Packing list for Kiribati, travel insurance for Kiribati, and taking your belongings

What to bring to Kiribati: brief

To check and pack

• Documents: passport valid for at least another 6 months with at least 2 blank pages. For many travelers, visa-free travel is possible for up to approximately 30 days, but be sure to check this carefully for your nationality beforehand. A return or onward ticket is often required.
• Money: bring sufficient cash. Outside South Tarawa, ATMs are scarce and not always reliable. Australian dollars can be useful during layovers in the region.
• Personal care: sunscreen with a high protection factor, lip balm with SPF, and mosquito repellent. The sun is strong, and shade is not guaranteed everywhere.
• Outdoors and handy Items: a dry bag, sunglasses, and a reusable water bottle. On many islands, you travel by boat, and saltwater eventually ends up everywhere.
• Clothing: lightweight clothing for tropical heat, but also something with long sleeves to protect against mosquitoes and sunburn. Outside of beaches and resorts, modest clothing is appreciated.
• Shoes: water shoes or sturdy sandals are useful due to coral, reefs, and sea urchins.
• Medicines and first-aid kit: a small first-aid kit with ORS, plasters, tweezers, and personal medication. Medical facilities are limited on many islands.
• Mosquitoes and sandflies: bringing DEET or Picaridin is smart. Mosquitoes can transmit dengue, and mosquito repellents are not readily available everywhere.
• Technology and equipment: a worldplug and possibly a power bank. Power outages and limited electricity occur on smaller islands.

To consider

• Snorkeling gear when you enjoy going into the water.
• Extra snacks or specific products you like, little is available on remote islands.
• A dry bag for boat trips.
• Patience: on some islands, time seems more like a friendly suggestion than an agreement.
•  Things that are commonplace in larger countries—from ATMs to bandages—may be in limited supply.

Are there mosquitoes in Kiribati?

• Yes. Mosquitoes are common, especially around stagnant water and during wet periods.
• They can transmit diseases such as dengue. Malaria does not occur.
• More about protection against mosquitoes and insects.

Are there sandflies in Kiribati?

• Yes, especially around beaches, lagoons, and mangrove areas.
• They are small but tenacious, and you usually only realize later how many bites you have had.
• Long clothing and mosquito repellent usually work well.
• More about sandflies and sand fleas.

Can you buy DEET or other mosquito repellents in Kiribati?

• Sometimes yes, sometimes no, and the selection is limited and varies.
• Therefore, it is preferable to bring sufficient mosquito repellent from home, especially if you are traveling to smaller or remote islands.

Can you buy a joint or weed in Kiribati, or bring it to Kiribati?

• Cannabis is illegal in Kiribati. Possession, use, and sale can lead to fines or imprisonment.
• Bringing it to Kiribati is not a good idea, even in small quantities.