Thursday, August 23, 2007

What’s the weather like in Mauritius?

Mauritius is one of the most beautiful and accessible island in the world, a real tropical paradise. Mauritius is situated off the east coast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. This unique geographical position gives to Mauritius a mild and relatively pleasant climate throughout the year. So, what’s the best time to go to Mauritius and what’s the climate variations like?

Mauritius has a fascinating blend of microclimates, all of them fairly mild. While locals complain of ‘cold’ weather during ‘winter’ in Mauritius, the temperature rarely drops below 20 degrees C on the coast. This means you can still have a midnight swim in the sea in Mauritius under a starry sky in the middle of winter. This gives the country a strategic advantage inasmuch as you can visit Mauritius almost anytime of the year.

So when is the best time to visit Mauritius? Well, it depends on what you want to go there for. Excluding peak cyclone season (January and February), December to March are the best months for diving, when the waters are at their clearest; June to August is best for surfing; and October to April is excellent for big game fishing, when the large predators feed close to shore. The Mauritian 'winter' occurs from May to November, when daytime temperatures drop from sticky to balmy. With less rain and humidity, this is one of the nicest times to visit.

The least agreeable period is from December to April, when the long days can prove too hot and humid for some and the threat of cyclones is in the air. If you have to go to Mauritius in the warmer season and you do not particularly like hot days out you can always avoid the sunny beaches. Even when it’s above 30 degrees C on the coast, the towns inland on higher grounds are usually cooler. Curepipe for instance is a town situated on the central plateau, one of the higher regions of Mauritius. The temperature difference between this town and a coastal resort can be significant. The choice is yours. It is obviously more entertaining down the coast and you can always choose an air conditioned room. Keep away from the beaches in the midday sun and venture out on some long romantic walks along the sandy beaches of Mauritius at sunset.

So when is the best time to go to Mauritius? Because there are no extreme climate conditions, except for the rare cyclones that last a few days, you can go pretty much anytime. That of course gives Mauritius a strategic advantage over other tourist destinations. The country and its climate is indeed attracting a increasing number of tourists thus positioning Mauritius on the top lists of world holiday destinations.

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