Seychelles · Month comparison
February vs April
April ranks #1 overall vs February at #9. The finest month — transitional calm between the monsoons, maximum sunshine, and every beach accessible.
February
#9 of 12 months
Strong option
Monsoon easing — improving sunshine, still warm, and the west coasts at their calmest.
- ↑Rainfall drops significantly from January's 250mm to 185mm in February — sunshine improves to 7.0 hours daily and the monsoon begins its transition toward the calmer conditions of April; February visitors experience the tail of peak season with better weather than January at slightly lower (still high) prices
- ↑February is among the best months for whale shark encounters at the outer banks — the warmest Indian Ocean water temperatures and the nutrient-rich northwest monsoon current bring whale sharks to the feeding grounds accessible from Mahé's south coast and around Desroches Island
April
#1 of 12 months
Best match
The finest month — transitional calm between the monsoons, maximum sunshine, and every beach accessible.
- ↑April is the first of Seychelles' two perfect months: the northwest monsoon has ended and the southeast trades have not yet established, creating a period of near-complete calm across all island coasts; every beach on every island is accessible — Anse Lazio and Anse Intendance on Praslin, Anse Source d'Argent and Anse Cocos on La Digue, and the full spectrum of Mahé's 60+ beaches are all swimmable in conditions that do not exist at any other time of year
- ↑Water clarity is at its best in April: the absence of monsoon runoff and minimal wind-driven surface chop create the highest underwater visibility of the year — the Sainte Anne Marine Park, the Cousin Island snorkel reef, and the dive sites at Shark Bank and Brissare Rock (accessible from Mahé) offer visibility of 20–30 metres and encounters with hawksbill turtles, nurse sharks, and Napoleon wrasse
| Factor | February | April |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 7 | 9 |
| Value score | 4 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 4 | 6 |
| Events score | 5 | 6 |
| Atmosphere | 7 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 30°C | 30°C |
| Monthly rain | 185mm | 105mm |
| Daily sunshine | 7hrs | 8hrs |
February trade-offs
- ↓The northwest monsoon's heavy rain continues: 185mm is still heavy, and while the pattern shifts toward shorter, more intense showers rather than sustained rain, February is not a reliably sunny month by any measure
- ↓Valentine's week (February 11–17) creates the most significant accommodation demand spike of the month: top-tier private island resorts book out entirely for Valentine's week months in advance, and the remaining quality options command meaningful premiums
- ↓The eastern coasts of all islands — Anse Intendance and Anse Takamaka on Mahé, Grand Anse on Praslin — are exposed to the northwest monsoon and can see rough swells in January–March; these beaches are best visited in the southeast trade wind season (May–September) when the east coast is sheltered
April trade-offs
- ↓April's outstanding reputation drives demand: the month is the best-known of the two sweet spots and accommodation at top properties requires booking 3–4 months ahead; the combination of school Easter holidays (if April) and perfect weather creates a pricing spike that moves the month from moderate toward expensive in peak years
- ↓April can occasionally see the tail of the northwest monsoon lingering in the first week — some years the transition takes longer, and early April can still see days of rain before the calm fully establishes; mid-to-late April is the most reliably calm window
- ↓The Seychelles national parks (Vallée de Mai, Cousin Island) begin pre-season maintenance and guide reallocation in early April; confirm specific tour availability for the first week
Scores compare months within Seychelles. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →