Is Madagascar or Mauritius cheaper?

Madagascar is the cheaper of the two: roughly $35–130/day in Madagascar versus $65–130+/day in Mauritius.

When is the best time to visit Madagascar vs Mauritius?

Madagascar is at its best in April–October; Mauritius peaks in May–October.

Is Madagascar or Mauritius better in August?

Neither has a clear edge in August — they score the same that month. Madagascar has the edge in April, Mauritius in January, December, and both are at their best in May, June, July, August, September, October.

How long do you need in Madagascar vs Mauritius?

Plan 2–3 weeks for Madagascar and 1–2 for Mauritius.

Should I choose Madagascar or Mauritius?

Pick Madagascar if you want somewhere cheaper across the board, stronger for nature, adventure, more off-the-beaten-path. Pick Mauritius if you want somewhere stronger for beach, more urban / city-focused.

Madagascar vs Mauritius

Two strong destinations, different in important ways. Here's the side-by-side, then a verdict on which suits which traveler.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Madagascar

A big-distance island epic where nine-tenths of the wildlife lives nowhere else.

Best time to visit

January: avoid
February: avoid
March: avoid
April: peak
May: peak
June: peak
July: peak
August: peak
September: peak
October: peak
November: fine
December: avoid

Peak Fine Avoid

Indian Ocean

Mauritius

A resort island that actually has an interior worth leaving the beach for.

Best time to visit

January: fine
February: avoid
March: avoid
April: fine
May: peak
June: peak
July: peak
August: peak
September: peak
October: peak
November: fine
December: fine

Peak Fine Avoid

Read our full guides about Madagascar and Mauritius.

Side by side

Emphasised where they differ. Muted rows are much the same either way.

	Madagascar	Mauritius
Best time	April–October	May–October
Climate	warm	warm
Budget	Budget – Mid-range · $35–130/day	Mid-range – Premium · $65–130+/day
Trip length	2–3 wks	1–2 wks
Visa	Visa-on-arrival or e-visa for most nationalities. Verify before travel.	Visa-free for most Western passports (up to 90 days). Verify before travel.
Currency	MGA (Malagasy Ariary).	MUR (Mauritian Rupee).
Language	Malagasy and French, with little English — some French helps a lot.	Creole, French, and English.
Tap water	Stick to bottled or filtered water.	Tap water generally safe; many prefer bottled.
Safety	Generally safe from violent crime; petty theft in Antananarivo. The real hazards are the roads and the remoteness.	Very safe; standard precautions for valuables on the beach.

General guidance — visas, safety, and health change, so check your government's travel advisory and the official sources before you go.

Madagascar or Mauritius, month by month

Which of the two is the better bet for each month of the year, scored on how well the season suits each place.

Which to choose

Choose Madagascar if:

You want somewhere cheaper across the board.
You want somewhere stronger for nature, adventure.
You want somewhere more off-the-beaten-path.

Choose Mauritius if:

You want somewhere stronger for beach.
You want somewhere more urban / city-focused.

Common questions

Is Madagascar or Mauritius cheaper?: Madagascar is the cheaper of the two: roughly $35–130/day in Madagascar versus $65–130+/day in Mauritius.
When is the best time to visit Madagascar vs Mauritius?: Madagascar is at its best in April–October; Mauritius peaks in May–October.
Is Madagascar or Mauritius better in August?: Neither has a clear edge in August — they score the same that month. Madagascar has the edge in April, Mauritius in January, December, and both are at their best in May, June, July, August, September, October.
How long do you need in Madagascar vs Mauritius?: Plan 2–3 weeks for Madagascar and 1–2 for Mauritius.
Should I choose Madagascar or Mauritius?: Pick Madagascar if you want somewhere cheaper across the board, stronger for nature, adventure, more off-the-beaten-path. Pick Mauritius if you want somewhere stronger for beach, more urban / city-focused.