About Farallon de Medinilla
Farallon de Medinilla is a small uninhabited island in the Northern Mariana Islands, administratively part of the Northern Islands Municipality. It lies to the north of the main populated islands of Saipan and Tinian.
The island is noted for its steep, rocky shores and limited vegetation; it has been used by the United States for military training activities and as a range, which has led to restricted public access. It is also recognised locally as nesting habitat for seabirds.
Farallon de Medinilla is located in the western Pacific Ocean north of Saipan and is administered as part of the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
- Access restrictions: The island is uninhabited and has restricted access because of historical use for US military training and live-fire exercises.
Best Time to Visit Farallon de Medinilla
Authorized visits, if ever permitted, are most likely in the drier months; generally the island is off-limits to the public.
Weather & Climate near Farallon de Medinilla
Tropical climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 24°C to 32°C. Abundant rainfall (1996 mm/year), wettest in September.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 25° - 29° | 27° | 121 mm | - | - | 5.3 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 24° - 29° | 27° | 80 mm | - | - | 5.5 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 24° - 29° | 27° | 75 mm | - | - | 6.0 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 25° - 30° | 28° | 88 mm | - | - | 5.8 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 26° - 31° | 28° | 96 mm | - | - | 5.2 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 26° - 32° | 29° | 118 mm | - | - | 4.9 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 26° - 31° | 29° | 244 mm | - | - | 4.3 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 26° - 31° | 29° | 290 mm | - | - | 4.4 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 26° - 31° | 29° | 321 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 26° - 31° | 28° | 259 mm | - | - | 4.4 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 26° - 30° | 28° | 173 mm | - | - | 5.2 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 25° - 30° | 28° | 131 mm | - | - | 5.5 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Farallon de Medinilla
No public transport to Farallon de Medinilla; the island is under U.S. federal and military control and is not open to civilian visitation. Any official or research visits must be coordinated with U.S. authorities and local Northern Mariana Islands government officials.
Tips for Visiting Farallon de Medinilla
- Farallon de Medinilla is a restricted U.S. Department of Defense area-do not attempt to visit without explicit authorization.
- If researching the island, use official Northern Mariana Islands government and U.S. Navy archival materials rather than planning a visit.
- Respect local conservation and jurisdictional rules; access is tightly controlled.