The West Coast benefits from the driest and most stable microclimate of Réunion, thanks to its position under the wind from the central massif (foehn effect). It receives less than 600 mm of rain per year (versus 4,000 mm on the east coast and more than 8,000 mm in some sectors of Salazie), with about 300 sunny days annually.
The austral winter (May to November) is the best period. Perfect temperatures (22-28°C during the day, 18-22°C at night), sea in the lagoon at 23-25°C, almost systematically clear sky. This is the season for observing humpback whales — exceptional boat outings from Saint-Gilles and Saint-Leu from June to October. The July-August window is sublime but coincides with mainland school holidays: busier beaches, hotels at their highest rates (often +30 to 50% compared to low season).
The austral summer (December to April) brings warmer sea (26-28°C in the lagoon) but more frequent tropical rains, even on the west coast. The cyclone season (15 November - 15 April, peak January-March) can generate long-distance swells that penetrate the lagoon and disrupt swimming.
Read also
- Saint-Gilles - L'Hermitage — Réunion's beach resort: turquoise lagoon, white-sand beach, hotels at the water's edge.
- Piton Maïdo — Belvedere at 2,205 m altitude above the cirque of Mafate, accessible from Saint-Paul in 1h30.
- The Cirques of Réunion — Mafate, Cilaos and Salazie: the mountain experience complementary to your beach stay.
- Réunion — Complete guide of the intense island: formalities, budget, climate, regions to discover.