Mare aux Vacoas
Lake Largest reservoir in Mauritius, near Port Louis
Mare aux Vacoas is a large reservoir near Curepipe used for water supply; visitors use surrounding trails for walking and picnic viewpoints over central Mauritius.
Mare aux Vacoas is the largest reservoir in Mauritius, located on the island’s central plateau in Plaines Wilhems District. It functions as a major freshwater storage serving populated areas of the island.
The site is primarily an engineered reservoir and water-supply facility rather than a developed recreational park. From surrounding roads and nearby settlements there are lookout spots used for photography and short visits; there are no extensive visitor facilities at the reservoir itself.
The lake has long been managed as part of the island’s potable water infrastructure and is maintained by local water authorities. It remains an operational component of Mauritius’s municipal water supply.
The reservoir sits on the central plateau near the towns of Vacoas-Phoenix and Curepipe within Plaines Wilhems District, forming part of the higher-elevation watershed in the island’s interior.
- Status: Largest reservoir on Mauritius and a principal freshwater storage for the island.
- Access: Views are generally from roadside lookouts and nearby towns; the reservoir is a working water supply rather than a recreational beach.
How to Get to Mare aux Vacoas #
Drive from Curepipe or Port Louis via the central plateau roads toward Plaine Wilhems; the reservoir is signed from main local roads. Public buses pass through the nearby towns, but the last approach is best done by taxi or car.
Tips for Visiting Mare aux Vacoas #
- Check with local authorities before attempting to swim or picnic - parts of the reservoir perimeter are fenced and maintained for water supply.
- Visit early in the morning for calm water and fewer locals using the area for exercise.
- Combine a stop here with a drive through the central plateau (Curepipe/Belle Vue) to see how Mauritius's colonial waterworks shaped the highland landscape.
Best Time to Visit Mare aux Vacoas #
Best visited in the cooler, drier months when highland roads and viewpoints are more comfortable.
Weather & Climate near Mare aux Vacoas #
Mare aux Vacoas's climate is classified as Tropical Rainforest - Tropical Rainforest climate with warm summers (peaking in January) and mild winters (coldest in August). Temperatures range from 15°C to 26°C. Abundant rainfall (1786 mm/year), wettest in February.
January
January is the warmest month with muggy conditions (dew point 23°C). Heavy rain (247 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is the warmest month with muggy conditions (dew point 23°C). The wettest month with heavy rain (270 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is mild with muggy conditions (dew point 23°C). Heavy rain (227 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 19°C. Heavy rain (210 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 17°C. Significant rainfall (146 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is mild with highs of 21°C and lows of 16°C. Regular rainfall (100 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 15°C. Significant rainfall (101 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is the coolest month with highs of 20°C and lows of 15°C. Regular rainfall (99 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is mild with highs of 21°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (65 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is mild with highs of 22°C and lows of 16°C. Moderate rainfall (64 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 18°C. Regular rainfall (84 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 19°C. Significant rainfall (173 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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