Things to Do in Solomon Islands in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
March Weather in Solomon Islands
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
86°F (30°C)
High Temp
73°F (23°C)
Low Temp
14.3 inches (363 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Residual cyclone risk until mid-March - monitor Wantok FM radio for marine warnings before booking boat crossings
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + March closes the cyclone window. Storms are rare. But the islands repay the gamble. Waterfalls thunder, jungle tracks twitch with birds, reefs rebound after months without crowds. Green is everywhere. Postcard green.
- + You will share the Solomons with almost no one. March visitor stats hit rock bottom. Mbonege and Lilisiana beaches stay empty. Honiara Central Market sells tuna without queues. Guesthouse owners greet you by name. Worth it.
- + Ocean thermometers read 29°C (84°F). Outer-reef visibility steadies at 30 m (98 ft) once the rain settles. WWII wreck dives off Guadalcanal shine. Coral gardens round Mary Island glow. Perfect.
- + Village homestays still have beds. Families pull you into Sunday church. Harmonies lift the tin roof. Later you eat reef fish simmered in coconut cream, a treat rationed in peak months. Bring a thank-you smile.
Considerations
- − Afternoon cloudbursts can unload 25 mm (1 inch) in 30 minutes. Boat timetables to the Western Province scramble. Munda's dirt airstrip morphs into chocolate pudding and flights sit grounded. Pack patience.
- − High-island trails turn nasty. Kolombangara's crater climb and Makira's cross-island route become ankle-deep mudslides. Guides may refuse or hike their fee to cover boot abuse. Check conditions daily.
- − Resort kitchens in Munda and Gizo slim their menus. Supply ships arrive less often. Expect tinned fruit instead of fresh papaya, plenty of frozen chicken, and creative cooks. Stay flexible.
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
WWII Wreck Diving Tours Ironbottom Sound
March calm spells flatten the sea. Visibility hits 30 m (98 ft) above the sunken fleet off Guadalcanal. You can hover beside the USS Atlanta's intact bow gun at 18 m (59 ft) while anthias flick orange. Liveaboards anchor only in shoulder season. In March a 155 m (509 ft) cruiser may be yours alone. Epic.
Booking Tip: Lock in liveaboard or day-boat slots 7-10 days early. Demand proof of Solomon Islands Heritage Trust permits. The booking widget below lists current Honiara boats. Plan ahead.
Village Paddle-Out Canoe Trips Marovo Lagoon
The lagoon spreads 700 km² (270 mile²) of 29°C (84°F) salt water. Mangrove channels lie glassy until the afternoon squall. You glide past stilt huts, kids wave from dugouts, guides spear mud crab for a driftwood lunch. Low tourist numbers make it possible. Enjoy the quiet.
Booking Tip: Set it up through Uepi or Seghe airstrip lodges. Trips follow village clocks, not tour-company ones. Build a buffer day. Stay flexible.
Central Market Dawn Tuna Auction Honiara
Arrive at 5:30 AM when the fleet offloads still-warm yellowfin. Auctioneers rattle Pijin while fingers flick; 30 seconds and a 40 kg (88 lb) fish disappears. March dawns sit at 24°C (75°F) so the flesh stays firm. By 7 AM the first shower steams the iron roof like a sauna. Bring a hat.
Booking Tip: No reservations required. Wear closed shoes. The concrete floor turns slick with seawater and scales. Carry small bills if you fancy a tuna steak for breakfast. Slippery is real.
Kolombangara Crater Rim Trek
Cloud forest wraps the 1 770 m (5 807 ft) volcano even in the dry season. In March the track becomes a muddy bobsled. Orchids the upside: orchids bloom and the endemic Kolombangara white-eye flashes through umbrella palms. Sightings crash to zero once crowds return. Go now.
Booking Tip: Ringgi village guides cancel the full circuit if overnight rain exceeds 30 mm (1.2 in). Book a backup stroll to the 600 m (1 970 ft) viewpoint instead. Have options.
Skull Island Custom Tour Western Province
The tiny Vonavona islet keeps stone shrines and weather-bleached skull racks from head-hunting days. Touching remains tabu. March's low tourist tide lets you anchor alone, wade ashore, and hear only sand squeaking under your sandals while the guide recounts shell-money peaces. July would bring three speedboats. Choose silence.
Booking Tip: Pair the visit with a Munda dive day. Operators bundle both sites to fill boats in quiet months. Check the booking widget for Munda departures. Double dip.
Where to Stay in Solomon Islands in March
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for March travellers.
March Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Early March
Solomon Islands Independence Week Lead-Up
Schools and workplace teams stage mini-festivals the week before 7 July independence. At Lawson Tama stadium in Honiara you catch previews: PVC-pipe bamboo bands, pandanus-skirted girls dancing the 'tapioca' shuffle, coconut-shell lantern parades that start once the 6 PM rain clears. Arrive early.
Packing Checklist
Bookmark this page — your progress is saved between visits
Need the full list with shopping links?
Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Solomon Islands Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
If Friday Brisbane flights look full, book Thursday's Solomon Airlines service. Aussie divers stretch weekends. But business traffic thins a day earlier and seats appear. Shift early.
Request 'island time' departure when you reserve boats. Captains leave after the rain cell, not by the clock. Arguing costs you the ride. Chill.
Tote a half-kilo rice packet as a village gift. Customs smiles easier than at betel nuts, and every family values it in March when stores run low. Share.
Download the 'Wantok' FM radio app before arrival. Cyclone alerts broadcast in English and Pijin. Guides trust radio over patchy SMS. Stay informed.
Exchange a little cash at Honiara's BSP branch opposite the market. Airport rate runs 5 % worse and ATMs swallow foreign cards when networks hiccup after storms
Avoid These Mistakes
Planning tight onward connections the same afternoon as domestic island flights - March showers close grass strips and the backlog can eat 24 hours
Assuming every reef is snorkel-ready; river silt from big rains clouds the Russell Islands for three days, so build buffer days if that's on your list
Wearing reef walkers booties on muddy jungle tracks - you need tread, not rubber soles, and guides will laugh while you slide past them on your backside
Explore More Activities in Solomon Islands
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Solomon Islands.
See All Solomon Islands Tours on Viator