Mauritius in the Rainy Season with Kids: What It Is Really Like
- minna
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
When we were planning our Mauritius trip, I spent a fair amount of time reading other people's accounts of visiting the island in January and February. Most of the advice fell firmly into one of two camps. There were cheerfully optimistic reassurances that the rain would not be a problem, or there were terrifying cautionary tales about cyclones and completely ruined holidays. Neither felt particularly useful when trying to pack for a toddler.
We travelled at the end of January into the start of February with our three year old daughter. The forecast for every single day predicted rain. In reality, it was mostly sunny, and when it did rain, it was incredibly warm. We even came home slightly sunburnt!
If you are debating booking a winter sun escape, here is the honest, practical account of what the Mauritian wet season actually looks like for families.
The Reality of Mauritian Summer Weather
Mauritius sits in the Southern Hemisphere, meaning January and February fall right in the peak of its summer. This period is technically the wet season and also cyclone season, which sounds incredibly alarming if you read it too quickly. In practice, our trip involved occasional heavy showers rather than constant grey skies, alongside intense heat and high humidity.
We experienced a handful of days where it rained for some portion of the afternoon. This is a very common pattern in tropical climates. It is the kind of rain where you simply take cover under a restaurant terrace for forty minutes, order a snack, and then carry on with your day once it passes. Daytime temperatures usually hover around 28°C to 30°C, and the sea temperature is a glorious 28°C which makes swimming incredibly comfortable for young children.
We only had one day of proper, heavy rain. That happened to be the day we were staying at Otentic, a glamping lodge nestled in the jungle on the east coast. We spent the morning happily sat in the communal area playing board games while the rain poured down. Once it cleared in the afternoon, we hopped in kayaks and paddled down to the beautiful Grand River South East Waterfall.
Except from that one specific day, the sun was really strong. It was actually stronger than we expected, even accounting for the fact that we had been warned. We applied SPF 50 consistently and still caught the sun. A reminder it is hot, sticky weather with occasional rain, and the UV index remains extremely high regardless of whether there are clouds in the sky.
What You Actually Need to Pack
Sun protection: Pack significantly more suncream than you think you need, and apply it far more often than feels necessary. We used SPF 50 throughout our trip and still caught the sun. For a toddler, I would use factor 50 as an absolute minimum and ensure you reapply it immediately after every swim.
Mosquito repellent: This is completely essential. The combination of high heat and humidity levels pushing 80% in January and February means mosquitoes are far more present than in the drier winter months. We used a strong DEET based spray every single evening without fail, particularly when we were staying at the eco lodges in the east and up in the mountains.
Ditch the heavy raincoats: We brought full waterproof raincoats for all three of us along with a few extra warm layers. In the end, the raincoats came out exactly once. We really could have left them at home! What we actually needed was one light fleece each to keep us warm in the air conditioning, not waterproofs.
Optional travel umbrella: A small packable umbrella is worth throwing in your day bag. You will not need it constantly, but it is useful for those moments when a brief tropical shower catches you between the car and a restaurant.
The Lack of Crowds
January and February are considered low season for European tourists, and it really showed. We faced almost no queues at any of the main attractions. The Seven Coloured Earth Geopark can apparently get very busy during peak season, but it was incredibly relaxed and easy to navigate with a toddler. The beaches were uncrowded, and getting a table at restaurants was never a problem.
There is one important caveat to this. Fantastic accommodation books out early regardless of the season! We booked our six different stays well in advance, and several of our preferred options already had limited availability by the time we searched. Do not leave your hotel search until the last minute assuming the quieter season guarantees availability.
Check out the best family-friendly places to stay here: Where to Stay in Mauritius with Kids: The Ultimate Island-Wide Guide
Flight Costs and Avios Strategy
One of the best reasons to consider travelling in January and February is the cost. Flights to Mauritius are significantly cheaper in the wet season than they are during the July or Christmas peaks, with savings potentially going into the thousands for families.
We used our British Airways American Express companion voucher for our flights. This perk allows you to take a second person on any BA Avios booking for just the cost of the taxes and fees (ie. it's a 2-for-1 voucher or if you decide to travel solo its 50% off). For a long haul route like London to Mauritius, this represents a saving of several hundred pounds! If you travel regularly enough to have a credit card points strategy, this is absolutely the kind of trip worth building around it. Apply for the British Airways American Express Card using my referral link below:
Even without a companion voucher or points, cash flights in January and February are much cheaper than peak season. If the budget allows you to go at all, this time of year often makes a big trip possible.
Would We Go Again in the Wet Season?
Without hesitation. Cheaper flights and accommodation were the key factors for us here but we found the rain to be sporadic which cleared quickly. Going off season you also benefit from the attractions being much quieter and more spaces on the beaches. So if you are currently sitting on the fence solely because of the weather forecast, please do not let it be the reason you cancel your trip!
Further Reading
For our full two week route including every stop and activity, read our 2 Weeks in Mauritius with Young Kids guide. For help choosing exactly where to base your family, our Where to Stay in Mauritius with Kids guide covers the best hotels across every region. Finally, for our honest reviews of the two most unique places we stayed, read our Otentic Eco Tent Experience Review and our Bubble Lodge Île aux Cerfs Review!