A tropical island paradise in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius offers excellent beaches with many water sports activities such as windsurfing and water skiing, many golf courses, dive sites, a wide selection of luxurious hotels, plenty of nightlife and festivals, and great possibilities for trekking in the scenic interior of the island. Mauritius also has an interesting mix of cultures and local cuisine.
An island nation in the southern Indian Ocean, Mauritius is located east of Madagascar. The volcanic main island of Mauritius is accompanied by a couple of smaller outlying islands and island groups. Although located closer to Africa, Mauritius has a predominantly Indian population and strong influences from French and British colonial past. Mauritius is a lively mixture of cultures and people of Indian, African, European and Chinese descent, representing Hindu, Christian, Muslim and Buddhist religions.
Mauritius destinations. The Mauritian capital Port Louis is situated in the northwest coast of Mauritius. It is a bustling city with shopping areas, some museums and a World Heritage –listed colonial site of Aapravavasi Ghat, where Indian laborers arrived on their way to various British colonies. The Grand Baie area in the north is the foremost center of beach tourism in Mauritius, famous also for its nightlife. Grand Baie town boasts plenty of restaurants, bars and nightclubs, and there are plenty of nice beaches nearby with possibilities to water sports such as jet skiing, sailing, parasailing and windsurfing.
Beaches & markets. One of the most popular beaches in northern Mauritius is Pereybere that has plenty of restaurants and shopping facilities. In the east coast of the island, the town of Flic en Flac has great beaches as well as plenty of high-rise hotels, souvenir shops, and the biggest open air market in Mauritius. The nearby water park offers good family entertainment, and the offshore island of Ile aux Cerfs has beautiful beaches and great possibilities for water sports. There is also a crocodile park in Mauritius and glass-bottom boat and submarine tours are available.
Nature & trekking. Ile aux Aigrettes off the coast of Southeast Mauritius is a protected island with rare local fauna and good opportunities for birdwatching. The Southeast coast of Mauritius also includes the seaside resorts of Blue Bay and Souillac, and the game reserve of Domaine des Grand Bois has plenty of animals as well as lovely hilltop views. There are many good places for trekking in Mauritius in the volcanic, mountainous interior of the island, including the Black River Gorges National Park and the Moka Mountains with scenic waterfalls and volcanic lakes. Rodrigues island, 550 km / 340 mi northeast of Mauritius is a small volcanic island offering activities such as diving, hiking, kitesurfing and deep sea fishing.
An island nation in the southern Indian Ocean, Mauritius is located east of Madagascar. The volcanic main island of Mauritius is accompanied by a couple of smaller outlying islands and island groups. Although located closer to Africa, Mauritius has a predominantly Indian population and strong influences from French and British colonial past. Mauritius is a lively mixture of cultures and people of Indian, African, European and Chinese descent, representing Hindu, Christian, Muslim and Buddhist religions.
Sights and activities in Mauritius: beaches, shopping, nightlife, fishing & golf
Mauritius offers plenty of things to see and do, from great beaches to windsurfing, diving and various other water sports to hiking and horseback riding in the island’s rugged interior. There are plenty of possibilities available for nightlife and shopping in Mauritius, and golf in Mauritius is excellent with many golf courses. Various colorful local festivals are arranged in Mauritius almost weekly. Diving in Mauritius is good in western and northern coasts of the island and snorkeling can be enjoyed particularly on the reefs of Trou aux Biches and Mon Choisy, as well as in Blue Bay Marine Park. Sports fishing in Mauritius is excellent, and charter boats are widely available.Mauritius destinations. The Mauritian capital Port Louis is situated in the northwest coast of Mauritius. It is a bustling city with shopping areas, some museums and a World Heritage –listed colonial site of Aapravavasi Ghat, where Indian laborers arrived on their way to various British colonies. The Grand Baie area in the north is the foremost center of beach tourism in Mauritius, famous also for its nightlife. Grand Baie town boasts plenty of restaurants, bars and nightclubs, and there are plenty of nice beaches nearby with possibilities to water sports such as jet skiing, sailing, parasailing and windsurfing.
Beaches & markets. One of the most popular beaches in northern Mauritius is Pereybere that has plenty of restaurants and shopping facilities. In the east coast of the island, the town of Flic en Flac has great beaches as well as plenty of high-rise hotels, souvenir shops, and the biggest open air market in Mauritius. The nearby water park offers good family entertainment, and the offshore island of Ile aux Cerfs has beautiful beaches and great possibilities for water sports. There is also a crocodile park in Mauritius and glass-bottom boat and submarine tours are available.
Nature & trekking. Ile aux Aigrettes off the coast of Southeast Mauritius is a protected island with rare local fauna and good opportunities for birdwatching. The Southeast coast of Mauritius also includes the seaside resorts of Blue Bay and Souillac, and the game reserve of Domaine des Grand Bois has plenty of animals as well as lovely hilltop views. There are many good places for trekking in Mauritius in the volcanic, mountainous interior of the island, including the Black River Gorges National Park and the Moka Mountains with scenic waterfalls and volcanic lakes. Rodrigues island, 550 km / 340 mi northeast of Mauritius is a small volcanic island offering activities such as diving, hiking, kitesurfing and deep sea fishing.
Mauritius travel tips and practical information
Mauritius has a tropical climate with pleasantly warm weather around the year. There are two distinct seasons In Mauritius: a warm, dry winter from May to November and a hot, humid summer from November to May. Tropical cyclones may occur from November to April, and especially during the first three months of the year. The climate is cooler and wetter on the higher elevations of the central plateau. The West coast of Mauritius is hotter than the East coast that has more wind. The driest time of the year is October.
Photo: Tim Parkinson, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
Travel to Mauritius is easiest by air. There is an international airport with flights to Mauritius from many European cities as well as several Asian and African capitals. You can also travel to Mauritius by a private yacht outside the cyclone season, by a cruise ship, or by a passenger ferry from the island of Réunion or from Madagascar.
Local transport. There are regular domestic flights and boats from Mauritius to Rodrigues Island, as well as helicopter transfer and sightseeing tours. Buses are the main public transport in Mauritius. They will take you cheaply to most places around the island. The roads in Mauritius are generally in good condition, but most buses do not have air-conditioning. There are taxis available in all towns and hotel areas. Car rental on Mauritius is available in major towns and in the airport. Mopeds, bicycles and boats are also available for hire.
Visitor services. There is a wide range of hotels in Mauritius, concentrated in the beach resort areas and in bigger towns. You can find many large international hotels as well as smaller local hotels around Mauritius. Restaurants in Mauritius can be found in all towns and tourist areas with both local and international cuisine available. Nightlife on Mauritius is quite lively, especially in the largest beach resorts. The official language in Mauritius is English, and most people on the island speak both French and English.
Safety. Mauritius is generally a safe destination. Although crime levels are low, petty crime is not uncommon. Pick-pocketing and theft are the major concerns, but cases of robbery and sexual assault also happen. Downtown Port Louis and the coastal resorts have the highest crime rates in Mauritius. Using common sense such as avoiding walking on deserted beaches or city streets at night and not using unlicensed taxis will usually keep you out of trouble.
Short history of Mauritius
Arab and Malay traders found Mauritius in the 10th century, but the island was never settled by them. The first Europeans in Mauritius were the Portuguese in 1498, but the Dutch were the first to colonize the island, starting in the 1600s. The island was named after the Dutch ruler, Prince Maurice. The Dutch colony in Mauritius was abandoned in 1710 and the French took possession of the island in 1715. The island’s capital, Port Louis became a flourishing trading port and a base for mercenary marines. The British took the island from French in 1810, but French settlers were allowed to retain their possessions.More recent history. Large numbers of Indian and some Chinese workers were brought to Mauritius after banning of slavery in 1835. Mauritius gained independence in 1968 and became a republic in 1992. Political tensions between the black Creole population and the Indian Mauritian majority led to riots in 1999. Today, Mauritius is developing its banking and tourism industries in response to the declining exports of sugar, tobacco, tea and textiles.
