15 Wonderful Things to do in Mauritius
Swim in turquoise waters, explore the seven-coloured earths, marvel at giant water lilies, lie on picture-perfect beaches and enjoy a magical sunset. These are a few of the wonderful things to do in Mauritius. Continue reading our Mauritius guide for more!
Mauritius is a gorgeous island about 2000km off the coast of Africa. It’s a fascinating melting pot of Indian, Chinese, French and African coming together gracefully in its culture, history, architecture and cuisine.
Mark Twain said it perfectly; “Mauritius was made first and then heaven, heaven being copied after Mauritius”. You’ll notice this as you fly in and witness the lush greenery and dramatic mountainscapes being met by the striking azure water of the Indian Ocean.
I couldn’t get over how green everywhere was! By lunch, on day two Andy was definitely fed up with my incessant outcries of “THIS ISLAND IS SO GREEN”!
We thought Mauritius would be a very different type of holiday than what we’re used to. Usually, you’ll find us hiking up mountains in Bulgaria, Poland or Canada and cramming as many activities as possible into our time. Here, we thought we’d spend our days on the beach or in the ocean, get a bit fidgety and wish for more things to do.
However, we soon realised there are many amazing activities to do in Mauritius away from the beach. From hiking in national parks and up mountains to exploring bustling cities and colourful markets to visiting volcanic craters and cascading waterfalls, the list is endless. This small island rewards when you explore!
In this guide to the best things to do in Mauritius, I’ll share everything you need to know before visiting then move on to the top things to do. Feel free to use the contents as required.
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To Know Before You Visit Mauritius
How to get around Mauritius
Getting around Mauritius is very easy as it’s so compact. To drive from the north to the south of the island will take around 1.5 hours.
For complete freedom and flexibility in your activities in Mauritius, we’d recommend hiring a car which can be done online or through your hotel. You’ll drive on the left, cars tend to be automatic and the roads are very quiet.
If hiring a car isn’t an option, all of the top things to do in Mauritius can be done through tours, either privately or with a guide. Get Your Guide offers a fantastic range of tours with hotel pick up and drop offs, local guides and many tours include snacks and meals so everything is taken care of for you.
Another popular way to get around Mauritius is by taxi. We took a taxi to Port Louis as we didn’t fancy driving through the city. Taxis can be quite expensive but are a good option if you don’t want to drive or do a tour.
For cheap travel, buses are a great way to get around Mauritius and also a fantastic opportunity to meet locals. There are standard and express buses operating 5:30am – 8pm in built-up areas and 6:30am – 6:30pm in rural areas. You may need to make a few connections as there are no direct routes from the north to the south.
Tickets are bought on the bus and you’ll need to buy a separate ticket for each journey. Journey times will be longer than the other methods of transport and make sure to check bus schedules in plenty of time as some buses only operate a couple of times a day.
The best time to visit Mauritius
The best things to do in Mauritius can be done at any time of the year with the country benefitting from a mild climate all year round.
Mauritius has two seasons; summer and winter. Summer runs from October to April with high humidity from December to February and short periods of heavy rainfall in February and March. Cyclones are a risk at this time of year, however, as Mauritius is small, it’s usually spared.
Winter runs from May to September with slightly cooler temperatures and tends to be drier. July and August on the east coast can get quite windy so it’s a great time for surfers, kite surfers and windsurfers.
April to June and September to December avoids peak summer and winter so we’d recommend visiting Mauritius then when accommodation and flight prices are lower and the island is quieter.
Where to stay in Mauritius
Where to stay in Mauritius depends on the type of experience you’d like and, due to its compact size, wherever you stay, you can reach other areas in a short amount of time.
Grand Baie, in the north, is the tourist hub of Mauritius and where you’ll find the largest selection of bars, restaurants, shops and nightlife. This is the busiest town that’ll keep you entertained any hour of the day.
Flic-en-Flac, on the west coast, is the best area to stay in Mauritius for families. 3km of white sandy beaches are protected by reefs allowing for calm, shallow water and there’s a huge range of activities to keep everyone entertained. In the village are a range of shops and local restaurants.
For the best beaches in Mauritius, stay in Belle Mare where you can enjoy 2km of fine white sand and crystal clear water perfect for snorkelling as it’s protected by a vibrant coral reef.
For luxury combined with incredible natural attractions, Le Morne has a lot to offer including hiking up a unique monolith, snorkelling close to a reef and exploring the intriguing geological formation and waterfall in Chamarel.
For the perfect honeymoon location, the quiet laid-back village of Trou aux Biches is blessed with striking turquoise waters, lush green gardens, a gorgeous beach and privacy. The village is home to a selection of great restaurants influenced by Asian and Mauritian flavours if you want to get out and about in the evenings.
So, as you can see, deciding where to stay in Mauritius is a personal preference. If you can’t decide, or you want to experience different areas, why not split your stay between two regions?
Currency to use in Mauritius
The currency used in Mauritius is the Mauritian Rupee. At the time of writing, 1 USD is 44.11 MUR.
Plug used in Mauritius
Mauritius uses two types of sockets; type C and G. Type C has two round pins and type G is used in the UK with 3 rectangular pins in a triangle. We didn’t see type C at all during our stay.
Do I need a visa?
As a UK passport holder, you don’t need a visa. Your passport will be stamped on arrival granting you entry for 60 days.
Now that we’ve covered everything you need to know, let’s move on to the best things to do in Mauritius.
Things to do in Mauritius
Visit Port Louis
Port Louis is Mauritius’ cosmopolitan capital and is definitely worth exploring for a few hours. There are two very different sides to Port Louis and they’re divided by the main road.
On one side of the road, you can gain a real insight into daily local life on the island. At the centre is the Central Market which has been the centre of the local economy and the soul of Mauritius since Victorian times. Visiting the Central Market is one of the best activities to do in Mauritius.
The Central Market sells everything you can possibly think of; handicrafts, fruit and veg, meat, tourist souvenirs, clothes, shoes, spices the list is endless.
On the other side of the market, you’ll reach Chinatown. Since the 1780s, the Chinese have occupied an important position in the life of Port Louis and a wander through the two friendship gates will immerse you in the rich mercantile life of the Chinese community.
On the other side of the main road is Cauden Waterfront; a world away from the hustle and bustle of the Central Market. This lively seafront promenade has been recently renovated and here you’ll find shops, cafes, a marina, banks, a five-star hotel, a casino, a cinema and waterfront restaurants. For a lesson on the history of Mauritius, head to the Blue Penny Museum (more on that later).
Our top tip: we don’t recommend staying in Port Louis for your time in Mauritius. There’s no nightlife or evening entertainment and once it’s dark it’s not very safe.
Mosey About the botanical Gardens
You may roll your eyes and think how is this one of the best things to do in Mauritius when everywhere it seems has “must-visit” botanical gardens? However, these are hands-down the best botanical gardens we’ve ever visited and they’re also some of the world’s best!
Officially called the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens after the first prime minister of independent Mauritius, the gardens initially started out as a vegetable plot over 300 years ago.
They’re now home to over 650 rare and magnificent plant species both global and native to the island. They’ve become the national botanical garden of Mauritius and they’re the oldest in the Southern Hemisphere.
The centrepiece of the gardens is the giant water lilies, Victoria Amazonica, native to South America.
Other highlights of the gardens include the Baobab tree, the white lotus pond, wildlife such as deer and giant tortoises and over 80 different types of palms providing beautiful shaded walkways and areas to rest.
The gardens are located in Pamplemousse and are open from 8:30am – 17:30pm and cost Rs 200 per person. They can either be visited as a tour or independently if you have a car.
You can amble about the gardens at your leisure or there are guides at the entrance of the park if you’d like a more in-depth visit.
Our Top Tip: bring bug spray!!
Have Lunch at Chez Tante Athalie
For a taste of true authentic Mauritian food, look no further than Chez Tante Athalie. The menu consists of simple, fresh, hearty Creole specialities with a burst of flavours.
To top the whole experience off, the grounds are also wonderful! The restaurant is open-sided and overlooks a huge garden filled with vintage cars and a plane!
The cars are a private collection of the owners and the plane was gifted to the family by a regular diner.
The restaurant is open for lunch Monday to Saturday (12pm – 2:30pm). We’d recommend timing a visit here with the botanical gardens and L’Aventure du Sucre. We had a bit of difficulty finding the restaurant, so below is a map of its location!
Learn about Mauritius' History at the Blue Penny Museum
Located on the Cauden Waterfront, the Blue Penny Museum is one of the best things to do in Mauritius. It’s the most famous museum on the island and is dedicated to the history and art of the island.
Taking you on a journey through time from when the first explorer set foot on the island through the succession of the following settlers: Europeans, Asians and Africans. Through this expedition of the rich history of Mauritius, you’ll discover its past, colonial period and how the country has grown over the years.
The history is depicted through old marine maps, stamps, paintings, sculptures and old documents. For those interested in stamps, the most striking collection in the museum is the unused orange-red one-penny stamp and the blue two-penny stamp.
These were the very first postage stamps to be issued in Mauritius and are considered a national treasure. They’re probably the most valuable objects on the whole island!
The museum is open 10am – 5pm Monday to Saturday and costs Rs 245 per person.
Walk Around Trou Aux Cerfs
Trou aux Cerfs is a dormant volcanic crater sitting approximately 605m above sea level. It has a depth of approximately 100m and a diameter of approximately 350m. It’s one of the most unique things to do in Mauritius and makes for a lovely short walk around the circumference.
The surroundings of the crater are beautiful! Thick lush tropical vegetation and huge pine trees.
There are numerous benches on the walk where you can reflect while looking out over the Central Plateau.
Visit Black River Gorges National Park
Visiting Black River Gorges National Park is one of the best things to do in Mauritius so if you only do one trip while you’re here, make it this one!
Black River Gorges is the largest National Park in Mauritius covering approximately 2% of the island’s surface and is without a doubt the most spectacular area! The park has around 60km of trails leading you to breathtaking viewpoints, waterfalls, rugged mountains, native flora and fauna and wildlife.
Much of the island’s remaining rainforest, three of the island’s most endangered bird species: the Mauritius kestrel, the echo parakeet and the pink pigeon and the fruit bats are protected by the park.
You could easily spend a few days exploring everything the park has to offer. However, if you’re short on time like we were, there’s a scenic drive that still gives you a taste of this beautiful region.
Get Blessed at Ganga Talao
One of the best things about Mauritius is its mix of religions all coexisting in harmony. Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists are the major ones with approximately 52% of the country being Hindu.
Visiting Ganga Talao is one of the top activities to do in Mauritius. It’s one of the most significant religious places on the island for Hindus where they come here to pray, meditate, chant and make offerings. It’s also at the heart of the Maha Shivaratri festival; one of Mauritius’ most important Hindu festivals where each year hundreds of thousands of Hindus come to pay homage to Shiva.
Also known as Grand Bassin, it’s a crater lake situated about 550m above sea level and thought to be about 18m deep. It’s open to the public and is truly beautiful and serene.
There are multiple shrines, temples and colourful statues that dominate the shoreline and a viewpoint you can hike up to take in the whole area.
Entrance is free, make sure you dress respectfully and remove your shoes before entering the temples.
Our Top Tip: combining a visit here with Chamarel and Black River Gorges National Park between the two is a wonderful way to see some of the island’s interior.
Learn About the Sugar History at L'Aventure du Sucre
L’Aventure du Sucre is one of the best activities to do in Mauritius as you learn about the massive role sugar has had on Mauritius’ identity and how it has gotten to where it is today. The museum is housed in the old Beau Plan Sugar Factory and is one of the best museums on the island!
Not only do you learn about the role sugar has played through the years but as you make your way through the various rooms you’ll hear the story of how Mauritius was formed, how it was colonised, the slave trade and how the island has grown over time.
In the last rooms, you’ll see the original machinery still in place showing you the step-by-step process of turning sugar cane into crystals. This is actually very impressive and you can even walk through the giant vacuums!
Finally, you’ll also learn about the country’s rum trade and the role sugar played in making rum.
On leaving the museum, there’s the chance to try many products including the different types of sugars, jams, honey and rum. This is included in the cost of the ticket.
Our top tip: make sure you spend some time in the grounds. The factory is set amongst lush countryside with incredible views over to Pieter Both Mountain.
The museum is open Monday to Saturday 10am – 4pm. Tickets are Rs 700 for adults and Rs 400 for children (free for under 6s).
have Lunch at Le Chamarel Restaurant
We stopped at this restaurant on our way to Chamarel after driving through Black River Gorges National Park. It’s located in a small village surrounded by coffee, pineapple, palm and sugarcane plantations and having lunch here is one of the top things to do in Mauritius.
Firstly, the food was unreal! Incredibly fresh and delicious.
I had grilled king prawns scented with lemongrass, rice, poppadom and laksa sauce. Andy had the coconut chutney crust fish fillet, green banana curry banana chips and tomato salsa.
However, the main draw of Le Chamarel Restaurant is the view; it’s breathtaking!
Gaze out across the azure ocean to the iconic view of Le Morne Brabant on your left and Île aux Benitiers straight ahead.
Our Top Tip: if you book ahead you can reserve a table with a front-row seat to the view. If you don’t, fear not, the restaurant is open-sided and has a viewing deck away from the tables.
See the Spectacular Chamarel Waterfall
Thundering down a jaw-dropping height of 100m, Chamarel Waterfall is the tallest waterfall in Mauritius. A trip to the island would most definitely be incomplete without a visit here!
There are a couple of viewpoints but the most magnificent is from the upper deck. The falls are famous for their picturesque location in thick lush tropical forest and million-year-old gorges.
Chamarel Waterfall is at its fullest during the wet season from December to March when the volume of water doubles to that of the dry season. They are, however, very impressive all year round!
Our top tip: purchasing an entrance ticket for the Seven Coloured Earths (see below) also allows you access to the Chamarel Waterfall.
Marvel at the Seven Coloured Earths
The Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths bears witness to the island’s volcanic activity between 3.5 and 1.9 million years ago. The tropical climate of Mauritius eroded the basaltic rock leaving behind it the rare geological formation you see now.
What’s really fascinating is if you took a handful of each of the different colours and mix them together, they would eventually settle in their separate layers again!
The sand dunes are protected in a small enclosed area with a couple of viewing platforms and a cafe overlooking the dunes. Onsite you’ll also encounter giant tortoises!
Sunbathe on a Picture-Perfect beach
Seeing as the island is most famous for its magnificent beaches, it goes without saying that sunbathing is one of the best things to do in Mauritius! There’s approximately 330km of coastline and all along it are beautiful powder-white beaches and sapphire waters.
Around Mauritius, you’ll encounter different beach experiences. The north is known for watersports such as waterskiing, sailing, parasailing and deep-sea fishing and you’ll also find numerous beachside bars and restaurants.
In the east, the beaches are less developed, wilder and more natural. They tend to be less touristy than in the north and you won’t find as many beach facilities.
The beaches in the south are quite rugged and known for their big waves. Swimming is usually not recommended unless you’re in a protected lagoon.
The west coast beaches are renowned for their magical sunsets and perfect wind conditions for surfers and kitesurfers.
Enjoy a magical Sunset
One of the most magical things to do in Mauritius is watch the sunset! The island is renowned for its spectacular sunsets, so, if you’re not staying on the west coast, get yourself round there, cocktail in hand and watch the sky work its magic!
The sky fills with mesmerising deep red colours and there’s something just so enchanting about watching the sun go down while listening to the sound of the sea.
Sunrise is also rather magnificent if you’re up that early!
Sample the Island's Rum
Due to the island’s vast amount of sugar production, Mauritius has a great reputation for making rum! There are numerous distilleries around the island where you can sample different varieties.
L’Aventure du Sucre offers rum tastings after your museum visit as well as some hotels including The Oberoi, which even has a rum distillery on-site. Here, we sampled a selection of flavoured rums which you can see below and ended up taking a bottle home.
Get Out on the Sea
We’ll round off our list of things to do in Mauritius with getting out on the sea!
Mauritius is surrounded by reefs making for shallow lagoons and calm waters close to the shore and big waves farther out. This is perfect for getting out on the warm, turquoise Indian Ocean water so make sure you do!
Whether it be adrenaline-pumping activities in Mauritius like waterskiing or wakeboarding you’re after, or something more relaxed like paddleboarding or glass-bottom boats, you’ll be able to find it here.
You’ll also be able to go snorkelling, diving, kayaking, catamaran cruising around the islands, sailing…the list is endless!
That rounds off our list of 15 wonderful things to do in Mauritius; we hope you’ve found it helpful to plan your perfect trip. If you have any questions or just fancy saying hi, either leave a comment or contact us.