"Encircled by coral reefs and shallow turquoise waters, Mauritius is the place tropical-holiday dreams are made of. The generous sweeps of exquisite white beaches, often tasselled with palm trees, provide the perfect places in which to relax on sun loungers, to bury your feet in the fine sand, or to simply wallow in the calm waters of the Indian Ocean. Mauritius also offers a wealth of activities; the island is a tropical playground and those who enjoy water sports take absolute delight experiencing the range that is on offer here.”
- Narina Exelby
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PLAN MY JOURNEYMauritius
The blue skies and bluer ocean that surrounds Mauritius have, for decades, fuelled island-holiday dreams. Ribbons of fine, white-sand beaches; shade provided by leaning palm trees; turquoise water so clear you can see the shadows on the sea floor cast by boats bobbing in the bays… This piece of paradise has proven itself the ultimate place to relax, rejuvenate, swim, snorkel and play.
Mauritius is a dream destination for honeymooners (hello, pampering spa sessions and sunset cocktails) and also for families, who delight in the calm, shallow waters that surround most of this island. There is an abundance of resorts here too, most of which have perfected the art of creating a one-stop holiday destination: umbrellas and sun loungers on the beach, large swimming pools around the property, games rooms, water sports centres, spas, restaurants.
To familiarise yourself with Mauritius, it’s easiest to divide the island into north, south, east and west, each of which has its own character. The north of the island is the busiest area, with gorgeous beaches and plenty of water sports; the east coast feels a little wilder while the south coast is defined by dramatic scenery. The western section of Mauritius is a good mix of the rest of the island, while inland there are lots of forests, plantations, waterfalls, gardens and walking trails.
Mauritius lies in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar and about 2000km off the coast of Africa. It enjoys balmy weather through most of the year; winters are warm and dry, while summers (November to April) are humid and hot.
When to go
Find out when is best to visit
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Mauritius enjoys a relatively mild climate, an ideal beach location throughout the year.
Generally, the most pleasant times to visit the island are between the months of April and June and between September and December. As Mauritius is located in the southern hemisphere, the summer and winter months are opposite to seasons in Europe.
Summer spans from November through to April. During these months the weather is hot and humid, with peaks in temperatures occurring in the months of December, January and February. Rainfall is abundant, especially on the central plateau. These however normally come in the form of a short if intense afternoon thunderstorm. with longer periods of rainfall quite rare. Cyclones are possible, but they usually manage to avoid Mauritius because of the small size of the island. However, if they come close enough, the bad weather may affect vegetation and certain wooden buildings. Please rest assured that beach resorts have been constructed in such a way as to be able to resist strong cyclonic winds. The summer months are the best for scuba diving – especially December through to March – and for deep-sea fishing.
Winter months fall from May through to October; temperatures are a little cooler and more pleasant during this season, and prevailing winds tend to blow over the island from the east and south-east. Surfing can be fantastic along the eastern coastline from June to August. The shelter offered along the west coast does make sea condition more idea for swimming and snorkelling.
Mauritius enjoys a relatively mild climate, an ideal beach location throughout the year.
Generally, the most pleasant times to visit the island are between the months of April and June and between September and December. As Mauritius is located in the southern hemisphere, the summer and winter months are opposite to seasons in Europe.
Summer spans from November through to April. During these months the weather is hot and humid, with peaks in temperatures occurring in the months of December, January and February. Rainfall is abundant, especially on the central plateau. These however normally come in the form of a short if intense afternoon thunderstorm. with longer periods of rainfall quite rare. Cyclones are possible, but they usually manage to avoid Mauritius because of the small size of the island. However, if they come close enough, the bad weather may affect vegetation and certain wooden buildings. Please rest assured that beach resorts have been constructed in such a way as to be able to resist strong cyclonic winds. The summer months are the best for scuba diving – especially December through to March – and for deep-sea fishing.
Winter months fall from May through to October; temperatures are a little cooler and more pleasant during this season, and prevailing winds tend to blow over the island from the east and south-east. Surfing can be fantastic along the eastern coastline from June to August. The shelter offered along the west coast does make sea condition more idea for swimming and snorkelling.
Mauritius enjoys a relatively mild climate, an ideal beach location throughout the year.
Generally, the most pleasant times to visit the island are between the months of April and June and between September and December. As Mauritius is located in the southern hemisphere, the summer and winter months are opposite to seasons in Europe.
Summer spans from November through to April. During these months the weather is hot and humid, with peaks in temperatures occurring in the months of December, January and February. Rainfall is abundant, especially on the central plateau. These however normally come in the form of a short if intense afternoon thunderstorm. with longer periods of rainfall quite rare. Cyclones are possible, but they usually manage to avoid Mauritius because of the small size of the island. However, if they come close enough, the bad weather may affect vegetation and certain wooden buildings. Please rest assured that beach resorts have been constructed in such a way as to be able to resist strong cyclonic winds. The summer months are the best for scuba diving – especially December through to March – and for deep-sea fishing.
Winter months fall from May through to October; temperatures are a little cooler and more pleasant during this season, and prevailing winds tend to blow over the island from the east and south-east. Surfing can be fantastic along the eastern coastline from June to August. The shelter offered along the west coast does make sea condition more idea for swimming and snorkelling.
Mauritius enjoys a relatively mild climate, an ideal beach location throughout the year.
Generally, the most pleasant times to visit the island are between the months of April and June and between September and December. As Mauritius is located in the southern hemisphere, the summer and winter months are opposite to seasons in Europe.
Summer spans from November through to April. During these months the weather is hot and humid, with peaks in temperatures occurring in the months of December, January and February. Rainfall is abundant, especially on the central plateau. These however normally come in the form of a short if intense afternoon thunderstorm. with longer periods of rainfall quite rare. Cyclones are possible, but they usually manage to avoid Mauritius because of the small size of the island. However, if they come close enough, the bad weather may affect vegetation and certain wooden buildings. Please rest assured that beach resorts have been constructed in such a way as to be able to resist strong cyclonic winds. The summer months are the best for scuba diving – especially December through to March – and for deep-sea fishing.
Winter months fall from May through to October; temperatures are a little cooler and more pleasant during this season, and prevailing winds tend to blow over the island from the east and south-east. Surfing can be fantastic along the eastern coastline from June to August. The shelter offered along the west coast does make sea condition more idea for swimming and snorkelling.
Mauritius enjoys a relatively mild climate, an ideal beach location throughout the year.
Generally, the most pleasant times to visit the island are between the months of April and June and between September and December. As Mauritius is located in the southern hemisphere, the summer and winter months are opposite to seasons in Europe.
Summer spans from November through to April. During these months the weather is hot and humid, with peaks in temperatures occurring in the months of December, January and February. Rainfall is abundant, especially on the central plateau. These however normally come in the form of a short if intense afternoon thunderstorm. with longer periods of rainfall quite rare. Cyclones are possible, but they usually manage to avoid Mauritius because of the small size of the island. However, if they come close enough, the bad weather may affect vegetation and certain wooden buildings. Please rest assured that beach resorts have been constructed in such a way as to be able to resist strong cyclonic winds. The summer months are the best for scuba diving – especially December through to March – and for deep-sea fishing.
Winter months fall from May through to October; temperatures are a little cooler and more pleasant during this season, and prevailing winds tend to blow over the island from the east and south-east. Surfing can be fantastic along the eastern coastline from June to August. The shelter offered along the west coast does make sea condition more idea for swimming and snorkelling.
Mauritius enjoys a relatively mild climate, an ideal beach location throughout the year.
Generally, the most pleasant times to visit the island are between the months of April and June and between September and December. As Mauritius is located in the southern hemisphere, the summer and winter months are opposite to seasons in Europe.
Summer spans from November through to April. During these months the weather is hot and humid, with peaks in temperatures occurring in the months of December, January and February. Rainfall is abundant, especially on the central plateau. These however normally come in the form of a short if intense afternoon thunderstorm. with longer periods of rainfall quite rare. Cyclones are possible, but they usually manage to avoid Mauritius because of the small size of the island. However, if they come close enough, the bad weather may affect vegetation and certain wooden buildings. Please rest assured that beach resorts have been constructed in such a way as to be able to resist strong cyclonic winds. The summer months are the best for scuba diving – especially December through to March – and for deep-sea fishing.
Winter months fall from May through to October; temperatures are a little cooler and more pleasant during this season, and prevailing winds tend to blow over the island from the east and south-east. Surfing can be fantastic along the eastern coastline from June to August. The shelter offered along the west coast does make sea condition more idea for swimming and snorkelling.
Mauritius enjoys a relatively mild climate, an ideal beach location throughout the year.
Generally, the most pleasant times to visit the island are between the months of April and June and between September and December. As Mauritius is located in the southern hemisphere, the summer and winter months are opposite to seasons in Europe.
Summer spans from November through to April. During these months the weather is hot and humid, with peaks in temperatures occurring in the months of December, January and February. Rainfall is abundant, especially on the central plateau. These however normally come in the form of a short if intense afternoon thunderstorm. with longer periods of rainfall quite rare. Cyclones are possible, but they usually manage to avoid Mauritius because of the small size of the island. However, if they come close enough, the bad weather may affect vegetation and certain wooden buildings. Please rest assured that beach resorts have been constructed in such a way as to be able to resist strong cyclonic winds. The summer months are the best for scuba diving – especially December through to March – and for deep-sea fishing.
Winter months fall from May through to October; temperatures are a little cooler and more pleasant during this season, and prevailing winds tend to blow over the island from the east and south-east. Surfing can be fantastic along the eastern coastline from June to August. The shelter offered along the west coast does make sea condition more idea for swimming and snorkelling.
Mauritius enjoys a relatively mild climate, an ideal beach location throughout the year.
Generally, the most pleasant times to visit the island are between the months of April and June and between September and December. As Mauritius is located in the southern hemisphere, the summer and winter months are opposite to seasons in Europe.
Summer spans from November through to April. During these months the weather is hot and humid, with peaks in temperatures occurring in the months of December, January and February. Rainfall is abundant, especially on the central plateau. These however normally come in the form of a short if intense afternoon thunderstorm. with longer periods of rainfall quite rare. Cyclones are possible, but they usually manage to avoid Mauritius because of the small size of the island. However, if they come close enough, the bad weather may affect vegetation and certain wooden buildings. Please rest assured that beach resorts have been constructed in such a way as to be able to resist strong cyclonic winds. The summer months are the best for scuba diving – especially December through to March – and for deep-sea fishing.
Winter months fall from May through to October; temperatures are a little cooler and more pleasant during this season, and prevailing winds tend to blow over the island from the east and south-east. Surfing can be fantastic along the eastern coastline from June to August. The shelter offered along the west coast does make sea condition more idea for swimming and snorkelling.
Mauritius enjoys a relatively mild climate, an ideal beach location throughout the year.
Generally, the most pleasant times to visit the island are between the months of April and June and between September and December. As Mauritius is located in the southern hemisphere, the summer and winter months are opposite to seasons in Europe.
Summer spans from November through to April. During these months the weather is hot and humid, with peaks in temperatures occurring in the months of December, January and February. Rainfall is abundant, especially on the central plateau. These however normally come in the form of a short if intense afternoon thunderstorm. with longer periods of rainfall quite rare. Cyclones are possible, but they usually manage to avoid Mauritius because of the small size of the island. However, if they come close enough, the bad weather may affect vegetation and certain wooden buildings. Please rest assured that beach resorts have been constructed in such a way as to be able to resist strong cyclonic winds. The summer months are the best for scuba diving – especially December through to March – and for deep-sea fishing.
Winter months fall from May through to October; temperatures are a little cooler and more pleasant during this season, and prevailing winds tend to blow over the island from the east and south-east. Surfing can be fantastic along the eastern coastline from June to August. The shelter offered along the west coast does make sea condition more idea for swimming and snorkelling.
Mauritius enjoys a relatively mild climate, an ideal beach location throughout the year.
Generally, the most pleasant times to visit the island are between the months of April and June and between September and December. As Mauritius is located in the southern hemisphere, the summer and winter months are opposite to seasons in Europe.
Summer spans from November through to April. During these months the weather is hot and humid, with peaks in temperatures occurring in the months of December, January and February. Rainfall is abundant, especially on the central plateau. These however normally come in the form of a short if intense afternoon thunderstorm. with longer periods of rainfall quite rare. Cyclones are possible, but they usually manage to avoid Mauritius because of the small size of the island. However, if they come close enough, the bad weather may affect vegetation and certain wooden buildings. Please rest assured that beach resorts have been constructed in such a way as to be able to resist strong cyclonic winds. The summer months are the best for scuba diving – especially December through to March – and for deep-sea fishing.
Winter months fall from May through to October; temperatures are a little cooler and more pleasant during this season, and prevailing winds tend to blow over the island from the east and south-east. Surfing can be fantastic along the eastern coastline from June to August. The shelter offered along the west coast does make sea condition more idea for swimming and snorkelling.
Mauritius enjoys a relatively mild climate, an ideal beach location throughout the year.
Generally, the most pleasant times to visit the island are between the months of April and June and between September and December. As Mauritius is located in the southern hemisphere, the summer and winter months are opposite to seasons in Europe.
Summer spans from November through to April. During these months the weather is hot and humid, with peaks in temperatures occurring in the months of December, January and February. Rainfall is abundant, especially on the central plateau. These however normally come in the form of a short if intense afternoon thunderstorm. with longer periods of rainfall quite rare. Cyclones are possible, but they usually manage to avoid Mauritius because of the small size of the island. However, if they come close enough, the bad weather may affect vegetation and certain wooden buildings. Please rest assured that beach resorts have been constructed in such a way as to be able to resist strong cyclonic winds. The summer months are the best for scuba diving – especially December through to March – and for deep-sea fishing.
Winter months fall from May through to October; temperatures are a little cooler and more pleasant during this season, and prevailing winds tend to blow over the island from the east and south-east. Surfing can be fantastic along the eastern coastline from June to August. The shelter offered along the west coast does make sea condition more idea for swimming and snorkelling.
Mauritius enjoys a relatively mild climate, an ideal beach location throughout the year.
Generally, the most pleasant times to visit the island are between the months of April and June and between September and December. As Mauritius is located in the southern hemisphere, the summer and winter months are opposite to seasons in Europe.
Summer spans from November through to April. During these months the weather is hot and humid, with peaks in temperatures occurring in the months of December, January and February. Rainfall is abundant, especially on the central plateau. These however normally come in the form of a short if intense afternoon thunderstorm. with longer periods of rainfall quite rare. Cyclones are possible, but they usually manage to avoid Mauritius because of the small size of the island. However, if they come close enough, the bad weather may affect vegetation and certain wooden buildings. Please rest assured that beach resorts have been constructed in such a way as to be able to resist strong cyclonic winds. The summer months are the best for scuba diving – especially December through to March – and for deep-sea fishing.
Winter months fall from May through to October; temperatures are a little cooler and more pleasant during this season, and prevailing winds tend to blow over the island from the east and south-east. Surfing can be fantastic along the eastern coastline from June to August. The shelter offered along the west coast does make sea condition more idea for swimming and snorkelling.
Mauritius East Coast
Mauritius East Coast
Mauritius’s east coast feels far removed from the touristy areas further north. It’s a region of quiet lagoons, authentic villages, luxurious resorts and gorgeous beaches. The privately owned Ile aux Cerfs is an island popular for its water sports, and is just off Trou d’Eau Douce on the east coast.
Read MoreMauritius North Coast
Mauritius North Coast
The northern tip of Mauritius is best known for Grand Bay. This village is the island’s premier tourist destination: a marine playground, with lively restaurants, bars and boutiques along the village streets. It's a very picturesque part of the island, with calm aqua seas dominating the views.
Read MoreMauritius South Coast
Mauritius South Coast
While Mauritius is revered for its beaches, the island’s southern coastline offers basalt cliffs that plunge severely into the Indian Ocean. Instead of being fringed with soft sand, the coves back onto stretches of forest leading into tamed fields of sugar cane. It’s wild, dramatic and captivating.
Read MoreMauritius West Coast
Mauritius West Coast
The west, home to the country’s capital of Port Louis, is the most diverse region in Mauritius. Sublime beaches are backed by mountains with calm bays for snorkelling, and beaches much-loved by surfers and kite surfers. Perfect for combining an active holiday with seriously indulgent chill-time.
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