When is the Best Time to Visit Mauritius?
Published on: November 15th, 2017
Last updated: July 27th, 2023
The island of Mauritius is generally a great holiday destination year-round but there are some seasonal quirks that dictate the best time to visit Mauritius.
Summer is hot and wet and runs from November to April, while winter is warm and dry and stretches from May to October. The low season is considered to be between April and October, when it is less humid, which ultimately makes for a more comfortable visit.
Situated on the 'cyclone belt', Mauritius can experience cyclones and strong winds between the hot summer months from January to March. That said, not many of them actually make landfall and the island is still popular with visitors over this period.
The Best Time for...
Hitting the Beach
If sun-drenched days with the sand between your toes and the waves lapping nearby are your idea of the perfect island holiday, then visit Mauritius between May and December. You can expect the days to be cool and dry with plenty of sun. Tuck into fresh seafood at beachside restaurants and go swimming or explore nearby reefs.
Festivals
In Mauritius you’ll find an exciting mix of Indian and French culture, and as a result there are various festivities year-round. The Cavadee Festival, from the end of January to early February, is an impressive Tamil celebration which sees devotees end a period of fasting by having their bodies pierced before taking offerings symbolising sacred mountains to the temples. The ceremony also includes fire walking and sword climing rituals. During the Divali festivities in October or November, many of the houses are decorated with candles, lights and clay lamps.
Getting Active
Runners from across the world descend on the island in July every year for the challenging and breathtakingly beautiful Mauritius Marathon which takes participants along coastal roads, past lagoons and beaches and through coastal villages. Likewise, the Royal Raid is a trail run that takes in 80km of national parks, mountain trails, peaks and tropical forests around May each year. It’s the perfect way for active travellers to experience the island’s natural beauty.
Visiting Seven Coloured Earths
No matter when you visit Mauritius, you should make time to visit the Seven Coloured Earths, a geological formation on the Chamarel plain. This small area of dunes is made up of sand of seven distinct colours. The best time of day to see the dunes at their most astounding is at sunrise. Despite torrential rains and adverse weather, the colours remain.
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