Butaritari is in the northern part of the Gilbert archipelago. It is only 115 km north of Tarawa, but completely different from the capital. Butaritari is a fertile, green island and it has a very wet climate, with an average rainfall of around 4 m (157 inches) per year. Butaritari means roughly 'smell of the sea' in I-Kiribati.
Butaritari's reef is almost continuous, but there are several gaps that allow the passage of larger vessels. The 2 islets of Bikati and Bikatieta sit at the northwestern tip of the atoll.
Apart from a beautiful scenery, there is little of interest on Butaritari. The island's main feature is fried breadfruit, which is a different variety from that found elsewhere in Kiribati. The town of Butaritari is the second-largest settlement in Kiribati, but it is little more than a village.
It is nice to take a canoe to the atoll of Makin, which is only 3 km (1.9 mi) to the northeast. You will have to go through a stunningly beautiful passage through the reef in order to get there.
Accommodation is available in Butaritari. It has air and sea connections with Kiribati's capital Tarawa. Butaritari has also boat connections with the island of Betio.
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