Answers to some questions asked about Mauritius

Question:- What is the best time for holiday in Mauritius?

Answer:- The best time for holiday in Mauritius is from August to first half of November.

Why? Simply because it is not the rainy season, out of cyclonic period and not in full summer season. During this period of the year it is not so cold and not too hot either. One can expect a mild climate with an average temperature of 24 to 28 degrees on coastal region, calm sea and daily blue sky.

The worst time is from December to March because it is the hottest part of the year.

The following example will give you an idea of the temperature. A day like today; January 21 2006, Saturday 11.30 am, a clear bright sunny blue sky the temperature inside my house is ( without air conditioning) 33 degrees, the thermometer, for 5 minutes in the direct sunlight, climb up to 44 degrees and outside in the shade 38 degrees !!!!

Sunbath is not recommended during this period.

Another major reason to avoid this period of the year is cyclone! Imagine that you pay yourself one or two weeks holiday in Mauritius and you get caught in a cyclone! Then you can forget about beach and sea holiday because most of your time will be spend inside the hotel room or environment because it will be rainy, very windy and the sea will be very rough.

A cyclone will affect the island's weather over a period of one or two weeks but all depends on the strength of the phenomenon. I do not intend to be fatalist here but just to be as frank as possible.

Also as from February starts the rainy season. April to July is still ok for holiday, even if there will be days when it will be as cold as 15 degrees but this is not very often.

The sea during this period is usually rough, which is not good for sea excursions to our outer islands.

Question: What is the best places for holiday in Mauritius?

Answer:- The north and north-west parts of the island is the best.

These are the places where the best beautiful beaches are situated. These parts of the island beneficiate protection against wind and rain from the central mountain range.

Most hotels are found in these areas. Grand-Bay, the tourist hub of the island and Port Louis, the capital is not very far, which can facilitate administrative matters.

Second best part of the island is the south-west which beneficiate of the same climatic conditions as the northern parts though a bit less. I had met tourist who came to stay in the south-west but asked to be transfer to the north-west because of windy weather. This part of the island is the most arid and the less developed.

The south and east and south-east are directly exposed to the wind coming from the sea which blows over the island all year long. Thus, the sea is always rough and not so much nice beaches except in the east and the odd is that areas where there are some nice beaches are small but overcrowded with hotels. Not so much economical developments there either.

The eastern part is not recommended for holiday during winter season; April to July.

Do you need other information to plan your holiday in Mauritius, do not hesitate to ask. Click here to send me an email at Eddy-catacruise@walala.org