When is the best time to visit Mauritius?

When's it hottest in Mauritius?

December tends to be Mauritius’s hottest month, with an average temperature of around 26°C. It’s pretty humid, too, but regular rain showers help to keep the levels under control.

If you’re travelling to Mauritius in April, you can expect hot and humid weather, too. If you aren’t a fan of humidity, hold off until May. It’s still hot – with temperatures hovering around the 25°C mark – but the humidity’s eased.

When's Mauritius' cyclone season?

The island’s cyclone season runs from January to March, and the month of February’s the most active period. There’s likely to be more rain during this time, too, so it’s best avoided if you’re after a beach-based holiday.

It gets windy on the east and south coasts during July and August, too - all thanks to the trade winds, which settle down by September.

When's the best time for nature-lovers to visit?

Mauritius is overflowing with exotic flowers and wildlife. And because October is springtime in Mauritius, everything is coming into bloom, so it’s the best time for mountain hikes and trips to the national parks.

You can’t miss Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens which is one of the world's best. Here you’ll find pretty lotus flowers, 85 varieties of palm tree, and the biggest water lilies you’ve ever seen. You’ll also spot colourful birds, deer and giant Aldabra tortoises munching on leaves. Anse La Raie is the closest resort to this botanical paradise, so book your stay here – you’ll need more than a day to cover everything.

Further inland, there’s rare tropical birds to see among the island’s jungle-covered interior, and national parks and mountains to explore. Black River Peak is the highest one to tackle at 828 metres, and Le Pouce is slightly smaller but once you reach the top you’ll get Instagram-worthy views of Port Louis and the islands in the north. If you’re an adrenalin junkie, Mauritius’ only national park Black River Gorges is the place to be. Here you’ll find river-dotted nature trails, thundering waterfalls and canyons to abseil into.

Where's the best spot for beaches?

When you’ve got blue skies and sunshine, there’s no better pairing than beaches and crystal clear water. And Mauritius has more than a few of those dreamy white-sand stretches to choose from. Trou aux Biches is the most popular beach, and the ideal option for families with its shallow paddle-friendly waters and soft white sand. If you’re into watersports, the lively Grand Baie offers the likes of parasailing, windsurfing and deep sea fishing. And Blue Bay boasts its own protected marine park for the best snorkelling and diving.

Calm, clear weather makes conditions perfect for exploring Mauritius’ underwater world and protected coral lagoons, and you can snorkel, dive or take a glass-bottom boat trip. You’ll find multi-coloured parrotfish, trumpet fish and clown fish darting in and out of the reefs, as well as sea turtles and dolphins, too. The west coast is home to the island’s best dive sites and exotic marine life, so Le Morne should be your resort of choice.

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Author: Selina Akhtar