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Guide to Line/Phoenix Islands (Canton, Christmas, Enderbury, Fanning)

To visit Line/Phoenix Islands (Canton, Christmas, Enderbury, Fanning), check entry requirements, connectivity and this guide’s local references.

Kiritimati offers vast lagoons and birdwatching; the Phoenix Islands are far more remote. This entry groups distinct archipelagos and does not imply a continuous tourist route between them.

Places in Line/Phoenix Islands (Canton, Christmas, Enderbury, Fanning) · 2 catalog places →

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Conditions and other situations

Short tourist stays with an ordinary passport. Residence, other visas, stay length and transit can change the requirement. Check with the authority before booking or travelling.

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Embassy

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Highlights

Complete guide · chapter reading

Introduction

Line Islands are a collection of 11 atolls in .

Regions

Northern Line Islands

  • (Christmas Island) - pop.~6,000
  • (Fanning Island) - pop.~2,500
  • Teraina (Washington Island) - pop.~1,000

The Northern Line Islands also include and Kingman Reef (which is underwater at high tide), which are dependencies.

The Central Line Islands of , Malden and Starbuck, as well as the Southern Line Islands of Caroline, Flint, and Vostok are all uninhabited.

Understand

The Line Islands are in the , the easternmost zone in use anywhere in the world, making them the first places on Earth to start each new calendar day.

Get in

Cassidy International Airport in (CXI) is served only by Fiji Airways on its once-weekly () – Kiritimati – () route. Due to the great distance between the Line Islands and the rest of the country, and because the only other operational airports in Kiribati are found in the , there are no domestic flights. To reach the Gilbert Islands, travelers must fly via Nadi on Fiji Airways which operates a twice weekly Nadi– flight.

Text by Wikivoyage contributors. Article edition: 2023-01-26T04:07:48Z · Source and revision · Authors and history · CC BY-SA 4.0

Local food

Cocina i-Kiribati

Fish and coconut foods shared with Kiribati; the menu depends on your host.

Local drinks

Toddy dulce de Kiritimati

Coconut-blossom sap in its unfermented form, part of a shared I-Kiribati tradition.

Alcohol-free

Agua de coco

Water from green coconuts is documented as a drink on Kiritimati.

Alcohol-free

Plan your itinerary

Choose the island

Confirm destination and transport in writing; do not confuse Kiritimati with Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

Birds and lagoons

Use local guides for excursions and fishing; verify each area’s conservation rules.

Protected Phoenix Islands

Check authorisations and specialist logistics before considering an expedition.

Kiritimati

(Christmas Island) - pop.~6,000

Tabuaeran

(Fanning Island) - pop.~2,500

Phoenix Islands

Local reading and routes

The drinks described relate to Kiritimati in the Line Islands; availability in the Phoenix Islands is not implied. Arrange supplies, transport and permissions for each island.

Line and Phoenix: two different journeys

This guide covers two Kiribati archipelagos. The Line Islands lie to the east; the Phoenix group occupies another part of the Pacific. Australia’s official overview describes Phoenix as eight atolls without permanent settlement apart from a government outpost on Kanton.

Plan them as separate projects. Arrival in Kiritimati does not confirm transport, accommodation or landing in Phoenix. If you want to visit both, obtain an itinerary detailing every leg and its operator before completing bookings.

Kiritimati: gateway and nature

Cassidy is Kiritimati’s international airport. The tourism authority publishes international connections and a Tarawa connection; check their availability directly for your dates. Fishing and birdwatching are two interests highlighted on the island by Kiribati Tourism.

When arranging an outing, ask about the guide, transfer, required equipment and rules for the specific location. Leave time to explore beyond your main activity and coordinate meals with your accommodation.

Phoenix: understanding an ocean landscape

The UNESCO-listed Phoenix Islands Protected Area brings together atolls, reefs, deep waters and seamounts. Its value lies in the connections between those environments and their importance for birds and migratory marine species.

For a possible expedition, confirm in writing with the authorities and organiser which islands may be visited, which authorisations apply and how landings, waste and contingencies are handled. Heritage status explains the place’s value; it does not establish tourist access or available services.

Phoenix Islands Protected Area

The world's largest Marine Protected Area. This isolated location has a vast array of undisturbed and pristine ecosystems. The coral reefs and bird populations are virtually untouched by man. The Phoenix Islands were awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2010. The area covers 410,500 sq km of the Central Pacific.

Sources

Tourism Authority of Kiribati · naturaleza · Kiribati · conexiones · Thaman y Tye · Flora of Kiritimati, investigación de campo · DFAT Australia · geografía de los tres archipiélagos · Tourism Authority of Kiribati · conexiones · Tourism Authority of Kiribati · actividades · UNESCO · Phoenix Islands Protected Area

Wikivoyage contributors; selection, abridgement, translation and regional planning by TRIPGUROO · CC BY-SA 4.0

CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikivoyage · Line Islands (Kiribati)