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- Kiritimati Lagoon (the central lagoon) — The thing that defines the island: an enormous, shallow coral lagoon you can walk, wade and boat across, studded with tiny motu. Its scale (one of the world’s largest coral atoll lagoons) creates flats, channels and tidal spectacles you won’t find on a pocket atoll — perfect for exploring by skiff and for seeing how island life is built around the water.
- Tabwakea village and the morning fish run — The island’s largest village and the most lively local scene: fishermen landing catches, women preparing coconut and pandanus crafts, and informal markets where you can taste fresh grilled fish. It’s the best place to see everyday Kiribati life on Kiritimati rather than an off-the-shelf tourist show. (Hidden gem: turn up early and tag along to the landing
- Kiritimati Lagoon (the central lagoon) — The thing that defines the island: an enormous, shallow coral lagoon you can walk, wade and boat across, studded with tiny motu. Its scale (one of the world’s largest coral atoll lagoons) creates flats, channels and tidal spectacles you won’t find on a pocket atoll — perfect for exploring by skiff and for seeing how island life is built around the water.
- Tabwakea village and the morning fish run — The island’s largest village and the most lively local scene: fishermen landing catches, women preparing coconut and pandanus crafts, and informal markets where you can taste fresh grilled fish. It’s the best place to see everyday Kiribati life on Kiritimati rather than an off-the-shelf tourist show. (Hidden gem: turn up early and tag along to the landing — that quiet, gritty morning energy is something visitors often miss.)
- Bonefishing flats — Kiritimati’s shallow lagoon flats attract huge bonefish and other flats species; anglers come from far away for the size and numbers. Even non-anglers will enjoy guided skiff trips to watch stalks and casts, and the flats themselves are an oddly beautiful landscape of shifting sand and algae you can’t easily find elsewhere.
- Seabird rookeries on the outer motus — Offshore motu are home to vast colonies of red-footed boobies, frigatebirds, noddies and terns. Small boat trips to these uninhabited islets let you get close to nesting birds (best with a local guide to avoid disturbing them) — a raw, noisy wildlife spectacle specific to Kiritimati’s scale and relative lack of disturbance.
- Snorkel channels and coral gardens — The lagoon’s channels and passes host healthy coral pockets, rays, reef fish and turtles. Snorkeling here feels different from reef dives elsewhere because you’re often in clear, shallow water with dramatic light on sandy bottoms and isolated bommies — great for relaxed, close encounters without deep diving gear.
- Banana settlement and the airport flats — Small, lived-in, and right by the airstrip: Banana gives a good feel for everyday island logistics (boats, planes, and fishing) and the adjacent flats are easy to access for casual shore fishing, walking at low tide and dramatic sunsets. It’s low-key and accessible — the sort of place where you’ll end up chatting with locals on a bench.
- Village cultural experiences — church, weaving and communal feasts — Join a Sunday service, watch pandanus weaving being taught to kids, or (if invited) a local communal meal. These are simple, real exchanges: proud, social communities that welcome conversation more than commerce. This kind of genuine hospitality is one of the island’s highlights and not something you can replicate in a packaged tour. (Hidden gem: ask to visit a home where pandanus mats are made — you’ll leave with stories and maybe a tiny souvenir.)
- Small uninhabited motu picnics and beachcombing — Hire a local boat for a day and pick a tiny motu for yourself: shell hunts, private beaches and very few footprints. The remoteness is the point — clear shallow water, sandbanks at low tide and uninterrupted horizon views. Most visitors stick near villages, so a private motu day still feels like discovering your own island. (Hidden gem: ask a fisherman about his favorite motu — locals know pockets of beauty that don’t make maps.)
- Salt pans and shallow brine flats — Scattered shallow pans around the lagoon create strange, reflective landscapes and attract shorebirds. These are quiet, otherworldly spots for photography, bird-watching and late-afternoon walks when the light hits the salt flats; locals use some of these pans seasonally, so they’re small-scale, authentic places most tourists miss.
- Dark-sky and sunrise/sunset spots along the lagoon edge — Because Kiritimati is remote and sparsely lit, the night sky is spectacular and the lagoon’s East/West beaches deliver dramatic sunrises and sunsets with tidal flats in silhouette. Bring a torch and a blanket, pick a quiet stretch of beach, and you’ll get the island’s best natural show without crowds — simple but unforgettable.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.