Mafate
Mafate is a 14,000-meter-long caldera and cirque situated within the Massif du Piton des Neiges in Réunion. It is one of the most looked-up sights in the country, spanning territory in the administrative districts of La Possession and Saint-Paul.
Planning a visit
The driest months to visit are August, September, and October, which see the lowest rainfall totals of 86 mm, 81 mm, and 68 mm respectively. Temperatures during these months are cooler, with daily highs ranging from 18 °C to 20 °C and lows between 13 °C and 15 °C. The rainy season peaks from January through March, with rainfall exceeding 400 mm per month on up to 22 days. The nearest airport is Roland Garros Airport in Sainte-Marie, 21 km away, while the capital, Saint-Denis, is 20 km from the cirque.
For those planning to explore the surrounding area, Piton des Neiges is 7.9 km away, and the Réunion National Park is 13.5 km away. Piton de la Fournaise is located 36.4 km from Mafate.
Weather by month
The warmest month is January, with an average high of 23 °C. The wettest is February, with about 594 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| Average low, °C | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 18 |
| Rainfall, mm | 458 | 594 | 406 | 202 | 143 | 101 | 92 | 86 | 81 | 68 | 101 | 253 |
| Rainy days | 19 | 18 | 22 | 19 | 11 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
