April – November — Dry season : Ideal for the lagoon: calm sea, excellent underwater visibility (20–30m), dolphins and turtles present year-round. Pleasant temperatures of 24–28°C.
December – March — Rainy / cyclone season : Heavy rain, rough sea, cyclone risk. High temperatures (28–32°C). The least favourable months for diving.
Weather in Mayotte
Check the weather city by city, starting with Mamoudzou.
Mamoudzou: daytime highs from 28 to 30 °C depending on the season, 112 mm of rain per month on average.
What to do in Mayotte?
Mayotte is a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean between the Comoros and Madagascar: the world's second-largest lagoon (1,100 km²), protected by the Indian Ocean's only double coral barrier reef, home to dolphins, green turtles, whale sharks, dugongs and manta rays. Still little known, this lagoon island offers exceptional diving and snorkelling.
Mayotte Lagoon — Diving and dolphins
Mayotte's lagoon is one of the most beautiful in the world: 1,100 km² of turquoise waters surrounded by a double coral barrier reef, home to spinner dolphins (present year-round), green turtles (nesting on the beaches from April to August), dugongs and manta rays. Underwater visibility regularly exceeds 30 metres.
Highlights : Swimming with spinner dolphins in the lagoon, Snorkelling at Petite-Terre — turtles and parrotfish, Ilot Sable Blanc sandbank.
Bouéni Bay & southern beaches
Southern Mayotte concentrates the island's finest beaches and bays: Bouéni Bay with its turquoise waters and mangroves, Moya Beach (the island's longest, with turtles in season), and traditional Swahili villages with white mosques. A mzungu (foreigner) who ventures off the beaten path will often be the only one there.
Highlights : Moya Beach — Mayotte's longest, with turtles, Bouéni Bay — kayaking through the mangroves.
Petite-Terre — Historic Dzaoudzi
Petite-Terre is the small island home to the local institutions (prefecture) and Dzaoudzi. Mamoudzou and its market are on Grande-Terre, across the strait. The seafront promenade, the colourful rooftops of Dzaoudzi and Sables-Blancs beach are the main attractions of this small island, connected to Grande-Terre by ferry.
Highlights : Mamoudzou market — Mahoran spices and crafts, Ferry crossing between Grande-Terre and Petite-Terre, Dzaoudzi promenade and lagoon panorama, Petite-Terre beach (Sables Blancs) — snorkelling with turtles.
Travel budget for Mayotte
Mayotte is a French overseas department — prices for imported goods match mainland France, but remain lower for local dining. Accommodation is still developing. The currency is the euro.
Backpacker : 70–100 €/j — Guesthouse + local food + bush taxi
Comfort : 140–220 €/j — 3★ hotel + restaurants + diving + car rental
Practical tips for travelling to Mayotte
Flight from Paris : ~12h (Air Austral direct from CDG, or Corsair with a stopover) — 3 to 5 times a week
Visa : No visa needed — French overseas department. A national ID card is sufficient for French citizens.
Currency : Euro (€). Bank cards accepted at major shops. Cash useful in rural areas.
Language : French (official). Shimaore and Kibushi spoken among locals. French is sufficient for travelling.
Electricity : Type E/F (European) — 220V. No adapter needed.
Health : Antimalarials recommended (malaria present in Mayotte). Sunscreen essential. Avoid tap water.
Tap water : Variable quality — bottled water recommended.
Cyclones : Cyclone risk from November to April. Check Météo-France Mayotte during the season.