A trip to Mauritius in January: climate, activities and prices

January is midsummer in Mauritius, which lies in the southern hemisphere. Daytime temperatures average 30°C, the lagoon is above 28°C and the vegetation is at its most colourful after the rains at the end of the year. The days are long, with sunset after 7pm.

The downside: January is one of the wettest months (220mm of rain on average) and, above all, one of the most exposed to cyclones. Showers tend to be short and heavy in the late afternoon, followed by sunny spells. Water activities carry on unless a class 3 cyclone warning or higher is issued, which can close the Blue Bay marine park and the helipads.

If you're after heat and warm water, January is still one of the best months, as long as you stay flexible (most Manawa activities offer flexible cancellation) and stay in the areas that get less heavy rain (the west and north rather than the south-east). Most car rental deals listed on Discover Cars can also be cancelled free of charge, so you can lock in a hire car once your flights are booked and still pull out if a cyclone warning moves your dates.