Is Papeete sunnier than Motu Mute?

Motu Mute is the sunnier: about 2,872 hours of sunshine a year versus 2,742 — a difference of 130 hours.

Which is warmer, Papeete or Motu Mute?

Year-round daytime highs are similar: Papeete averages 27°C (81°F), Motu Mute 27°C (81°F).

Which is better in winter (November–February), Papeete or Motu Mute?

They are close in the November–February window: Papeete averages 70/100 (about 28°C days), Motu Mute 70/100 (about 28°C).

Which has the warmer sea, Papeete or Motu Mute?

Both peak at about 30°C (86°F); month-by-month sea temperatures for both are on this page.

Papeete vs Motu Mute: which is sunnier?

🇵🇫 French Polynesia vs 🇵🇫 French Polynesia · 259 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)

Motu Mute is the sunnier overall: about 2,872 hours of sunshine a year to Papeete's 2,742. Motu Mute has the higher Sunshine Score in 1 of 12 months; the other 11 are within 2 points.

Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.

At a glance

	Papeete	Motu Mute
Sunshine hours / year	2,742	2,872
Sunniest month	September (88/100)	September (90/100)
Nov–Feb average score	70/100	70/100
Jun–Aug average score	85/100	87/100
Rain / year	1,331 mm	1,319 mm
Warmest sea	30°C / 86°F	30°C / 86°F
Peak midday UV	12 (extreme)	13 (extreme)

Papeete vs Motu Mute month by month

Month	Sunshine Score		Day high °C		Rain mm		Sea °C
Month	Papeete	Motu Mute	Papeete	Motu Mute	Papeete	Motu Mute	Papeete	Motu Mute
January	68	68	28°	28°	190	206	29°	29°
February	68	68	28°	28°	175	180	29°	30°
March	71	70	28°	28°	134	144	30°	30°
April	74	74	28°	28°	116	121	29°	30°
May	79	79	28°	28°	90	94	29°	29°
June	82	85	27°	27°	69	60	28°	28°
July	86	88	26°	27°	52	43	27°	28°
August	87	89	26°	26°	47	39	27°	27°
September	88	90	26°	26°	40	34	27°	28°
October	80	82	27°	27°	84	74	28°	28°
November	74	75	27°	27°	113	114	28°	28°
December	68	68	28°	28°	221	210	29°	29°

The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr even · May even · Jun Motu Mute · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct even · Nov even · Dec even.

When to pick which

November–February: too close to call — Papeete averages 70/100, Motu Mute 70/100. Daytime highs are similar (28°C vs 28°C).
March–May: too close to call — Papeete averages 75/100, Motu Mute 74/100. Daytime highs are similar (28°C vs 28°C).
June–August: too close to call — Papeete averages 85/100, Motu Mute 87/100. Daytime highs are similar (26°C vs 27°C).
September–October: too close to call — Papeete averages 84/100, Motu Mute 86/100. Daytime highs are similar (27°C vs 27°C).

Sea temperature

Both seas peak at 30°C / 86°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): Papeete all year, Motu Mute all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.

Full month-by-month guides: Papeete weather by month · Motu Mute weather by month.

All head-to-head comparisons →