When to go to Reunion?
The question is recurrent, which is why I propose to provide some answers here. So what would be the best period for a vacation on Reunion Island?
First of all, it should be remembered that Reunion Island is located in the heart of the Indian Ocean (and not in the West Indies!), In the Southern Hemisphere. We therefore have a humid tropical climate with sunshine all year round. The seasons are reversed and are totally different from those in mainland France. We will discuss here the two seasons (dry / wet) and the favorable activities per period, the issue of jet lag, as well as the microclimates and the difference between highs and lows.
The southern winter begins around May and ends in October. It is characterized by a dry climate, with rather hot temperatures in the coastal areas: 22 to 27 degrees on average, but which can drop considerably in the mountains and in the circuses (see part on the ups / downs). This season is the least hot of the year. We therefore favor hikes, treks, outdoor activities of all kinds since we do not suffer from the heat or the rains. However, aquatic activities: beach, canyoning, swimming in pools etc. are possible throughout the year ... for the bravest! Indeed, the temperature of the lagoon water varies between 22 and 25 degrees, and will be even lower in rivers and ponds. The southern winter is the season during which we can observe whales and their babies from the coast.
Did you know ? The whales come every year with their young to the coast of Reunion Island between July and September / October!
Summer corresponds to the wet season: temperatures will rise between 30 and 35 degrees on average. From December until April we enter the hurricane season, with a high risk of cyclogenesis and tropical storms. Depending on the surrounding meteorological events, we may experience more or less lasting and more or less important rainy episodes, in addition to cyclones and storms during this period.
Do not hesitate to comment if you would like a specific article on the cyclone risk and the prefectural system which is deployed in the alert and vigilance phase.
In summer, water activities will be favored: the water temperature in the lagoon fluctuates between 27 to 30 degrees. The ambient heat may not be suitable for inexperienced walkers who are sensitive to high temperatures. The hikes are nevertheless always possible, provided to anticipate and to envisage in particular realistic water reserves as well as caps / protections against the sunstrokes. Some places on the island such as the sand plain at Piton de la Fournaise will not offer you any respite in the shade, think about it!
Jet lag : GMT +4
In southern winter / metropolitan summer: the time difference is 2 hours more in Réunion. In southern summer / metropolitan winter: the time difference is 3 more hours in Réunion.
This difference is explained by the fact that metropolitan residents change the time when the season changes, while in Réunion we do not operate any.
Microclimates: the ups / downs what are we talking about? Every day, when I leave my house, I find the ocean as far as the eye can see to my right, and the Piton des Neiges to my left, bordered by the mountains. A good start to the day! By having browsed my blog and my Instagram publications, you will have seen that the intense island is this: the lagoon, the waterfalls and it is also two volcanoes and three circuses.
The insular context and its relief bring an additional specificity to our island which knows how to distinguish itself from the others: there are more than 200 microclimates!
In fact: it can for example rain in an area in the North and nowhere else on the island, or the sky can be completely cloudless and sunny in the morning, and be fully covered in the afternoon! It is the diurnal phenomenon of convection: the clouds, carried by the winds from the ocean, cling to the mountains in the course of the afternoon and stagnate there. You will therefore frequently see the tops of the island perfectly clear in the morning and completely covered with clouds in the afternoon. In this sense, it is generally recommended to start the hikes early in the morning, especially those that offer viewpoints. The Piton des Neiges, the highest point in the Indian Ocean, rises to an altitude of 3,070 meters. Between the level of the sea and the heights of the mountains, we systematically observe a greater or lesser temperature differential. Some high-rise dwellings are also equipped with fireplaces and heating (Plaine des Palmistes, Le Tampon, Plaine des Cafres, Mafate, Salazie, Cilaos ...). In winter, at the volcano in particular, the thermometer sometimes displays temperatures of -5 °!
In winter, therefore, do not forget to pack a fleece in your suitcases for your mountain excursions, and your swimsuit for swimming in the lagoon on the way down!
Hoping that this article is useful to you, do not hesitate to comment - like - share!
