Things to Do in Port Louis in May
May weather, activities, events & insider tips
May Weather in Port Louis
Is May Right for You?
Advantages
- Autumn shoulder season means accommodation prices drop 20-30% compared to peak winter months, while weather remains pleasant - you're catching Port Louis before the December-January tourist surge
- May sits right at the end of the cyclone season (officially closes November-April), so you get those dramatic post-storm clear skies and calmer seas perfect for island excursions to Ile aux Cerfs and Ile aux Aigrettes
- Local produce markets overflow with lychees, mangoes, and longanes at peak season - the Central Market becomes genuinely exciting rather than just a tourist checkbox, with prices at their lowest
- Cultural calendar heats up with preparations for Cavadee (typically late May/early June), meaning you'll catch Tamil temple ceremonies and street processions without the absolute crush of the main festival day
Considerations
- Those 10 rainy days aren't gentle drizzles - when it rains in May, it actually rains, with sudden downpours that can last 45-90 minutes and flood street corners in the Caudan area, disrupting outdoor plans
- Humidity at 70% means that 29°C (84°F) feels closer to 33°C (91°F), and if you're planning market walks or hiking Le Pouce, you'll be drenched in sweat by 11am regardless of fitness level
- May sits in that awkward transition period where some beach clubs and water sports operators on the northern coast reduce hours or close for maintenance before the June-November peak season
Best Activities in May
Port Louis Central Market and Street Food Walking Routes
May brings peak season for tropical fruits and the market operates at full capacity without the December crowds. The 70% humidity actually works in your favor here - it keeps the street food stalls active all day rather than shutting down in extreme heat. Start at 7am when vendors arrange their produce pyramids and the roti stalls fire up. The variability in weather means you'll want to stick to covered market areas on cloudy mornings, but that's when the dholl puri vendors near Immigration Square are least busy. Typical route covers 2-3 km (1.2-1.9 miles) over 3-4 hours.
Le Pouce Mountain Hiking
At 812 m (2,664 ft), Le Pouce offers Port Louis's best hiking without requiring expedition-level fitness. May's weather makes this tricky but manageable - you absolutely must start by 6:30am to summit before 9am, when both heat and afternoon storm clouds make the exposed ridge dangerous. The 70% humidity means you'll sweat through everything, but May's variable conditions often deliver those crystal-clear post-rain mornings with visibility across the entire island. The trail covers roughly 4 km (2.5 miles) round trip with 500 m (1,640 ft) elevation gain, taking 2.5-3.5 hours total.
Caudan Waterfront and Ile aux Cerfs Day Trips
May marks the tail end of cyclone season, which means the seas calm down significantly and boat operators resume full schedules to Ile aux Cerfs. The island sits about 45 minutes by speedboat from Trou d'Eau Douce (not Port Louis directly, but easily arranged through city operators). Water visibility improves dramatically in May compared to the churned-up March-April seas. That said, those 10 rainy days mean roughly one-third of May days might see afternoon cancellations or rough crossings - morning departures (8am-9am) have the highest success rate.
Aapravasi Ghat and Colonial Architecture Walking Routes
May's variable weather makes this UNESCO World Heritage site perfect for flexible planning - it's compact enough (covers about 1.5 km or 0.9 miles in the harbor district) that you can duck into the Blue Penny Museum or the Natural History Museum when those sudden downpours hit. The humidity actually enhances the experience oddly enough - those old stone buildings and covered verandahs were designed for exactly these conditions. Mid-morning (9am-11am) offers the best light for photography before clouds roll in. The site itself takes 45-60 minutes; a full colonial architecture walk including Company Gardens and Government House stretches to 2-3 hours.
Pamplemousses Botanical Garden Visits
Located 11 km (6.8 miles) northeast of Port Louis, this 37-hectare garden hits peak lushness in May after the rainy season. The giant water lilies (Victoria amazonica) that everyone photographs are at their most impressive, and the humidity keeps everything genuinely tropical rather than dusty. May's variable conditions mean you might get caught in rain, but the massive trees provide natural cover and the garden actually becomes more atmospheric in light rain. Plan 2-3 hours for a thorough visit. The UV index of 8 makes afternoon visits (2pm-4pm) brutal without shade, so morning visits work best.
Evening Street Food and Night Market Circuits
May evenings cool to 21°C (70°F), making night markets actually comfortable rather than sweltering. The humidity drops slightly after dark, and those afternoon rains clear the air. Food vendors around Place d'Armes and near the bus terminal set up around 5:30pm and run until 10pm on weekdays, later on weekends. This is when locals eat, so you're getting authentic pricing (60-150 MUR per dish) and genuine quality. The variable weather means some vendors might skip rainy evenings, but the covered areas near the waterfront operate regardless.
May Events & Festivals
Cavadee Preparation Ceremonies
While the main Cavadee festival typically falls in late May or early June (it's a lunar calendar event), Tamil temples around Port Louis begin preparation ceremonies in mid-to-late May. You'll see devotees at Kaylasson Temple and other Tamil kovils undergoing purification rituals, and street decorations going up in the Plaine Verte neighborhood. It's not the main spectacle, but it offers a quieter, more intimate look at the religious practices without the massive crowds. Worth visiting a temple in the early morning (6am-8am) to see the preparation rituals.