Due to the mild winters, there is no bad time to visit the island. It all depends on what you intend to do and what restrictions you have on your travel dates. Summer is the best time to visit for tourists but if you have children and want to travel with them, you may find that August suits you best and this is winter in Mauritius. Here is a breakdown of a few things to consider so that you can decide on the best time for you to travel.
Peak season
If your children prevents you from travelling at any other time than August or during their holiday season, then you are not alone. August is a very popular holiday time even for those without children which means that it will be the peak season and prices will go up everywhere, including Mauritius. The peak seasons on the island also includes Easter and of course Christmas. During these time, expect prices for flights, accommodation and car rental to go up.
If you are looking to cut down on cost you know you have to avoid travelling during these periods. While August falls in winter here and you won’t miss much, Christmas however is in summer and is a great time to be on the island. One way around the high plane ticket prices over the peak season is to fly in before and fly out after if you can afford to stay for a long time. Easter is a good time to try that as it is over a short period. However, there is no way to avoid high accommodation prices over the peak season.
Winter
You can find more information on the seasons including the average seasonal temperature on our weather page www.mauritiusholidaystips.com/weather.
The biggest drawback you will find in winter is that you leave Europe while it is basking in summer and sun to fly faraway to an island where the temperature is chilly, especially in windy and exposed regions. There is also frequent drizzle in Mauritius in winter, especially with the presence of anti-cylcones nearby. But that’s as bad as it gets! You’ll still be able to get a suntan easily.
Make the most of cooler temperatures and fewer mosquitoes buzzing around. Go explore inland, hike in the forest, climb mountains or visit outdoor locations such as Casela. It can become quite hot, humid and sticky in the peak summmer months of January and February to do these.
If you are a gourmet, deer hunting is in winter and you’ll be able to enjoy fresh venison.
It’s also the season for guavas so if you want something away from hords of tourists, go pick guavas at Plaine Champagne – it’s free. Surfing is also best in winter as it is more windy.
Summer
Most tourists are attracted to Mauritius for its sandy beaches and warm water in the lagoon so if that’s why you came, summer is the best time of the year to get value for money!
Those into big game fishing will be able to go after the famous blue marlin during the warmer months. There are also plenty of local tropical fruits: mangoes throughout summer, letchis at the beginning and longan, similar to letchis but sweeter, from February onwards. In December, you can also enjoy the Flamboyant trees in full bloom, covered in bright red flowers. It’s a sight to behold.
You might get the occasional cyclone disturbing your holiday plans as you will have to stay indoor but the passage of a cyclone is an excitement on its own. There is no danger either as the country is well-prepared and every year sees off a few of these powerful tropical storms.
Also enjoy an extra hour of daylight in summer as the sun sets after 7 pm.
All in all, if you come from the northern hemisphere, you are much better off coming here when it’s deep winter at home and summer over here. That’s one of the pros of choosing an island in the southern hemisphere!
Summary
- Peak seasons in Easter, August and Christmas
- More seasonal fruits in summer but guava picking in winter
- Fresh venison and deer hunting in winter
- Fewer mosquitoes and cooler in winter
- Drizzles and influence of anticyclones in winter but occasional cylcones in summer
- Hot sunny beaches all year round
- Hot and sunny in summer while it’s deep winter in the northern hemisphere