Mark Twain famously summed up Mauritius when he said, “Mauritius was made first and then heaven; and heaven was copied after Mauritius.” Few who have visited this lush island would disagree. Located 2,000 kilometres off the east coast of Africa, Mauritius is renowned for its beauty. Encircled by the world’s third-largest coral reef, this tropical paradise is surrounded by crystal-clear lagoons and pristine white beaches.
Although the beaches and lagoons of Mauritius are its primary tourist attraction, the small island nation has more to offer than lazy days by the sea. At different points in its history, Mauritius has been a Dutch, French and finally British colony. Over the years, it became a cultural melting pot, with a population made up people from Africa, India, China and Europe. The interaction of these diverse cultures has created a distinctive Indo-Creole culture, which is an interesting fusion of different religions and customs; French, Indian and Chinese cuisine; and laid-back island living. The island’s popular Sega music and dances capture the soul of Mauritian culture, and are certain to be a highlight of your stay.
Despite its tiny size, Mauritius boasts a surprising diversity of landscapes. The south of the island is home to many of the country’s luxury resorts, thanks to the powdery white sand beaches that border a lagoon. In the north and east, dense vegetation gives way to rockier beaches, which open onto smaller lagoons teeming with colourful sea-life. The variation in the colour and texture of the ocean as you travel along the Mauritian coastline can be quite breathtaking. The deep azure waters of the west coast run into the almost fluorescent turquoise of the tranquil southern lagoon, while breakers peel along the coral reef that runs close to the shores of the north-east coast.
Mauritius has a tropical climate and is warm and sunny all year round. The best time to visit Mauritius is from May to October when it is cool (mid 20's), dry and sunny. In their summer months of November to April, the weather is hot and humid with highs of 31°C. Bear in mind that there is a wet season from January to March when you can expect heavy downpours, 5-10 inches of rain per month and strong winds.
Take a look at our climate a chart below.
It may be tempting to spend your whole holiday in Mauritius at a resort, enjoying the sun and sea. However, you’re doing the island a disservice if you don’t get out and experience more of what it has to offer. Mauritius is small enough that you can travel all around it by car in a single day. It’s worth taking your time though, to explore the island’s highlights properly.
The southwest coast of Mauritius is surrounded by a large, turquoise lagoon and white beaches of almost surreal beauty. This is the domain of some of the island’s most exclusive resorts. Many resorts accept day visitors, allowing you to use their beaches and bathe in the still waters of the lagoon. Also, several boat charter companies operate in the area and will transport you from other parts of the island to the lagoon. Popular activities include snorkelling and visiting the small islands in the lagoon, including the Ile Aux Beniters and the Crystal Rock.
The Black River Gorges National Park lies just to the north of the southern lagoon and is the island’s largest nature preserve, covering an area of 67.54 square kilometres. With an extensive network of trails, the park provides an opportunity to venture deep into the indigenous Mauritian rainforest and hike into the Mauritian highlands.
The east coast of Mauritius has a distinct climate and topography, and there’s no better way to experience it than on a chartered boat journey to the Ile Aux Cerfs. A trip will usually include a stop at the breath taking Grand River South East Waterfall, before you thread your way through an archipelago of heavily forested islands to the Ile Aux Cerfs. This islet is renowned for its shallow lagoon, white sand beaches and palm trees. The northern tip of the island is ideal for swimming and includes a range of restaurants and shops.
The interior of Mauritius is where you’ll find Trou Aux Cerfs, an extinct volcano that rises to a height of 650 metres above sea level. You can hike to the top of the volcano or ascend by road. From the summit, you’ll be treated to unsurpassed views of the coast and surrounding mountain ranges. The adventurous can climb down to the lake that has formed in the volcano’s crater.
Charamel is a small village that lies close to two of the country’s most famous scenic attractions. The first of these is the Cascae Charamel, a 127-metre high waterfall that thunders over the edge of a precipice. Not far from the waterfall lies the Coloured Earth of Charamel, an unusual geological feature comprising clay dunes formed out of red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow sand. The result is an unearthly landscape that is one of the country’s most photographed attractions.
Take a sailing trip on a yacht or catamaran. You’ll cross lagoons so clear you can view the sea-life beneath you, snorkel amid schools of colourful fish and even swim with wild dolphins.
Visit the Ile Aux Cerfs Island, a small island on the east coast. The island is renowned for its wide, sandy beach and features a variety of laid back restaurants and curio shops.
With so many beaches, it would be rude not to take some time out and just enjoy lounging on the beautiful soft sand; Grand Baie, Trou aux Biches and Belle Mare Plage are some of the island’s most popular.
Take a day off from the beach and head into the island’s interior to explore the Black River Gorges National Park. You’ll enjoy spectacular vistas, with waterfalls and the unspoiled, indigenous Mauritian rainforest.
Absorb the ambience of Mauritius’ colonial heritage with a trip along the Mauritius tea route, which includes stops at the colonial manor at Domaine des Aubineaux and the tea factory at Bois Cheri.
Diving or snorkelling in any of the incredible sites along the coral reefs; in many places, the water is so clear you can see for distances of over 40 metres, and it’s so warm that divers often don’t wear wetsuit
The type of nightlife available to you will depend on where you’re staying in Mauritius. For the most part, nightlife centres on activities at the many resorts throughout the island, which have bars and restaurants, and host Sega shows and dancing (the island’s popular Sega music and dances capture the soul of Mauritian culture, and are certain to be a highlight of your stay). However, these venues offer few opportunities to mingle with locals or to get a feel for the local culture.
If you’re eager to explore Mauritian nightlife outside of the resort scene, however, there are some good options:
Modern Mauritian culture is an amalgamation of the cultures of the various groups that have settled in the country over the course of its turbulent history. Over the last five hundred years, the island has been settled on by French and Dutch colonists, people from the Indian subcontinent, Africa and Madagascar and a small population of Chinese merchants.
The two primary cultural influences in this mix are French creole and Indian, resulting in an ethnic majority that is creole speaking but still observes many of the religious traditions and customs of the Indian subcontinent.
Many elements of Mauritian culture – such as the island’s famous cuisine – represent a harmonious blend of cultural influences. However, at some levels Mauritian cultural groups can be insular, and there is little intermingling between the major cultural and ethnic groups.
Mauritians are laid back and easy-going. However, there are a few things to be aware of when interacting with the local population:
The Chinese community celebrates the Chinese Spring Festival, or New Year, in January or early February. The festival is celebrated with abundant use of the colour red, elaborate feasts of Chinese food and setting off firecrackers and fireworks.
Various major Hindu festivals are celebrated between February and March. The Thaipoosam Cavadee is celebrated by the local Tamil community and is famous thanks to devotees’ feats of endurance, such as fire-walking and face-piercing.
Second is the Maha Shivaratree, which is dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva and features a colourful procession to the Grand Bassin Lake. During the Ugadi festival, the local Telugu people usher in their new year. This tends to be a family affair, although there will be a festive air among the Telugu community at this time.
One of the world’s most gruelling ocean endurance races reaches its conclusion in Mauritius. Starting in Australia two months earlier, teams complete the almost 5,000 kilometre journey to Mauritius by rowboat.
Horseracing is considered by some to be the national sport of Mauritius. Every year in May, the Champ de Mars Racecourse is filled to the rafters as Mauritians gather to watch one of the country’s most prestigious horse races, the Duchess of York Cup.
If you’re keen on sampling the full spectrum of Mauritian cuisine, don’t miss the Crossroad of Flavours – the biggest annual food festival in Mauritius. Hosted by the Naiade Resorts hotel chain, the event attracts top chefs from around the world, who add their individual touches to the eclectic Mauritian cuisine.
The cooler months of June are the ideal time to take part in the national marathon. Runners from around the world converge on Mauritius to take on the 42-kilometre course, which follows a stunning route along the west coast from Petite Sud Ouest to Petite Riviere Noire.
Champ de Mars Racecourse comes alive once again as it hosts another of the major annual horseraces in Mauritius, the Barbe Cup.
The month of August sees the Hindu community gather to celebrate the birthday of Ganesha, the god of wisdom. This festival features many public celebrations, with statues of the gods set up and decorated in public places, as well as street theatre and singing.
Jacques Désiré Laval is a beloved figure of Mauritian history – a cleric whose efforts to help and protect slaves are commemorated to this day. Every year on the 9th of September, thousands of Mauritians join a procession to Father Laval’s shrine at the Sainte Croix Church in Port Louis.
October sees the Hindu community celebrate its most festive holiday. The island’s nights are illuminated by thousands of oil lamps and fireworks displays, as the island’s Hindus celebrate the victory of light over darkness.
If you want to experience all that creole culture has to offer, don’t miss this festival, which is sponsored by the Mauritian government. The festival includes multiple events hosted in public spaces in and around Port Louis and draws large crowds of revellers.
In December, the Mauritius Golf Open gives visitors the opportunity to watch the pros in action at the Belle Mare Plage Resort. The Open runs over a week and includes several events set against the scenic backdrop of the Mauritian east coast.
Port Louis
English
4 hrs ahead of GMT
1,260,000
Mauritian rupee
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