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Pohnpei

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The largest island of the Federated States of Micronesia, green with rain, with the national capital in its hills and the basalt city of Nan Madol off its south-east shore.

Fly to Pohnpei All of Micronesia
Arrival
Pohnpei International · PNI
To Kolonia
Airport 2 km north of the town
Private jets
About 2,010 m of runway; 24 hours’ prior permission
Best time
February to April

The city

Basalt walls and mountain rain.

Pohnpei is 334 square kilometres of high, wet ground, home to about 37,000 people. Kolonia, the state capital, is the main town; Palikir, inland, is the seat of the national government. The coast receives about 4,775 mm of rain a year and parts of the interior nearly 7,600 mm, which feeds the rivers and waterfalls.

Off the south-east coast, more than a hundred artificial islets of basalt and coral make up Nan Madol, built between about 1200 and 1500 as the ceremonial centre of the Saudeleur dynasty. UNESCO listed it in 2016 and placed it at once on its list of sites in danger.

  • Nan Madol Walled islets of stacked basalt on the reef, the World Heritage centre of the Saudeleur rulers.
  • Sokehs Rock Paipalap, a face of bare basalt more than 100 metres high and Pohnpei’s most striking landform.
  • Kepirohi Waterfall A fall on the lower Mand Stream, reached with a local guide like most walks here.

Arriving

Midway on the Island Hopper.

Pohnpei International lies two kilometres north of Kolonia. Its grooved asphalt runway is about 2,010 metres long, the longest of the four state airports.

Business & First Class Scheduled flights United, the only US airline serving the FSM, stops here on the Island Hopper between Guam and Honolulu, with calls at Chuuk and Majuro and on some days at Kosrae and Kwajalein. A weekly loop runs Guam, Pohnpei, Chuuk and back. Business & First fares Private Jet Private aircraft All flights need permission 24 hours in advance, and the airport works limited published hours with an unattended tower. Customs, Avgas and jet fuel are listed; Pohnpei is not shown as an airport of entry, so the FSM clearance is arranged before departure. Charter a jet
Approximate flying time by midsize jet
  • Nadi 4 h 50
  • Tokyo 5 h 05
  • Brisbane 5 h 20
  • Shanghai 6 h 20 long-range jet
  • Los Angeles 11 h 50 long-range jet

When to go

February to April.

Hot and very wet, with highs of 30 to 31 °C all year and a sea of 28 to 29 °C. Every month brings more than 250 mm of rain. February is the driest month and May the wettest.

  1. 30° J 297 28°
  2. 30° F 255 28°
  3. 30° M 323 28°
  4. 30° A 395 29°
  5. 30° M 461 29°
  6. 30° J 425 29°
  7. 30° J 448 29°
  8. 31° A 397 29°
  9. 31° S 374 29°
  10. 31° O 404 29°
  11. 31° N 384 29°
  12. 30° D 388 29°
Best months weather2travel.com, long-term averages (Palikir)

Elsewhere in Micronesia

More reasons to come.

All of Micronesia

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Business & First Private Jet