In the tropic of Capricorn in the southwest of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is a universe on its own. It is important to note that the Republic of Mauritius is a small island of volcanic origin surrounded by perfect white sand beaches and turquoise lagoons.
This paradisiacal island is considered as the youngest of the Mascarene Archipelago. It has a total area of 2040 m² and lies about 1132 km from Madagascar and 2,000 km from the south-east coast of Africa.
Mauritius is characterised by its incredible fauna and flora, typical of tropical climates where the sun shines throughout the year. The main island has a littoral of 300 km lined with attractive lagoons offering a multitude of beaches that can be easily qualified as “paradise”. The island aptly named Peal of the Indian Ocean is a great place to spend your vacation.
Mauritius has only two seasons: summer and winter. Located in the southern hemisphere, seasons are reversed compared to countries located in the northern hemisphere.
Its proximity to the Tropic of Capricorn means that the island is aired by trade winds from the southeast during the cooler months.
Having a hilly interior with important mountain ranges that block the clouds carried by the southeast trade winds, the central region is the rainiest of the island. This also makes the west coast slightly warmer than the eastern regions.
The rainy months are: January, February and March which also coincide with the cyclonic season (note that there have not been strong cyclones for a decade).
Temperatures
On average, the beginning of the year (January-February) is around 26 degrees in contrast to the 20 degrees characteristic of August (coldest month). The hottest temperatures reach 30 ° C or even a little more from December to March and 25 ° C from June to September.
If you visit Mauritius during the rainy season do not get by the weather: heavy rainfalls rarely exceed 3 days in a row. For swimming, average water temperature is 26 ° C on throughout the year and can go down to 23 ° C during the coldest months.
Microclimats
The geographical location of Mauritius makes it suitable for microclimates. It can indeed rain in the east while it is sunny in the west and it is not uncommon to come across huge tropical rainbows.
Practical advices:
Whatever season you choose for your stay, this paradise region of the globe remains a tropical area highly exposed to the sun and its heat. Sunglasses, sunscreen, cap / hats and light clothing are advised. Indeed, sunburns are common especially for those unaccustomed. Swimming accessories (flippers, mask, and snorkel) are also welcomed.
