Perhaps the most beautiful thing about Mauritius is that the island features more than 330 kilometres of pristine coastline submersed by beautiful lagoons. That is enhanced by the fact that the sun shines all year as the island can be defined as the ultimate tropical climate. You are spoilt for choice with its hundred beaches, romantic retreats, numerous natural attractions and a plethora of activities, a unique travel destination that attracts visitors from all continents.
Air Mauritius and Air Seychelles offer cheap flight tickets to Mauritius, but prices might vary at different times of the year. If you are looking for the best time to visit Mauritius, we’ll go thought that and other valuable information in this article.
Climate
Mauritius has only two seasons, summer and winter. Being in the southern hemisphere, the island also has inverted seasons in respect to European countries. The country is a mini archipelago of approximately 30 islands which share more or less the same climatic conditions. Due to its position and closeness to the Tropic of Capricorn, the island receives trade winds blowing from the southeast, especially in the cooler months.
Mauritius is quite undulant inland with voluminous mountain chains halting clouds carried by the south east trade winds. This brings a lot of rainfall in the central plateau region but also give the island a microclimate, with the west coast being slightly warmer than the eastern region. The rainy months in Mauritius are January, February and March which coincide with the cyclonic season in this region of the Indian Ocean.
The average temperature through the island ranges from 26 degrees in January to February and 20 ° C in August (coldest month). The maximum is around 30 degrees from December to March, while it drops to 2 to 25 ° C from June to September. It should be noted that if you visit Mauritius during the rainy season, the most intense rains usually do not last longer than 3 days. Water temperature is around 26°C, warm enough to soak all year round, although it can drop to 23° C during the coldest months.
Microclimate
The small island of Mauritius has a mild microclimate, meaning it can be raining in one part of the island while the sun continues to shine in other regions. Nevertheless, some regions are better suited for the ordinary traveller, even though some tourist don’t mind few rainy days, a bit of freshness is always well liked by the sunshine traveller.
North
The northern part of the island and its never-ending stretches of white sand offer fantastic weather conditions for visitors. From Turtle Bay to Cap Malheureux visitors will appreciate the hotels (Mauritius Hotels) set along beaches. This region is also much appreciated for motorised water-sports and island-hopping in Mauritius.
East
The east has a temperature drop around 2 to 3° with the presence of several beaches like Palmar and Belle Mare have very good exposure to a soft sun and to the lax breeze can be regarded as ideal. The east coast is also famous for encompassing one of Mauritius’ most beautiful island, Ile aux Cerfs.
South
With its steep and wild cliffs, the south of Mauritius is a part of the island that lives open and is absolutely worth visiting. A good part of the southern coast is not enclosed by a coral reef, revealing rough seas and desolate sceneries.
West
The western part of Mauritius is probably the best place to stay in Mauritius. Close to the capital and numerous attractions, the west coast offers some of the most beautiful beaches of Mauritius. Flic en Flac, Tamarin or Le Morne are ideal for water activities such a snorkelling, kitesurfing and surfing amongst many others.
Inland and coasts
On the central plateau, about 600 meters above sea level, the average daytime temperature varies from 20 ° C in August to 26 ° C in February. On the coasts, the temperatures are 3-5 ° C higher. The northern and western parts of the island are warmer and drier than the eastern and southern regions.
When to visit Mauritius
The best time to visit the main island of Mauritius is midway during the month of October to the month of April which is Mauritian summer. This is the best time to visit the island if you want hot tropical climate during your holidays. This is the peak tourism season in Mauritius, and its effects are a higher price for accommodations and flight ticket price. However, this period is best to enjoy sea activities such as scuba diving and big game fishing.
The month of May to September might be 2 or 3° C cooler, but many visitors prefer to visit Mauritius during this time. Beaches are even more deserted, hotels and flight fares are at their lowest also, while most activities can be enjoyed during wintertime in Mauritius. However, if you are planning to visit the island during this time, we recommend you rent a villa in the north of Mauritius, prices are cheaper and you can have your own beach footsteps away from your garden. Also, for surf and kitesurf amateurs, better wind conditions occur during May to September.
In December it is hot and nature blooms; the air is moist and the rainy season begins slowly, but the sun also shines its brightest. The cyclonic season in Mauritius is from January to March, however, the island has not had major cyclones for a decade.
Rodrigues Island has a similar but slightly better climate, being a little less fresh and less rainy during winter. Climate is even better in the northernmost Island Saint Brandon and even more in the almost equatorial Isalnd Agaléga.
What to bring / wear in Mauritius
The first thing is to bring your summer essentials; sun blocks, sunglasses and cap whether it is during summer or winter. In this part of the world, the sun is at its closest to earth and reflective surfaces like seawater promotes sunburns.
You can bring accessories and light clothes. You can also bring your own snorkelling equipment or fishing rod if you are used to your gear. Our last tip is try car rental in Mauritius; that helps in discovering the numerous attractions and activities.
