Mauritius, or the Republic of Mauritius, is a multi-cultural island nation located about 2,000 kilometres from Africa in the Indian Ocean and southeast of Seychelles. With palm-fringed beaches, aquamarine waters, imposing mountains and lush national parks, Mauritius is popular for a honeymoon as well as family holidays.

Mauritius enjoys a tropical climate and can be visited throughout the year. May to December, winter months in Mauritius, are considered the best time to visit Mauritius as the weather is mild and pleasant. Explore its beaches, nearby islands, wildlife and go for water sports, especially surfing. January marks the onset of summer in Mauritius, when the crowd begins to reduce, is great time to explore the island and its beaches and other attractions.

Although it is true that the restaurants provide exquisite delicacies to the visitors, yet it is one of the best places to enjoy the street food.  Especially if one is a veggie, then there are plenty of options in selecting tasty vegetarian dishes. Some of the dishes from the street corner are Di pan frire, Alouda, Briani, Dholl Puri, Boulettes, Gateaux piment, Roti Chaud, Farata Gajacks, etc.

Mauritius is a shopping hub with many malls and markets, most of them located in the Central region. It is a good place to buy handmade jewellery, wooden art, rum, tea and other local souvenirs. Most shops in Port Louis close by 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM. Bargaining is accepted.

Port Louis, Goodlands, Arsenal, Floreal, Grand Bay, Curepipe, Rose-Hill, Moka, Flic en Flac, Black River, Quatre Bornes, Flacq, Mahebourg, and Grand Baie are some of the popular areas full of streets markets and some famous shopping centres like the Bagatelle Mall, Phoenix Mall, Grand Bay Plaza Shopping Complex, Caudan Waterfront, etc.

Being a multilingual country, the place does not claim to have any official language. However, you can find locals speaking English, French, Hindi, Telugu, Urdu and more.

THINGS TO DO IN NORTH ISLAND TOUR

1. VISIT PORT LOUIS

Port Louis, the capital city of Mauritius, is one of the most popular destinations to visit in the country. It is a melting pot of glitz and glamour harmonising beautifully with traditions and customs from its 300-year-old past. Port Louis is fascinating in terms of its mix in culture, tradition and history. It is also a beach town with a plethora of colourful markets, bustling restaurants, quaint museums, brilliant architecture, stunning waterfronts making it a tropical holiday destination.

2. BLUE PENNY MUSEUM

Blue Penny Museum is a famous stamp museum located at the capital of Mauritius in Port Louis. Ever since its inauguration in 2011, the Blue Penny Museum has continued to take visitors on enthralling journeys of the rich culture and history of the island. The Museum is named after the famous 1847 2-pence Blue Penny Stamp, which had been engraved for Mauritian post offices by Joseph Osmond, back in the 1800s.

3. HEAD TO LE CAUDAN WATERFRONT

The Port Louis Waterfront, commonly known as the Le Caudan Waterfront, is the first of its kind major shopping expansion in Mauritius, including various shops, casinos, banking facilities, restaurants, movie theatres, and a five-star hotel by the name of Le Labourdonnais. It is also home to a popular craft and art market.

4. VISIT UNESCO HERITAGE SITE OF AAPRAVASI GHAT

The Aapravasi Ghat, located in Port Louis, was the very centre of the establishment of contracted labour in Mauritius. It is a testament to the history of indentured labour during British colonial rule and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

5. VISIT SIR SEEWOOSAGUR RAMGOOLAM BOTANICAL GARDEN

Popularly famous by the name of Pamplemousses Botanical Garden and one of the most visited tourist attractions in Port Louis, the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden (SSR Botanical Garden) is the largest Botanical Garden in Mauritius. Featuring an extravagant variety exotic and rare species of plants along with some endemic animals on the verge of getting endangered, this massive garden covers the ground of over a whopping 37 hectares!

6. ROCHE NOIRES LAVA TUBES

One of the most unique places to visit in North Mauritius has to be the Roche Noires Lava Tubes! Although they are commonly known as Roche Noires caves, they are in fact underground tunnels that were formed during a volcanic eruption.

7. MONT CHOISY BEACH

Located on the north-western coast of Mauritius, the Mont Choisy beach is a haven for anyone who wants to experience a quiet beach time. Despite being right next to one of the most commercialized cities of Mauritius – Grand Baie – the Mont Choisy beach is almost a remote beach, lined by rows of trees along the coastline.

THINGS TO DO IN SOUTH ISLAND TOUR

1. HIKE TO CHAMAREL WATERFALL

Chamarel Waterfalls in the highest waterfall in Mauritius dropping more than 200 feet located near Seven Colored Earth. Surrounded by the vegetation of Black River Gorges, it is simply spectacular. Hiking to the top of the waterfall and jumping into the clear pool below is the most popular activity here. There are two viewpoints that boast a vivid view of the waterfall. It is also a popular photography spot.

2. BLACK RIVER GORGES NATIONAL PARK

Being the only and largest in the island nation of Mauritius, the Black River Gorges National Park is the sanctuary for the diversified wildlife and tropical rainforests. It is the central attraction of the tourists with an unparalleled love for nature and those who have a zeal for adventure treks. Prior to 1994, it was nothing more than hunting grounds. Later, it was officially declared by the President of the Republic of Mauritius as a National Park and has been available for public exploration ever since.

3. DEEP SEA DIVING AT BLUE BAY MARINE PARK

Located near Mahebourg and off the south-east coast of Mauritius, the Blue Bay Marine Park is renowned for its coral gardens, harbouring numerous varieties of flora and fauna and experience the marine life by going for sea diving. Blue Bay was initially declared as a national park back in 1997 and then in 2008, it was designated as a wetland site. The main tourist attraction in the marine park is the 1000-year-old brain coral with a diameter of 5 meters.

4. VISIT TEMPLES AT GANGA TALAO

Ganga Talao (meaning ‘Lake of Ganga’), also known as Grand Bassin, is a crater lake believed to be the most sacred Hindu site in Mauritius. Dedicated to deities like Shiva, Hanuman, Ganesh and Ganga, there are temples on the banks of the lake.

5. EXPLORE LE MORNE BRABANT

Le Morne Brabant is a mountain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Le Morne Peninsula of Mauritius. It is Mauritius’s most preserved and wildest mountain and a popular hiking stop for tourists. The hike to the top takes three to four hours, and the view is breathtaking. Le Morne Brabant is also home to the famous underwater fall of Mauritius.

6. SEE VOLCANIC CRATER OF TROU AUX CERFS

Trou Aux Cerfs is a dormant volcano, one of the four in Mauritius. Also called Murr’s Volcano, it is located in the Curepipe area and is one of Mauritius’s most famous natural tourist attractions. The volcanic crater is 650 metres above sea level and has a depth of 100 metres. It is surrounded by dense green forest and offers a stunning panoramic view of the Rempart Mountain, Trois Mamelles, and the Port-Louis- Moka mountain range.

7. SNORKELLING

Mauritius, Africa’s one of the best tourist destinations, is also the best destination for snorkelling. To the east and south-west of the island, the lagoon, with a surface area of 300 square km, is at its most extensive. Besides, Mauritius also has around 430 different species of underwater creatures.

8. SEE PONT NATUREL AT GRIS GRIS

Pont Naturel is a two-metre-long volcanic rock formation which is also known by the name Natural Bridge. It was formed as a result of waves crashing against the rocks and is supported by hanging cliffs. It offers breathtaking views. The sea at Pont Naturel is very rough, so swimming here is not advisable. Also, be cautious when standing on the bridge.

9. EXPLORE THE SEVEN COLOURED EARTH OF CHAMAREL

Located in Chamarel, the Seven-Coloured Earth is a unique geological formation. It is a fenced area with multicoloured dunes in seven different colours of violet, green, brown, red, yellow, purple and blue. The best time to visit is during the sunrise. Birdwatching is also a favourite activity here.

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