A Guide to Mauritius. What to See and Do

Contents:

• When to go
• What to take
• Visa requirements
• Gettind there
• Getting around the island
• Resorts of Mauritius
• Where to stay
• Beaches of Mauritius
• Mauritian cuisine
• What to see and do in Mauritius
• What to bring home

When to go

When it’s summer here, it’s winter on Mauritius, so the best time to visit is between October and May. There is no rainy season as such here – it can rain at any time, and as the locals say, the rain can be quite unpredictable. You are more likely to encounter showers in the mountainous center of the island, so you should be OK on the beaches.

What to take

• Sunblock, sunblock, and yet more sunblock, and no lower than SPF50. Forget any ideas of “oh, I’ll stay in the shade” or “it’s cloudy today, so it doesn’t matter” – it does. The Mauritian sun takes no hostages, even in the shade. 
• Flippers, mask, and snorkel. You won’t find any once you’re there, and there are starfish and unusual tropical fish even in the waters around the hotel beaches. 
• Electric sockets are 3-pin like in the UK, so you should think about whether you need an adaptor.

Visa requirements

Citizens of the US and EU do not need a visa for stays of fewer than 60 days.

Getting there

There are few direct flights to Mauritius from London. The best way is on Emirates via Dubai, and the flying time (including the stopover in Dubai) is about 13-16 hours. 

The only airport on Mauritius is the international Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport, which is located near the town of Mahébourg, 46km south-east of the capital Port Louis.        

Getting around the island

It is not a large island – it takes a couple of hours to drive north to south and an hour and a half from east to west. If you want to walk, then it would take less than 24 hours north to south. The island is 65km long and 50km wide. It has an area slightly smaller than the county of Leicestershire in the UK.

Car hire

The best way to get around the island is by car. There aren’t so many mopeds here, and there are reasons for this. Firstly, the rain – it’s really not nice if you’re caught in a shower in the open-air. Secondly, the roads can be quite dangerous. You can rent a car in advance, or your hotel reception can help you once you’ve arrived. Car hire costs, on average, about $60.00 (€55.00) per day. 

They drive on the left on Mauritius, so the steering wheels are on the right. The island is so green that you find yourself driving through endless foliage on either side of the road. It is certainly very beautiful, but the vision is not good, and there are no pavements meaning that people, animals, and cyclists use the road itself. The locals, of course, drive quickly. It has to be said, though, that the quality of the roads is quite good. 

Buses

If you want to get down with the locals, then you can use the local bus system, although they themselves tend to prefer taxis or hiring cars by the day. 

The bus service does not run every day on every route and tends not to run a service at night. You pay for the number of stops you are on the bus, so the price will vary according to the distance and stops passed – as well as the age of the bus and whether it’s an express or stopping service – and whether it has air-conditioning or not. Taking a bus from one end of the island to the other is not a comfortable way to travel and can be expensive. The minimum cost of a bus ride is around 25 rupees ($0.76/€0.68).

You can get your ticket from the driver. You can find out more about the Mauritian bus service by clicking here.  

            

Taxis

Taxis aren’t expensive and will probably be the least stressful way of getting around than buses or car hire. You can order taxis at the airport, from hotels or find them near the main beaches and supermarkets. 

The local taxi drivers don’t take any notice of the meters and make the fares up in their own special way. It is based on the distance between pickup and drops off plus waiting time. Note that if you take a taxi for a day, the price is fixed, so it may well be cheaper than taking a number of taxis. 

Hiring a taxi for a day would cost approximately 2500 rupees ($68.00/€61.50).

For this price, you get your own personal driver for the day who will take you wherever you want to go on the island and who will wait for you for as long as it takes. 

Resorts on Mauritius

The island can be divided into five zones – north, south, east, west, and central. Each part of the coastline has pros and cons, which we will look at. 

Northern coast

The north of the island is the area around the town of Grand Baie and is one of the most popular destinations with some of the best beaches with their white sands, not too windy or crowded (at least by Mauritian standards). Some of the island’s attractions are located nearby, such as the Pamplemousses botanical gardens. It’s an area which would suit visitors with all kinds of tastes.             

Western coast

The western coast and the resort of Flic-en-Flac also compete to be called the most popular on the island. The sand is just as white, the wind as gentle, and the sunsets as beautiful. There are more attractions located in this area to the west ,such as the village of Chamarel, with its seven-colored earth, underwater waterfall, the Black River Gorges National Park , and many others. You will also find here the district of Tamarind and the Le Morne promontory, favoured by surfers.        

Both the northern and western areas are situated close to the island’s capital city, Port-Louis, which you can always visit for a change of scenery.         

Southern district

The south of the island and the town of Bel-Ombre are surrounded by stunning landscapes and wild beaches. This is the more agricultural part of the island and feels a bit more remote. There is not much to see away from the hotels, and the infrastructure is not very developed. For the sights and sounds and a bit more life, head for the eastern town of Mahébourg, where you’ll find the Mahébourg museum of the history of Mauritius (free entry).                

Eastern coastline

The east of the island and the resort of Belle Mare are where you will find the most beautiful sunsets, but it’s also the windiest part of the island. As in the south, the east does not have much in the way of entertainment, and the infrastructure is not well developed. You are only likely to come across farms and farming villages outside the hotels with perhaps a few souvenir shops.             

Central plateau

The island’s main population centers are in the middle of the island. The colonial architecture of Curepipe is of interest. It rains a lot in this part of the island.      

Where to stay

You will be spoilt for choice for hotels on this island. They usually are situated in extensive grounds or have individual villas, which allows you a sense of being away from other people. The hotel you choose will depend on the level of service you prefer, as well as the location and how much you are prepared to pay. What’s on offer varies from expensive resort properties to budget villas, apartments, and guest houses. Prices range from $30.00-$1500 (€27.00-€1368.00) per night. 

• Expensive and upmarket

The St. Regis Mauritius

LUX*

Four Seasons Resort Mauritius

• Lower priced but comfortable

Veranda Grand Baie Hotel & Spa

Emeraude Beach Attitude

Aanari Hotel & Spa

Anelia Resort & Spa

Beaches on Mauritius

All beaches on Mauritius are public beaches, and anyone can go bathing there – unless they belong to an hotel when only residents are allowed. There are excellent beaches everywhere on Mauritius covered in snow-white coral sands, blue seas and beautiful sea life – starfish, are as common as cats and dogs. 

The following beaches are particularly noteworthy:

• Trou aux Biches is a quiet beach in the resort of the same name        
• Belle Mare is one of the best beaches in one of Mauritius’ best-regarded resorts. It’s peaceful, not so many people, lovely views, not much in the way of infrastructure and quite wild in places. This is a good place for kids.          
• Mont Choisy is a quiet, sandy beach which extends over about 3km. It’s located in the town of the same name and is about 20km from the capital Port Louis.           
• Blue Bay Beach is a popular place with good facilities in the southeast of the island. It’s great for holidays with children.             
• La Cuvette public beach is a mixture of sand and stone and is popular mainly for its fantastic views and clean shoreline. It’s located about 10 minutes from the resort of Grand Baie and its well-known fish market.      
• Flic en Flac is one of Mauritius’ best-known beaches with many accommodation options and great facilities, exotic views, and a really laid-back atmosphere. It is very popular with divers. Its clear waters, varied sea life, and sunken boats pull in those who the diving community and aqualungs and face masks are to be seen everywhere as they prepare to explore the seabed.         
• Le Morne is the best beach in the south-west of Mauritius. It has a long, wide shoreline and has few people.

• Tamarind Bay is a busy, pretty beach on the west coast. It is in a bay in the southern part of the island surrounded by cliffs and hills. This the beach where the boat trips depart from where, if you’re lucky, you can swim with dolphins out at sea.   
• Perebeyre Beach is one of the best beaches on the northern coast of Mauritius, located between Cap Malheureux and Grand Baie.              
• Gris Gris Beach is on a headland of the same name not far from the town of Bel Ombre. It is the southernmost point of Mauritius.        
• Grand Baie is a well-known beach on the north-east coast of the island. It is a busy resort with good facilities. Many visitors from all over the world holiday here alongside the locals.     

• Anse La Raie is a quiet beach with excellent kitesurfing facilities and is good for picnics. There are great views over the coastline and the ocean. It’s great for jogging and evening walks.        
• Poste LaFayette is a beach on Mauritius’ southern coast. It is located in the fishing village of the same name and is somewhere where tourism is really taking hold. There are many private villas along the coastline here, with wide lagoons and endless white sandy beaches.             
• Bain Bœuf is a quiet, refined beach on the northern coast of Mauritius.                      
• La Preneuse is a quiet, comfortable and uncrowded resort if you want a bit of peace and quiet on holiday. It’s in a quiet bay a couple of kilometers away from the town of the same name. They often have weddings here, amongst the many private villas.         
• Pointe aux Piments, or “Spice Point,” is a well-known beach in the north-west of the island.                    
• Trou d’Eau Douce is a busy beach in the west of Mauritius about an hour’s drive from the airport.          

Safety and security

Mauritius is a safe place to go on holiday, but it’s better to be extra safe than sorry. So as to make sure nothing can spoil your holiday in paradise, it’s best to follow three simple rules. 

Crime rates on the island are extremely low, but you should still take basic measures to look after your property – you get pickpockets all over the world. 

This is a clean country. You can drink the tap water, but like elsewhere, bottled water is recommended. 

Widespread illness and epidemics tend not to occur on the island, so no vaccinations are necessary. Any craft (sea and air) arriving on the island undergo strict sanitary checks so as to minimize the risk of any infections which may be prevalent in neighboring countries like Madagascar. 

The only risk you might face would be from the flora and fauna and poisonous sea creatures, like the stonefish, but the necessary precautionary measures are taken. 

• Do not touch the coral. Harvesting or selling coral is also forbidden for locals.
• Do not pick up objects or animals from the seabed.
• If you are swimming close to a coral reef, then best wear some waterproof shoes.
• Do not go snorkeling or diving or swim out beyond the reefs without an instructor. 

Mauritian cuisine

Many cultures have influenced Mauritian cooking, but the main influences are Creole, Chinese, and European. Spices are frequently used in Mauritian cooking. The main ingredients are usually rice, vegetables, and seafood. A meal in a mid-range restaurant would normally cost around 600 rupees ($15.00/€13.70) per person. 

• Millionaire Salad

This is the island’s signature dish and is served in almost every restaurant and costs upwards of 500 rupees ($13.70/€12.30). It’s something quite unique which you can’t replicate elsewhere. It’s a salad made of palm hearts, but not just any palm hearts, but seven-year-old palm hearts with the addition of seafood delicacies like blue marlin. 

• Bol renversé (Upturned bowl)

This is one of the most popular dishes on the island and can be found in almost every eating place. Fried chicken or shrimps are mixed with vegetables, soy sauce, and rice and placed in a bowl which is turned upside-down before serving and then lifted. It costs around 250 rupees ($6.80/€6.10). 

To appreciate the local cooking properly, it’s worth trying street food which is served from mobile stalls. 

• Dal poori

A good example of the local stuffed flatbreads with a filling made of peas and tomato sauce. Similar to a sandwich on top of which they put salad, beans, curry sauce, meat or rice. Hot sauce is a must. 

• Roti

This is the traditional local flatbreads made of ground millet. You use it to eat meat or vegetable curry.

They cost around 12 rupees ($0.30/€0.27) each.

What to see and do on Mauritius

There us a lot to keep you busy on this island, from relaxing therapies to extreme sports and enjoying the views. As we pointed out above, to get around, it’s best to hire a car or a driver as it’s not possible to get to most of the sights by bus. Another way to see the sights is to take a guided tour which comes in various shapes, sizes, and costs and can be arranged as part of a group or privately, or you can simply hire a driver who speaks your language. 

Things to see

• Charamel Geopark

This reserve is located close to the small village of the same name. The park is enormous, so you will require transportation to get around it. Entrance costs 250 rupees ($6.80/€6.10). You can buy them on the spot or on the website.    

There are two really interesting natural phenomena here which you should not miss. 

Charamel Waterfall

The St-Denis river splits into three streams which fall 100m through exotic, overgrown greenery into the depths of the crater of an extinct volcano below, into the midst of the jungle – it’s an incredible view. 

Charamel’s 7 Coloured Earth

You get the impression that an artist poured the dye over the sand dunes here, coloring them red, purple, green, blue, yellow, and other shades. The secret is in the chemical composition of the sand and the local climate, which affected the way that the volcanic rock cooled off, which gave the soil these hues. This is one of the symbols of Mauritius. 

• Grand Bassin lake and the Ganga Talao Hindu Temple

This sacred Hindu place of pilgrimage consists of a lake in the crater of a volcano and a temple. It is a popular place of pilgrimage for Hindus from all over the world. Anyone can visit the temple, regardless of faith, and it is completely free of charge. You will find yourself in the company of a lot of monkeys. 

• Trou au Cerfs dormant volcano

This extinct volcano is located not far from Mauritius’ main business center, the town of Curepipe. The heart of the volcano is overgrown with forest and tropical undergrowth, and on the actual floor of the former crater, instead of boiling lava, you find the boggy lake. The crater is 85m deep and 200m across. A viewing platform has been built at the top, and there is a large car park. It’s dangerous to go down into the crater, so it has been forbidden.       

• Seven Cascades at Tamarind (Tamarind Falls)

These seven waterfalls drop a total of 239m. It is possible to walk down the steps to the bottom of the falls and go swimming, but you should never do this alone, only with local guides. Thankfully, there are plenty of them wandering around the area near the viewing platform at the top, where you get a wonderful view of all seven waterfalls. It takes about 40 minutes to get to the topmost waterfall, and more than seven hours to the lowest one. 

If planning is not high on your list of priorities and you’re not planning to visit the waterfalls on foot, you just want to gaze over this beautiful sight, you can cover everything we outlined above in one organized excursion in one full day. You can either do it by yourself with a driver and/or hire a car, take a taxi or take a taxi and hire a guide. I hired a car for myself – the only downside is that you have to get up early so as to see everything. 

• Black River Gorges National Park

This sizeable park of 6,500 hectares occupies 3.5% of the whole territory of the country! Here you will come across the island’s unique plant and animal life, dry and tropical forest, marshland, rare plants, torrential mountain streams, waterfalls, volcanic lakes, deer, wild boar, monkeys, exotic birds – you’ll find all this and more in the Black River Gorges National Park.         

There are also a number of viewing platforms with magnificent views – and even the highest point of the island, the Black River Peak. There are two information centers to help people find their way around as well as specially designated picnic areas and more than 60km of paths for you to walk around, plus jeep and bus tours. 

It’s free to get into the park, and you could easily spend the whole day here, or just take a look one small part of the park and combine the visit with other tourist attractions. This is what I did as I arrived at the park via the Ganga Talao Temple at Charamel.                      

• Le Morne 

This is another symbol of Mauritius, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This 556m high emerald-colored mountain can be seen from all over the island. You can get to the top via designated paths, but it’s not an easy walk, and it’s best to go accompanies by an experienced local guide. 

It’s a challenging walk up to the top of Le Morne, but a determined novice can make it. Nevertheless, according to those who have made it there and back, you do need to be quite fit and to prepare yourself properly. 

• Underwater waterfalls

This is one of Mauritius’ most exceptional (and most difficult to get to) attractions, but it is well worth the time, money, and effort – and it is, of course, another one of the island’s calling cards. 

The Cascades of strong currents plummet into the depths of the ocean, creating the impression of underwater waterfalls, but in fact, it’s nothing more than an optical illusion created by the unusual layout of the sea bed and underwater currents.    

The difficulty arises in that you can only see this effect from above, so you either have to climb Le Morne or book an excursion in a helicopter. 

There are two companies that provide these – Air Mauritius and Corail Helicopters. You can choose the length of flight – 20, 40 or 60 minutes – and they cost around 4200 rupees ($113.60/€102.50)

• Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens

These Botanical Gardens have a 200-year history, and more than 500 different types of plants can be seen on its 25-hectare site. You’ll find nutmeg growing here as well as tea, camphor trees and many other examples of plant life – even more than 80 different types of a palm tree. There are even water plants, lotuses, and water lilies.        

  

One of the gardens’ main attractions is the Victoria water lily, whose leaves can reach 2m in diameter and can weigh up to 50kg. 

Entrance costs 200 rupees ($5.30/€4.80) 

• La Vanille National Park

Ride a giant turtle – who didn’t dream of doing just that when they were a child? La Vanille is a place where childhood dreams come true and some of the main inhabitants of this nature reserve are the giant turtles – you touch them, feed them, and even ride on their backs.

The reserve was originally founded to preserve the crocodile population, but it was not long before it became a large zoo with many animals. You will find monkeys here, bats, iguanas, geckos, chameleons, wild boar, lots of butterflies, and unusual plants. 

You should also be sure to try some crocodile meat! Entrance to the nature reserve costs 350 rupees ($9.48/€8.50), and you can find the exact opening times on its official website.        

• The capital city Port Louis and the Citadel

It’s worth visiting the capital city even if it’s just to see how the locals live and to briefly get back to civilization. There are a few museums here like the Blue Penny Museum  (150 rupees/$4.000/€3.50), the Photography Museum (150 rupees/$4.000/€3.50), and others. There are also shopping centers. It’s also worth visiting Fort Adelaide (known to the locals as the Citadel) which has been preserved since colonial times. It is on a hill over the city and affords some nice views.             

     

For those who like things a bit more extreme, here are a few great suggestions: 

• Casela Park

In actual fact you it’s worth visiting this place even if you’re not in the market for extreme sports and you just want to stroll around – and it really is worth it. There is a safari, lions, leopards and other big cats, giant turtles, incredible Tarzan swings and ziplines, a hanging bridge over the gorge – all this and more. It’s worth noting that here the animals are in good health, happy and cheerful. They don’t give them anything to make them drowsy even when they are out and about amongst the visitors. 

All the park has to offer can be found here on its official website.       

Entrance costs 850 rupees ($22.70/€20.50). 

• A walk on the ocean floor

You can only experience this on Mauritius, walking on the ocean floor on your own legs using specialised equipment. A transparent helmet is placed over your head, a bit like a small aquarium, with oxygen tubes attached. They then lower you to the ocean bed, and you can walk – more like a moonwalk – around the underwater world. The helmet is a bit heavy, but once you are under the water, you don’t notice it so much. You can also ride around the ocean bed on an underwater scooter. 

You can register here or via one of the local guides.    

Cost is appr 2000 rupees ($53.00/€47.80)

• Diving

There are around 30 diving centers operating on the island which are registered with the Mauritius Scuba Diving Association. You can dive all year round, but the best time is between November and April since this is the time of year that most of the exotic fish come in shoals towards the shore. The diving is good around the reefs, which attract so much underwater life-like underwater breakwaters, approaches, caves, and arches. Your deep dive will allow you to observe hump-backed whales, sperm whales and look out for one of the 22 shipwrecks they have counted around the shoreline. One dive costs around €40.00/$45.00     

• Surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing

You need to travel to the south, south-east or south-west of the island to experience these. Mauritius is one of the few places on earth where you can enjoy kite-, wind- and sea surfing all at once. 

One surf usually costs around €100.00 ($106.00), kitesurfing is around €80.00 ($83.00), and the best time to do this is from May to January. 

• Deep sea fishing

Mauritius is an absolute paradise for those who like deep-sea fishing. In the island’s waters, you can catch marlin, tuna, sailfish, dorado, barracuda, and all sorts of different types of shark. 

This costs from $227.30 (€205.00) and you can find out about the companies offering these services from your hotel or local guide. 

• Relaxation

Relaxing spa treatments are available all over Mauritius and prices start from 1500 rupees ($45.50/€41.00)

All five-star hotels on the island have spa centers as do most four-star properties. If your hotel does not have such specialist facilities, then why not try the Kairali Ayurvedic SPA. This is one of the few non-hotel related spa providers, which is amongst the best on the island. You can find out more here.             

What to bring home

• Branded clothing. Duty-free shopping is well-developed on the island, and what’s more, there are several designer factories here too, like Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Hugo Boss. If it was “Made in Mauritius, it will be cheaper than the same products bought in Europe, so it’s worth getting them here. You can buy direct from the supplier or in the large shopping centers, but still, keep your eyes open for fake goods. The main shopping centers are Caudan Waterfront and Bagatelle Mall     
• The dodo is the symbol of the island, and you can buy dodo souvenirs in all shapes and sizes – from postcards, fridge magnets to clothes and jewelry 

• Marlin souvenirs
• Sailboat models. After the dodo, the sailboat is the most popular souvenir. You can pick up wooden models in varying levels of detail of these ancient crafts from anywhere on the island. 
• Caramel sand. You can get little containers of the multi-colored sand as a keepsake of your visit. 
• Flax goods, leather, and natural fabrics, as well as Mauritian woven goods. 
• Local flowers presented in the shape of a heart make for a romantic present, but keeping it fresh for the journey home is a challenge. 
• Jams, rum (the local Green Island or Rhumerie de Chamarel re popular), exotic sweets, coffee, aromatic teas, and cane sugar are foods you might want to bring back.

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So is Mauritius worth the visit? Of course, it is. It might mean saving up for a while, but it’s worth the effort. The island is unbelievably beautiful, and they love visitors here, so even if the beauty of the island is not enough, you will appreciate the fantastic service.