautiful palm trees.

Landmarks

Landmarks are the first choice places to visit for the tourists during their trip to the island country of Kiribati, these landmarks of Kiribati depict the history of the place and the architecture fascinates every visitor. In the country of Kiribati there are various landmarks for the tourists to visit, names of some them are mentioned below

Parliament Building - Parliament building is a must visit place for the tourists who are on a trip to the country of Kiribati, this parliament building is present in the capital Atoll of Tarawa. At this building all the important decisions are taken by the government of the country Kiribati and is a very important place.

Sacred heart cathedral - Sacred heart cathedral is a church which is present in the southern region of Tarawa of the country Kiribati, sacred heart cathedral has a very beautiful infrastructure because of the good maintenance of the staff.

Museums

Museums are perfect places for the tourists to visit in the country of Kiribati as here they get to gain so much information about the country they are on a trip, in the country of Kiribati there is only one museum which is extremely informative and good for gaining knowledge, name of that museum is mentioned below

Kiribati Cultural Museum - Kiribati Cultural Museum is the most popular museum which is present in the region of Bikenibeu of the country Kiribati, Kiribati Cultural Museum has a good collection of artifacts and the visitors will get to know so many things about the culture of Kiribati.

Eat

It is quite important for all the tourists who are on a trip to the country of Kiribati that they should definitely consume the traditional and local food of this country. Tourists can taste the traditional and local food of this country in any of the popular restaurants which are present in the country of Kiribati. The local people of the country Kiribati are very fond of eating seafood as it is a island country, there are so many traditional dishes which are being consumed in Kiribati and names of some of the dishes of this country are mentioned below

Teia

Waro

bua toro ni baukin

pandanus

Drink

The local people of the country Kiribati are very fond of consuming drinks whether it be alcoholic or non alcoholic, although there is a drinking age in the country of Kiribati and people below that age are strictly not allowed to consume alcoholic drinks. Palm wine is the most popular and also the most consumed drink in the island country of Kiribati as it is the national drink of the country, this popular drink is usually made from the sap of the palm plant which is then stored for some time so that the yeast can ferment it. Names of some more popular drinks which are consumed in the country of Kiribati are mentioned below

Crab Cocktail

Kava

Tea

Tap-water

Tap water in the island country of Kiribati is considered unsafe for human consumption and the local people of this country should boil or purify it properly and then consume it. Tourists who are on a trip to Kiribati should not consume the tap water directly in this country, as they can face health complexities so they should only drink packaged drinking water which is safe for consumption. Local people of Kiribati have water purifiers in their houses so as to purify the water from all the harmful chemical compounds and microorganisms which can cause adverse effects on their body. The tap water of the hotels which are present in the country of Kiribati is also unsafe for consumption and tourists should avoid consuming it.

Activities

There are so many kinds of activities which tourists can do in the country of Kiribati, this country is heaven for nature lovers as this country has so many places which are perfect for nature photography. People who love to do outdoor activities should definitely visit the beaches which are present in the island country of Kiribati, the beaches of this country are very neat and clean. Tourists can visit various city parks which are present in Kiribati where they can enjoy the pleasant atmosphere, city parks are perfect for relaxing the mind. The island country of Kiribati is also a really good place to visit for the people who love to go on adventures, there are a lot of adventurous activities to do for the tourists in this country.

Accommodation

There are so many modes of accommodation which are available for the tourists in the country of Kiribati and they can choose any one of the accommodations which suits them the best. Accommodation is the first thing that the tourists search for when they are planning a trip to the country Kiribati and tourists choose their accommodation on the basis of their budget and requirements. Tourists can book their accommodation online very easily and every accommodation of Kiribati has its own site from where people can book. The modes of accommodation which tourists can choose during their trip to the island country of Kiribati are mentioned below

Green hotels

'Guest houses

Apartments

Green Hotels

Green hotels are the most preferred mode of accommodation by the tourists who are on a trip to the country of Kiribati and these green hotels have all the necessary facilities which the tourists require during their whole trip. Tourists can book these green hotels online very conveniently in Kiribati and these hotels give heavy discounts to those people who book it online. The green hotels present in the country of Kiribati have so many activities for their visitors to do so that they can never get bored here. Green hotels of Kiribati are eco-friendly hotels which do not cause any kind of harm to the environment and everything which they use in their hotels are organic and eco-friendly which benefit the environment in every possible way. Names of green hotels which are present in the country of Kiribati are mentioned below

Abemama Green-Eco Hotel Kiribati

Tarawa Boutique Hotel

Hostels and Guest Houses

Hostels are not available in the country of Kiribati and because of this the students who are studying in the universities of this country have to face so many difficulties.

Guest houses are also a very good mode of accommodation which is mostly opted by the tourists in the country of Kiribati, guest houses of Kiribati are very comfortable and are also very budget friendly. Guest houses of Kiribati provide their visitors with 3-4 meals in one day and the visitors can choose the menu on their own. Names of guest houses which are present in the country of Kiribati are mentioned below

Dreamers Guest House

Tabon Te Keekee Eco Lodge

Apartments

This mode of accommodation is mostly opted by the local people living in the country of Kiribati, this mode of accommodation is perfect for middle class people of Kiribati which cannot afford to purchase their own house. In the country of Kiribati there are so many companies which rent their apartments to the local people at very reasonable prices and at prime locations. The facilities people get in apartments of Kiribati are not less than a house so this mode of accommodation is becoming favourite amongst the middle class people of this country. There are so many apartments present in the island country of Kiribati, names of some of the apartments of this country are mentioned below

Tobaraoi Serviced Apartments

Ereven Rental Home

Couchsurfing

If any tourist has any relative or a friend who is living in the country of Kiribati then he/she can do couch surfing at their accommodation. This practice is very budget friendly in Kiribati as the tourists don't need to spend money over the accommodation and they can reside at their local friend or reltive's accommodation. The tourists will also save a lot of money over food during their trip to Kiribati as in couch surfing they don't need to visit the restaurants to eat food, the local friends will make them eat the traditional and local food of the country Kiribati. The local people of the island country Kiribati are very humble and kind when it comes to couch surfing and they always welcome their guests and try to give them the best hospitality that they can give to them.

Camping

Camping is an outdoor activity which is practiced in forests or a place which has a thick cover of trees and doing camping is not an easy thing to do specially in a place like Kiribati as it requires a lot of experience and precision. The local people of the country Kiribati like to do camping on off days for a change in their daily lifestyle, in the country of Kiribati there are various camping centres where people can visit and do camping. These camping centres of Kiribati have made this practice extremely easy for the people who want to practice it. This practice is also very budget friendly and tourists can also do camping in any of the camping centres which are present in the island country of Kiribati.

Regions

Gilbert Islands
The western island chain is home to the vast majority of Kiribati's population, including the capital Tarawa.

Line Islands
The farthest flung islands, with populations on the three northern islands of Kirimati (Christmas Island), Tabuaeran, and Teraina.

Phoenix Islands
Almost completely uninhabited, with the exception of a few families on Kanton.

Cities

Tarawa - an atoll in the central Pacific Ocean, and the location of the capital of Kiribati.

Getting There and Moving Around

Getting to the island country of Kiribati is quite easy and the tourists don't face much difficulties so as to reach here as there are various modes of transportation, tourists can choose any one mode of transportation so as to reach the country Kiribati. As Kiribati is an island country so tourists have the option of water transportation to reach this country, this island country of Kiribati has a good network of water transportation. The island country of Kiribati also has a good network of air transportation and this mode of transportation is the most used mode of transportation by the tourists to reach this country. Tourists get the facilities of public transportation if they want to travel in the country of Kiribati, traveling in this country is very easy and tourists will definitely enjoy their trip to Kiribati.

Air

Air transportation is the most developed mode of transportation in the country of Kiribati, this country has two international airports namely Bonriki International Airport and Cassidy International Airport which accommodates more than a million people every year. In the island country of Kiribati there are so many other airports but they are not international airports but they also play a very important role in the air transportation. People can book their tickets for Kiribati very easily and conveniently online as here they can choose the seat of their choice and also do pre-booking. The airplanes of Kiribati are always on time and follow a very strict time table so that their passengers should reach their respective destination on time. Although this mode of transportation in the country Kiribati is very costly and not everyone can afford traveling in airplanes.

Bonriki International Airport

Bus

The mini buses which run in the country of Kiribati will definitely catch the attention of the tourists who are on a trip to Samoa, these mini buses help the locals of this island country to travel from one destination to another. These mini buses of Kiribati are very punctual and mostly they are on time so the passengers don't need to wait for so long as the numbers of buses on one single route are high so that every passenger can get the seat during traveling. These mini buses of this country are very affordable and everyone can afford to travel in them, this mode of transportation is one of the cheapest modes of transportation in the country Kiribati. There are no such bus stations in the island country of Kiribati but there are bus stops where the passengers need to wait for their respective bus to come.

Train

There are no trains available in the island country of Kiribati as this place is not so suitable for trains and because of this both the tourists and local people of this country have to face a lot of difficulties in moving around in this country. Unavailability of trains in the country of Kiribati makes the transportation quite difficult and passengers have to opt for some other mode of transportation. The local people of Kiribati mostly opt for local buses which are running in this country, water transportation is also a very good option for transportation in the country of Kiribati.

Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking can be a very effective practice if used in a proper manner and this practice is extremely common in the country of Kiribati. Although nowadays this practice is mostly used in an emergency situation like accidents in the country of Kiribati and also the people are now very afraid of helping people on the way as there is a very high risk of getting robbed in Kiribati. This practice is effective in this country as the country of Kiribati has a very well developed road network and the roads are also very well maintained by the government which makes this practice very rapid and effective. Most tourists can be seen practicing it as they are not aware about the routes of the country Kiribati and while hitchhiking they can also ask the local people about the public transportation and the places that they can visit in Kiribati.

Others

Other modes of transportation which are available for traveling in the country of Kiribati is taxi, there are so many agencies in Kiribati which rent their taxis to the local people and the tourists so as to help them reach their respective destinations. Although traveling in a taxi is very costly as the prices are very high and not everyone can afford it everyday so there are other modes of transportation also which are available in the country of Kiribati. Water transportation can also be an option in Kiribati for transportation but it is very time consuming and it takes much more time to reach the destination so it is not used much if the destination is far away. Tourists mostly prefer taxis in Kiribati as they are not aware about the routes of this country as renting a taxi is quite easy in this country.

Sustainable Shopping

In Sustainable shopping people get to purchase materials which are totally environment friendly, such materials do not cause any kind of harm to the environment and it is safe to use. In the country of Kiribati also the local people have started using commodities which are eco-friendly, these commodities not only contribute towards the welfare of the environment but also it is safe for human use. Use of sustainable products are increasing day by day in the country of Kiribati as people are getting aware of the benefits these products have both on humans and the environment. Kiribati organic producers is one such organisation which sells organic products in the country of Kiribati and they ask people not to use plastic bags and increase the use of baskets for shopping.

Recycling

The local people of the country Kiribati are taking recycling very seriously, there are several organisations in Kiribati which are recycling every kind of waste material and making something useful out of those materials. The organisations of Kiribati have enhanced technologies and modern techniques through which they can recycle every kind of material. These organisations of the country Kiribati are also carrying out awareness programs for the local people of this country so that they can also follow certain basic techniques through which they can recycle certain products and contribute towards the environment. MELAD is one such agency which is extremely popular for its recycling techniques in the country of Kiribati which is doing wonders in recycling for this country.

Waste

Earlier the island country of Kiribati was not at all doing good in waste management but in recent times this country has definitely improved a lot in waste management. There are some waste management companies and agencies of the country Kiribati which are trying their best to manage the waste developing in this country properly and effectively. The companies of Kiribati have all the modern techniques and enhanced technologies and by using this they can manage every kind of waste material in the country of Kiribati. These companies are also carrying out awareness programs for the local people of this island country in which they are asking people to manage and dispose waste products properly so as to avoid environmental degradation. E-waste is the most difficult waste to handle as it has so many harmful chemical compounds which can degrade the environment but the country of Kiribati is also improving a lot in managing e-waste.

Work and Study Abroad

The job opportunities for the local people of the country Kiribati is not very high, many people of the country Kiribati are doing odd jobs so as to earn their living. Middle class people of Kiribati have to struggle a lot to earn some respectable amount of money, they have to do multiple jobs as the wages they get are not good enough to make their livelihood in Kiribati.

The Universities which are present in the island country of Kiribati provide chances to their students to settle abroad, candidates who score good grades get first preference of settling abroad. Settling abroad is not an easy task if one is living in Kiribati and also it requires a lot of money to settle abroad which middle class people of this island country cannot afford. One has to work extremely hard in the country of Kiribati so as to get a chance to settle abroad or else he/she should have financial stability to settle abroad.

Exchange Student

Education in the island country of Kiribati is not so costly so the students who cannot afford to study in their own country due to financial issues then they can study here at much less amount of money. Every year the universities which are present in the country of Kiribati carry out exchange student programs for the students of other countries. The universities of kiribatiy have all the necessary facilities for their students in which they provide them with an accommodation to live, they will provide them with 3-4 meals in a day and much more facilities so that they do not face any kinds of difficulties while studying in the universities of this island country. Students can very easily enroll themselves in the exchange student programs of Kiribati online as they just need to fill their personal details and grades.

Au Pair

The au pairing companies and agencies which are present in the island country of Kiribati have helped so many unemployed people of this country to get a job and earn their livelihood. These companies and agencies have increased the rates of employment and thereby increasing job opportunities for the local people of the island country Kiribati. Although the wages people get after doing this job in Kiribati are not good enough, people also have to do some other jobs in Kiribati so as to fulfill their daily requirements. In au pairing jobs of Kiribati timings are very odd and one has to work for so many hours and after this they get very less payment. The local people of the island country Kiribati can enroll themselves in these au pairing companies very easily by simply filling their personal information and as soon as these companies will get a suitable job they will inform their candidates.

Volunteering

Volunteering is the most effective and convenient practice which most of the freshers do in the island country of Kiribati, by doing this practice so many candidates got a respectable job which helped make their daily requirements in this island country. Volunteering is not an unchallenging task to do as one has to work extremely hard so as to impress the members of the company in Kiribati, candidates should be very dedicated towards their work and should always be very punctual as getting a job in Kiribati is quite difficult. There is no certainty of getting a job in volunteering in the island country of Kiribati as the seats are limited, people should try this practice in some other companies of this island country also so that they can get a job in that company. Some companies of Kiribati provide stipends to their volunteers so that they can work more effectively, while some companies of Kiribati do not provide stipends and they just provide a certificate.