First‑hand tips for Mauritius
Mauritius is small enough to drive around in a day and varied enough to keep you busy for weeks: lagoons and reefs along the coast, rainforest gorges and sugar-cane plateaus inland, and towns where Creole, Indian, Chinese and French Mauritius meet over street food.
Things to do
Diving, boat trips, canyoning, quad bikes and a few ways to see the island from the air.
Blue Safari SubmarineA 40-minute dive to 35 metres in a real submarine from Trou aux Biches, no diving skills needed.
Boat tripsPopular boat trips from north to south-west: catamaran cruises from Grand Baie, the Sunset Cruiser at Black River and Ile aux Bénitiers tours.
Canyoning with Vertical WorldA first-hand account of canyoning at the Tamarind Falls with Vertical World: abseiling, a zipline and jumps, plus prices and booking details.
Flying over MauritiusSightseeing flights over Mauritius in microlight seaplanes from Grand Gaube with Island Wings, with durations, prices and contact details.
Kayaking through the mangrovesA guided 3-hour sea kayak trip with Yemaya Adventures through the mangroves of Ile d’Ambre, with prices, what to bring and contact details.
Quad biking near Flic en FlacA guided one-hour Eco Quad tour with Casela Nature Parks near Flic en Flac: start times, age and health requirements, and contact details.
Spas in MauritiusFive spas in Mauritius, from Balinese massage in Arsenal to Ayurveda in Grand Baie, with treatments, opening hours, prices and contact details.
Tandem skydivingA first-hand account of a tandem jump from 10,000 ft with Skydive Mauritius, with requirements, prices and contact details.
Water sportsSurf spots, the Solar Sea Walk, kitesurfing, the best snorkelling beaches and recommended dive centres in Mauritius.
WeddingsHow to marry in Mauritius: documents, civil and Catholic ceremonies, the Civil Status Office in Port Louis and a wedding on a catamaran.
Zip-lining in ChamounyZip-line circuits at Vallé Advenature Park near Chamouny in the south, from the family-friendly Discovery Tour to the 5.5 km Advenature Flight.
Places and sights
Towns, beaches, temples, museums and the old estates of the sugar era.
Art and craftsArt galleries, ship models, workshops and a craft market: Galerie Raphaël (formerly Seebaluck Art Gallery), Adamah Fine Arts, the Caudan Arts Centre and Le Craft Market.
BeachesThe nicest public beaches of Mauritius by coast, with tips on swimming, currents, snorkelling and how busy each one gets.
Cathédrale de Bel AirThe church of Saint-Esprit in Bel Air is a parish church with the spires of a cathedral, set in a garden near Centre Flacq.
Domaine de l’EtoileThe former film set of Paul and Virginie, now an events venue, plus the Ferney valley nature reserve nearby.
Domaine les PaillesWhat has become of Domaine les Pailles, the former leisure park near Port Louis, and where to go instead for sugar and rum.
Kashinath MandirKashinath Mandir, also known as Sagar Shiv Mandir or the swimming temple, is a white Hindu temple on a small island near Poste de Flacq.
L’Aventure du SucreA sugar museum in the former Beau Plan factory at Pamplemousses, with interactive exhibits, tastings, a shop and a restaurant.
MuseumsThree museums in Port Louis: the Blue Penny Museum, the Photographic Museum and the Natural History Museum, with opening hours and prices.
Pilgrimage sitesGrand Bassin (Ganga Talao), Mauritius' sacred Hindu crater lake: its legend, the Shiva statue, visitor etiquette and a report from Maha Shivaratree.
Places to visitExcursion tips for Ile aux Cerfs, Trou aux Cerfs, Chamarel, waterfalls, the Albion lighthouse, dolphin watching and a ship model factory.
Rhumerie de ChamarelA distillery tour and free rum tasting at the Rhumerie de Chamarel, plus the restaurant L’Alchimiste, opening times and entrance prices.
Ste Thérèse church in CurepipeThe Gothic Catholic church Ste Thérèse on Curepipe's Royal Road, with its coloured windows and simple interior, and when Mass is celebrated.
Towns and citiesShopping, markets, sights and practical tips for Port Louis, Flic en Flac, Curepipe, Grand Baie, Mahébourg, Tamarin and other towns.
Nature and parks
Forests, nature reserves, giant tortoises and the island’s wildlife parks.
Ecotourism on Île aux AigrettesVisit the Île aux Aigrettes nature reserve near Mahébourg, home to rare wildlife, and find out how to book a guided walk.
Nature parksCasela, La Vanille, Lavilleon, Black River Gorges National Park and the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden, with opening hours, fees and trails.
Nature Trails: a 4x4 tour to hidden viewpointsA day in a 4x4 with Nature Trails to viewpoints on private land, with a Mauritian lunch and views of about 90% of the island.
Odysseo OceanariumOdysseo, the island’s first oceanarium in Port Louis, with 45 aquariums, special experiences, opening hours, prices and contact.
Food, shopping and nightlife
Where to eat, what to try, where to shop and where to go out.
CinemasWhere to watch films in Mauritius: the MCiné cinemas in Port Louis, Grand Baie, Trianon (Quatre Bornes) and Curepipe, and what they show.
Mauritian snacks and sweetsA guide to typical Mauritian street snacks and sweets, from dholl puri, samoosa and gateau piment to ladou and gateau patate.
NightlifeWhere to go out in Pereybere and Grand Baie, from The Cloud rooftop bar to the Banana Beach Club with live music every night.
RestaurantsRestaurant tips from Flic en Flac to Grand Baie, Chamarel and Port Louis, with opening hours, addresses and contact details.
ShoppingWhere to shop in Grand Baie, Flic en Flac, Goodlands and Quatre Bornes: bazaars, markets, malls and supermarkets, with opening hours.
Practical information
Getting around, renting a car, travelling with a baby and a little Kreol.
About this guideThe story behind the guide: why Barbara, after many months in Mauritius, created this online travel guide.
Car hireRenting a car in Mauritius: requirements, what the all-inclusive price covers, insurance deductibles and how to book.
Languages and dictionaryWhich languages are spoken in Mauritius, and a small English-French-Kreol dictionary of useful words and phrases.
Literature about MauritiusThe novel “Paul et Virginie” by Bernardin de Saint-Pierre, set on Mauritius, and the places on the island that appear in it.
Mauritius with a babyTravelling to Mauritius with a baby: local attitudes, baby food, excursions, a children’s doctor in Grand Baie and flying with an infant.
Tips and tricksPractical advice for your trip: driving rules, buses and taxis, visa, money, health, weather, mobile phones and what to do after an accident.
Where to get informationWhere to find official tourist information about Mauritius: the MTPA, its Mauritius Now website, the travel form and contact details.