When to come to Mauritius
Published · The Villa Mauritius
There is no bad month. October to December is the sweet spot: hot, dry, sea at 27 °C, before the holiday crowds. January to March is the hottest and wettest, with a small cyclone risk. May to September is winter: 24 to 27 °C by day, dry, cooler nights, perfect for golf and hiking. The north coast is sheltered from the trade winds all year, which is why Grand Baie and Mont Choisy stay calm when the east coast is windy.
Summer, October to April: hot and lively
Daytime temperatures of 29 to 33 °C, humid from December, sea at 27 to 29 °C. October, November and early December are the best weeks of the year: hot, mostly dry, with long days. January to March bring short tropical showers, mostly in the afternoon, and the cyclone season, which in practice means one or two windy, rainy days in a bad year. The island is at its greenest.
Winter, May to September: dry and mild
Days of 24 to 27 °C, nights around 18 °C, almost no rain on the north coast and the sea at 23 to 25 °C. Bring a light sweater for the evening. It is the season for golf, walks, Port Louis and the botanical garden without sweating. July and August are busy with European and South African school holidays; June and September are quiet and cheaper.
Month by month in the north
Average day temperature, sea temperature and what to expect, for Grand Baie and Mont Choisy.
- January: 31 °C, sea 28 °C, hot and humid, some showers, cyclone season
- February: 31 °C, sea 28 °C, the wettest month, still plenty of sun
- March: 30 °C, sea 28 °C, showers ease, lagoons at their warmest
- April: 29 °C, sea 27 °C, drier, one of the best months
- May: 27 °C, sea 26 °C, dry, quiet, good value
- June: 25 °C, sea 25 °C, dry, cooler evenings
- July: 24 °C, sea 24 °C, the coolest month, busy with holidays
- August: 24 °C, sea 23 °C, dry, breezy on the east, calm in the north
- September: 26 °C, sea 24 °C, dry, quiet
- October: 28 °C, sea 25 °C, dry, warming up, excellent
- November: 29 °C, sea 26 °C, hot and dry, excellent
- December: 30 °C, sea 27 °C, hot, humidity rising, festive crowds from the 20th
When to book the villa
The villa is busiest from 20 December to 10 January and in July and August. For those dates, book six months ahead. October, November, April, May and June are the easiest months to find dates, with lower rates and the same house.
Questions about this
- Is there a rainy season in Mauritius?
- January to March is the wettest period, with short afternoon showers rather than days of rain. The north coast gets less rain than the centre and the east.
- Should we worry about cyclones?
- The official season runs from November to April. Most years pass without a direct hit; when a cyclone approaches, the island has a clear alert system and everything closes for a day or two. Travel insurance covers it.
- Which month has the warmest sea?
- February and March, at 28 to 29 °C. The coolest sea is in August at about 23 °C.
