Mauritius

---

Why visit Mauritius?

---

Mauritius will enchant you; it will uplift your soul, making you feel that you belong to the chosen few. Every visitor enjoys personal attention. Every encounter is an opportunity to discover a friendly face. Behind each smile lies the promise of a unique holiday. The contrast of a multitude of colors and tastes, the island, set in its turquoise sea, is an oasis of peace and tranquility. Mauritius, a melting pot where past and present are smoothly blended together, offers an essential beauty that will compel to return to its shores time and time again. This is a trip that will remain engraved in your memory forever.

What does Mauritius bring in mind?

Grand Bay

Grand Bay was the first area of the island to fully experience the tourist boom. A shopping and leisure paradise, Grand Bay also happens to be the area where Mauritians head for when they want a fun-filled night out (restaurants, bars and discos). Recently renovated, La Cuvette beach is well worth a visit.

Pereybère The wonderful Pereybère public beach is popular because of its shopping facilities, restaurants and pubs.

Mauritius National Botanical Garden

Home to an incredible variety of tropical plants, many of them indigenous; the Botanic Garden, formally known as Sir Seewoosagur Botanic Garden, is one of the most visited attractions in Mauritius. The garden is located in the proximity of Port-Louis in the district of Pamplemousse. The botanical garden was initially opened as a private garden by the French governor of Mauritius nearly 300 years ago, later to become the national botanical garden of Mauritius. The botanical garden stretches over endless acres of land, populated with more than 650 varieties of plants among which are the famous Baobabs, the Palmier Bouteille, the ineluctable Giant Water Lilies, dozens of medicinal plants, a large spice garden and many more.

Balaclava Ruins A few meters away from Baie aux Tortues, which 17th century sailors named after the many tortoises in the area, can be found the ruins of the old Balaclava estate. Visitors will be able to see the sea walls, whose initial foundations were laid down by Mahé de Labourdonnais.

Mauritius Photography Museum

Ever thought a life without having any memorable photos, each taking you for a unique journey in time? Our lives would never have been the same if we couldn’t capture all the beautiful moments if we couldn’t show it off with the photographic display, we all collect through ages. The photographic museum offers us the privilege of discovering, the being of this humble object, that is, the camera, together with an enormous display of the first ever photographs taken with the ancestor of the cameras.

The Triolet Shivala The longest village on the island, Triolet offers an opportunity to visit the biggest Hindu temple, the Maheswarnath, first built in 1819 in honor of the Gods Shiva, Krishna, Vishnu, Muruga, Brahma and Ganesha.

The Labourdonnais Orchards Discover a large variety of tropical fruit trees, colorful and perfumed exotic flowers. Trips on mountain bikes or hiking are possible.

La Vallée des Couleurs

La Vallée des Couleurs Reserve is home to various species of flora and fauna and a great place to enjoy selection of nature trips and fun activities. Nature lovers are bound to like this place; it is quite a unique experience with the indigenous fauna and flora that abound in the park. Visitors are treated with a range of natural landscapes, including plateaus, mountains, valleys, craters and crater-lakes. The visit to the reserve includes: the visit of Green valleys, Plateaus, Hills, Lakes, Waterfalls, Rivers, Volcanic ashes, 23 Colored Earth, endemic and Indigenous Flora and fauna and access to the many facilities of the reserve such as the Kids Garden, Cafeteria and the restaurant. The visit of La Vallée des Couleurs begins with the access to the Exhibition room which provides an outline of the different places of interest which you will discover through your visit. The unspoiled beauty of the land captures every heart and soul. The park is also home to tortoises, monkeys, stags, fish and also birds such as the Pink Pigeon, Paille en Queue, Cateau Vert with various endemic trees like the Ebony, Bois de Natte, Takamaka and other rare plants also contributing to the beauty of the park.

Pointe d'Esny and Blue Bay Mahébourg may be short on sand but Pointe d'Esny and Blue Bay more than make up for it. With one of the most beautiful stretches of beach on the entire island, this area has become one of the favored spots for private villas and charming chambres d'hôtes. Pointe d'Esny is also the jumping-off point for those interested in visiting the nature reserve on Île aux Aigrettes.

Black River Gorges National Park

Mauritius’ biggest and best national park is a wild expanse of rolling hills and thick forest covering roughly 2% of the island's surface. It is difficult to overstate the importance of this park – it is the last stand for the island's forests and many of its native species. It is also the most spectacular corner of the island and if you make only one day trip from the coast make it here. Once the island's prime hunting grounds, the area became a protected preserve in 1994 after scientists identified over 300 species of flowering plants, nine endemic species of bird and a population of giant fruit bats that numbered more than 4000. This is also an important habitat for three of the island's most endangered bird species – the Mauritius kestrel, the echo parakeet and the pink pigeon. Introduced wild boar, macaque monkeys and curious deer also wander through the vast swaths of old-growth ebony, and sightings are not uncommon.

Kids Adventure Park on the East Coast This kids’ day package is done in an exceptional natural reserve with rich fauna and a protected wild flora. The landscape at that domain is rather mountainous and offers the visitors spectacular panoramic views, indigenous forests, beautiful valleys, sparkling rivers, and encounters with wild animals and endemic birds. Your kids are sure to enjoy the remarkable surrounding, discovering the beautiful nature, and of course benefit from the many children friendly activities and facilities inside the kids park such as the inflatable bouncers, the trampoline, the treetops course, the pedal go-kart, aquatic jets, car racing, pony rides and many more. The domain itself also counts English garden, rivers, and indigenous woods rich of hundreds of different varieties of plants and trees, including the most ancient ebony trees of Mauritius and other endemic species as well as cinnamon trees, orchids, traveler’s trees, banana trees and more. With its unique and exquisite scenery, together with the large variety of the tailor made children programs and facilities you are sure that your children will have a great time.

Mauritian Wildlife Foundation

The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation manages the reserve and conducts tours of Île aux Aigrettes (revenues are ploughed back into its conservation efforts). The usual tours take between one and two hours and start from Pointe Jérome, around 250m southeast of Le Preskîl hotel. Longer tours are also available which allow you more time on the island and let you meet some members of the scientific teams working on the island. The tour of the island involves a good deal of walking; wear comfortable shoes and bring a hat, sunscreen and water.

François Leguat Reserve In 1691, François Leguat wrote that there were so many tortoises on Rodrigues that 'one can take more than a hundred steps on their shell without touching the ground'. Sadly, the Rodrigues version of the giant tortoise went the way of the dodo, but this giant tortoise and cave reserve has grand plans to re-create the Eden described in the logbooks of the island's early explorers. The project is well underway – hundreds of tortoises roam the grounds; there is a small enclosure with several giant fruit bats (the island's only endemic mammal); and over 100,000 indigenous trees have been planted over the last four years. The on-site museum recounts the history and settlement of the island, and offers detailed information about the extinct solitaire, cousin of the like-fated dodo. Don't miss the guided tours of the on-site caves.

Things you shouldn’t miss in Mauritius

• Try the street food: Mauritian street food is amongst the best in the world. A unique mix of Creole, African, Indian, and Chinese influences, the dishes offer bursts of intricate flavors. Spices, colors, and flavors come together to form a scrumptious cuisine. Where else would you find a French bouillon laced with Indian spices?

• Visit Tea plantations: Imagine being the only people on a snaky road surrounded by tea plantations and enveloped with fog. As you drive on the mist-laden road, you see tea- pickers at work, rhythmically plucking leaves from bushes. The mise-en-scene at Bois Cheri Tea Plantations is indeed magical. If you’re a tea enthusiast, you could take a guided tour through the tea plantation. Make sure you dine at their terrace restaurant, it offers stunning panoramic views of inland Mauritius and an extensive variety of teas on the menu.

• Explore Chamarel: This little known village in South Mauritius holds many surprises. The Colored Earth, which is a geological peculiarity of sorts, is first on the list. Purples, yellows, oranges, and reds unite to form an uneven volcanic surface.

• Explore the beaches: The country boasts of some of the finest beaches in the world. Some of our favorites include the Belle Mare Beach, the hidden La Cuvette beach in the north, and the rugged beaches of the South, especially Le Morne. If you love kite- surfing, Le Morne is the place for you.

• Visit Port Louis, the capital. Head to the Caudan waterfront for a sunset cocktail.

• Relish Mauritian Rum: Your visit is incomplete without having relished the variety of rums on offer. Jamaica might be known for producing the best rum in the world, but Mauritius is not far behind. It is a secret rum paradise. It has expansive sugarcane fields with rum being produced on site, delightful distilleries, and an amazing variety of rum on offer.

• Drive inland to Trou aux Cerfs, an extinct volcano which overlooks the town of Curepipe. Hike up the side for unbeatable views over the island and Crater Lake.

• Take a kite surfing lesson at Kitesurf Paradise in Poste Lafayette on the east coast.

• Try unique water sports: The expansive coast-line of the island means Mauritius offers a variety of water sports and activities including snorkeling, deep-sea diving, deep-sea fishing, parasailing, and scuba diving. But it also offers visitors a chance to experience some rather unique experiences – an Undersea Walk. Here one is suspended meters below the sea with a giant visor to provide a continuous supply of oxygen. It is scary at first but soon you start walking around on the ocean bed, making friends with colorful fish and miscellaneous sea creatures.

Best cities in Mauritius

Mauritius (Island)

Mark Twain once wrote that Mauritius was made first and then heaven, heaven being copied after Mauritius. For the most part, it's true: Mauritius is truly famed for its sapphire waters, powder-white beaches and luxury resorts. But there is so much more to Mauritius than the beach when it comes to attractions. There is birdwatching and hiking in the forested and mountainous interior or world-class diving and snorkeling. Or there are boat trips to near- perfect islands and excursions to fabulous botanical gardens and colonial plantation houses. Either way, the possibilities can seem endless.

The North of Mauritius (Island)

Mauritius’ tourism flair started in the north, and today there is plenty on offer for visitors. Although most of the area's spectacular beaches have been claimed by hotel construction, it's never hard to get away from it all and discover the little nooks that remain largely untouched by development. Grand Baie is the eye of the tourist storm, boasting Mauritius’ best nightlife and some of the island's best restaurants. The small beachside villages around Grand Baie – Trou aux Biches, Mont Choisy and Pereybère – are quickly developing in a similar fashion. The inland plain of sugar-cane fields – pocked with piles of volcanic boulders stacked by indentured servants – is known as Pamplemousses and gently slopes towards the sea.

Port Louis

Port Louis (por loo-ee), the island's capital and largest city, can feel like a kaleidoscope of countries and cultures, with flashes of India, Africa, Europe, China and the Middle East. Most interest lies amid the bustle and chaos of the streets, the tangle of ethnic quarters and some wonderfully preserved colonial buildings. Apart from Le Caudan Waterfront, it all shuts down after dark when countless day commuters rumble out of town at sunset en route to their homes on the Central Plateau.

The West of Mauritius (Island)

A world away from the shores of the north, Mauritius’ western wonderland is the nation's most diverse coast. The bustling tourist hub of Flic en Flac may not be to everyone's taste, but the treasures that lie just beyond will satisfy even the pickiest holidaymaker. A veritable swatch book of lush greens and light browns, the area of Black River (Rivière Noire) has scalloping sandy bays that dimple the arable farmland. Then, further on, Tamarin’s shimmering salt flats perfectly reflect the beaming sun and soaring hills of fauna-filled Black River Gorges National Park. Next is rural Chamarel nestled in the highlands, followed by the last iteration of sky- reaching stone, Le Morne Brabant; an awesomely photogenic crag that caps the coastline's southern tip. It all adds up to what could just be our favorite corner of the island.