Your travel guide to Mauritius
This beautiful island 800 km east of Madagascar offers an endless variety of activities and adventures. Whether you are looking to relax on the white sandy beaches, or want to explore the island´s many attractions, Mauritius has something for everyone.
Most people fly into Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (SRU) from Paris, Dubai, Istanbul or Johannesburg. Mauritians are predominantly of Indian descent, but its time under Dutch, French and English rule have resulted in a diverse Creole culture. While English is the official language, people also speak French and Creole patois is the language of choice.
Once you are on the island, you can rent a car, which obviously gives you a lot of freedom. However, if you don´t feel like driving here, there are plenty of private drivers that you can book for a daytrip.
Roughly speaking you can divide Mauritius into 3 areas: the North, the Southwest and the Southeast. It takes roughly 2/2.5 hours to get from one coast to the other (East-West), so if you are planning on seeing the whole island, it might be wise to stay in different parts of the island.
North
Here you will find some of the finest resorts of the island and beautiful white sandy beaches. This area is also great for diving with various reefs and wrecks that are full of both macro and micro life. If you are looking for buzz, head to the town of Grand Baie which has the greatest concentration of hotels, beaches, restaurants and entertainment. If you are looking for a more quieter environment, go to Cap Malheureux, the uninhabited northern islands, or head inland for a stroll through the lovely Pamplemousses Gardens.
Mauritius capital, Port Louis, is for most people the “real Mauritius”. here you will find historic buildings and the island’s oldest market. Port Louis is not so much a place where people stay overnight, so this is a perfect option for a daytrip. Don´t forget to visit the Botanic Garen, or Pamplemousses Gardens, home to a wide variety of tropical plants - many of which indigenous.
The east coast in the north is the island’s most glamorous with exclusive resorts, such as Constance Prince Maurice, Le Touessrok and The Four Seasons. Île aux Cerfs is a beautiful island in front of the Four Seasons where as a guest you can enjoy some peace and quiet on its private beach (when you stay at Anahita next to the Four Seasons you also have access to a private beach. The rest of the island is open to visitors).
Highlights:
Port Louis
Beautiful Beaches
Diving and snorkeling
Nightlife and restaurants
Botanic Garden
Northern Islands, such as Coin de Mire , Îlot Gabriel and Île Plate
Southwest
The Southwest of Mauritius is the sunniest and driest area of the island. Here you also have stunning beaches, such as the ones in Flic en Flac., Tamarin and Le Morne. The southcoast is a great spot for kite surfing and surfing. If you want to enjoy great views, climb Le Morne Brabant, a Unesco’s World Heritage site, which has a summit of 556 meters (1,824 ft) above sea level. Be careful, because the climb is not for the faint-hearted and I would definitely recommend going with an experienced guide.
Inland there is also plenty to see, such as Ganga Talao or Grand Bassin (a Hindu sacred lake, and the Hanuman temple. on its shores), Black River Gorges National Park (beautiful nature with waterfalls, rivers and panoramic views), Seven coloured Earth of Chamarel (amazing geological formation of soil created by basaltic lava) and Chamarel falls. If you have the possibility to do a helicopter ride or seaplane ride, you can see the famous underwater waterfall from above. Book your rides well in advance to avoid disappointment (I was too late unfortunately).
Highlights:
Chamarell falls and 7 colored earth
Ganga Talao/Grand Bassin and Hanuman Temple
Black River Gorges National Park
Trou aux Cerfs (300 meter deep crater)
Tamarind Waterfalls
Beaches at Flic and Flac, Tamarin and Le Morne
Le Morne Brabant
Underwater waterfall
Southeast
This part of Mauritius is the most preserved part and has incredible cliffs and impressive waves. Here you can visit the historic town of Mahébourg, explore the underwater world of Blue Bay and visit Île aux Aigrettes with its unique flora and fauna. From Pointe Canon you have stunning views and you can see Lion Mountain that overlooks the sugar cane fields.
Highlights:
Mahébourg
Blue Bay Marine Park
Île aux Aigrettes
Pointe Canon
Best Public Beaches:
Grand Baie (North)
Pereybere (North)
Trou-aux Biches (North)
Cap Malheureux (North)
Belle Mare (North)
Île aux Cerfs (North)Poste Lafayette (North)
Poste Lafayette (North)
Flic and Flac (Southwest)
Le Morne Peninsula (Southwest)
Tamarin (Southwest)
La Cambuse (Southeast)
Blue Bay (Southeast)
Gris Gris beach (Southeast), not good for swimming
Where to eat
Le Capitaine, Grand Baie. Delicious seafood and stunning views. $$$$
Hasu, Belle Mare. Authentic Japanese cuisine served in an adults only restaurant. $$$$
Le Pescatore, Trou aux Biches. Fine Mauritiuan dining with views over the Indian Ocean. Also known for its exclusive wine collection. $$$$
Le Barachois, Pointe de Flacq. Unique floating seafood restaurant overlooking the lagoon $$$$
Safran, Trou d´eau Douce. Overlooking Hibiscus Bay, Safran serves refined Indian cuisine. $$$$
Bodrum Blue, Grand Gaube. Situated in the LUX* Grand Daube resort, this Turkish restaurant serves delicious mezzes and kebabs and has beautiful sea views. $$$
Le Château de Bel Ombre, Bel Ombre. Go on a journey back in time at this 19th century mansion. If you come for lunch, you can choose to have a picnic in its wonderful gardens. $$$$
Escale Creole, Moka. Nested in a beautiful tropical garden under a large Creole veranda, Escale Creole offers the best Mauritian cuisine. $$$
Citronella´s Beach Lounge Restaurant, Flic an Flac. Beach restaurant with a bar, pizza station, comfortable lounges and a fire pit. Citronella serves a wide variety of food, such as Spanish tapas, antipasti, pizzas and fresh pastas. $$$
Where to stay
North
Situated on the northwest coast of Mauritius in Turtle Bay Marine Park, the Oberoi offers amazing sunset views. Villas and pavillions with traditional thatched roofs are surrounded by lush gardens.
The One & Only resort is situated on a sheltered beach on the northeast of the island. Built in 1975, and renovated in 2017, this resort has been able to maintain its reputation as a popular and beautiful beach hotel.
The Four Seasons resort in Mauritius offers very private luxury villas with private pools, overwater spa experiences and waterfront dining. As a guest you also have access to the private beach on Ile aux Cerfs. Each guest can use of a bicycle to get around on the resort and can benefit from complimentary green fees or preferential rates at the course on Ile aux Cerfs.
Nestled on the quiet shores of Trou d’Eau Douce, Shangri-La Le Touessrok, Mauritius is a luxurious private hideaway embodying the true spirit of Mauritius. Guests have access to Ilot Mangénie, a private island retreat exclusive to guests, and Ile aux Cerfs, where guests can enjoy complimentary green fees to the course, or enjoy the stunning beach.
Southwest
This stunning resort offers more than three miles of white sand beach along a protected azure lagoon and a Championship golf course. The rooms are built in Mauritian-style and there are thirteen private newly built beach villas that have nature-inspired interiors.
LUX+ Le Morne is the perfect spot for couples for some relaxation and romance. The chic and serene boutique resort at the foot of Le Morne mountain calls all lovers of mindful luxury.
Southeast
Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort & Villas connects you with traditional Mauritian culture and the beautiful nature Mauritius has to offer. Situated on Blue Bay Marine Park, you can enjoy some snorkeling right at the beach of the hotel, or enjoy the complimentary boat tour offered by the hotel.
LUX* Île Des Deux Cocos
Explore ultimate luxury at this private island resort in Blue Bay. Built over a century ago by flamboyant British Governor Sir Hesketh Bell, the island's villa has a distinctly eccentric charm. This entire island resort can be reserved for overnight stays, with two bedrooms catering for couples or families of four.
Quick Facts:
Best time to visit: Mauritius can be visited year-round, but the best time to visit is during its summer which is from October to December. January through March is considered cyclone season so try to avoid these months if possible.
Language: English, French and Creole.
Currency: Mauritian Rupee (MUR)
Religion: Hinduism is the primary religion in Mauritius with around 52% identifying as Hindu. Christians make up about 28% of the population.
Credit Cards & ATMs: Almost all tourist shops, restaurants, and hotels accept credit or debit cards. If you are in a smaller town or village, you can expect to have to pay in cash. ATM´s can be found outside banks, in airports, larger supermarkets, and some shopping malls.
Plugs: The plugs in Mauritius are typetype C and G, the standard voltage is 230 V.
Safety: Mauritius is a very safe place to visit.
Are you ready to explore Mauritius Send me a message to arlette.diederiks@fora.travel and I´ll help you plan your next unforgettable trip!
Photo credits: Mauritius Attractions (beaches), The Times (beaches), photos of restaurants and the hotels are taken from the respective venues´ websites, Big Think (aerial photo underwater waterfall ), Mauritius tourism website, other photos are my own.