Pohnpei is a small volcanic island in the middle of the Pacific. With 334 km², it is the largest island in Micronesia and packed with highlights. Between dense rainforest, waterfalls, and historical sites, exciting photo spots are everywhere. If you want to see our best locations, check this out: Photospots in Pohnpei

How do you get from A to B?

There is no public transport in Pohnpei.

Taxi

There are a few taxis in Kolonia, and in general they drive across the whole island. Outside the city, however, you will rarely find one. If you don’t arrange in advance that the driver will wait for you, it can be difficult to get back.

Rental car

The easiest way to explore Pohnpei is by rental car. Cars can be rented through local car rental companies and through hotels.

Where can you rent a car?

You won’t find big international rental car companies in Pohnpei, but there are many local providers. You can find a list of all available rental companies here.

We rented our car from ABC Car Rentals.

To rent a car, you need an International Driving Permit.

Driving in Pohnpei

In Pohnpei, people drive on the right and speeds are listed in mph. The speed limit is 25 mph, which is about 40 km/h. Even though driving is on the right, many cars are imports from Japan and therefore right hand drive.

The roads often need repairs and are full of potholes. In addition, Pohnpei is one of the rainiest islands in the world. This can make the road surface slippery, and potholes are even harder to spot when it rains.

Night driving should be avoided. The roads are not in great condition, and other drivers may sometimes be under the influence of alcohol or the betel nut.

Road network in Pohnpei

Pohnpei has a ring road that circles the island in roughly 60 km. The ring road is paved, but in parts it is in poor condition and has many potholes. Along the ring road there are many turn offs into the interior. These roads are usually unpaved and often only passable with 4x4 vehicles.

The ring road is generally two lanes, but it can happen that grass and bushes cover parts of the road. Side roads sometimes end in a narrow path where you can hardly continue.

How much does a rental car cost?

Rental cars are relatively expensive in Pohnpei. In addition, only a few rental companies have a website, which makes price comparisons difficult.

We paid 65 USD per day for our car.

One liter of fuel costs about 1.4 USD.

License plate for the collection