10 Wonderful Reasons to Visit Mauritius
Gorgeous sandy beaches, lush tropical greenery, cascading waterfalls, delicious food, strong rum, a rich history and culture, magical sunsets and luxurious hotels. There are so many wonderful reasons to visit Mauritius continue reading for more and everything you need to know before you visit Mauritius.
Whether you’re here for relaxation and rejuvenation, history, adventures, nature or culture, the beautiful island of Mauritius will not disappoint!
As you’re coming into land and you see the island’s lush mountainous interior sloping down to pristine white sand being lapped at by turquoise water, you’ll immediately understand why Mark Twain once said: “Mauritius was made first and then heaven and heaven was copied after Mauritius”.
Luxurious resorts and beautiful beaches may be the first things that pop to mind when you think of Mauritius. However, although compact, it’s an island that rewards when you explore!
We’re not ones for lying on a beach for days on end. We’re active and love adventures. Most of our holidays involve hiking and exploring places like Bulgaria and Colorado. We even found Poland’s highest mountain near Krakow to hike!
There’s so much this little paradise island has to offer. If you’re still deciding whether it’s for you, here are our 10 reasons to visit Mauritius. If you’ve already fallen in love with it, check out our post on things to do in Mauritius.
This guide will tell you 10 reasons to visit Mauritius as well as everything you need to know including the best time to visit, how to get around, where to stay in Mauritius and much more.
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Contents
Top 10 Reasons to Visit Mauritius
Beaches
To start our top reasons to visit Mauritius is what the island is renowned for; its endless beautiful beaches. Encircling Mauritius are over 160 kilometres of beaches, each offering something different.
The livelier beaches are in the north close to Grand Baie. Here, you’ll find endless watersports, numerous dining and drinking options, shopping and even skydiving! There are also small shaded coves for something quieter.
The west coast is the go-to place for surfers as there’s no protecting reef. It’s also a bit livelier with the most popular beaches lined with hotels, towns and villages. Le Morne is the most stunning beach. 4 kilometres of incredible white sand with a dramatic backdrop of Le Morne Mountain!
If you fancy some dolphin spotting, check out Tamarin Bay Beach, known as a morning hang-out for these beautiful mammals.
The southern beaches are wilder with larger waves resulting in sea-sculpted cliffs. Heading west, however, there are some beautiful beaches surrounded by calm lagoons. We stayed at The Heritage Awali and the sea was lovely and calm. We could see the waves breaking further out on the rocks.
These picture-perfect beaches are hands-down one of the best reasons to visit Mauritius.
Nature; one of the best reasons to visit Mauritius
Our primary reasons to visit Mauritius, were the nature reserves, mountainous vistas, cascading waterfalls and tropical greenery.
In the north is one of the best places to visit in Mauritius; the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens. They’re the oldest botanical gardens in the southern hemisphere. There are over 650 rare and magnificent plant species from around the world including giant water lilies, a white lotus pond, over 80 different types of palms and the Baobab tree.
Covering approximately 2% of the island’s surface and a must-visit for hikers is the Black River Gorges National Park. Throughout the park are 60 kilometres of hiking trails that reward you with incredible viewpoints, waterfalls, rugged mountains and native flora and fauna.
Black River Gorges National Park is also home to most of the island’s remaining rainforest, fruit bats and three of the island’s most endangered bird species; the Mauritius kestrel, the echo parakeet and the pink pigeon. There’s also a scenic drive through the park if you’d prefer.
Chamarel is a small village with a unique phenomenon that bears witness to the island’s volcanic activity between 3.5 and 1.9 million years ago. The Seven-Coloured Earth is a rare geological formation that has resulted in vibrant-coloured layers of sand.
What’s really fascinating, is if you took a handful of each of the colours and mixed them, they’d eventually settle back in their separate layers! Visit the resident giant tortoises while you’re here.
On your way back from the Seven-Coloured Earth, stop at the Chamarel Waterfall. This is Mauritius’ tallest waterfall and has a spectacular setting. Set in thick lush tropical forest and thundering down million-year-old gorges, a visit here is a must!
Culture
Watersports
If you love watersports, this is one of the top reasons to visit Mauritius; the island is an absolute haven for water activities!
Whether you want something to get the heart pumping doing wakeboarding or waterskiing, or you’re looking for something calmer like paddleboarding and glass-bottom boat trips, you’ll find no shortage of options.
One of the best things to do in Mauritius is parasailing. Not only is it a great thrill, but it also gives you a birds-eye view of the colourful corals and reefs surrounding the island.
If you want to explore places not accessible by land, get yourself on a kayak and explore the mysterious sea caves. Dolphin-spotting and whale-watching trips will ensure your visit is unforgettable.
The underwater world of Mauritius is screaming out to be explored! Bright corals, 18th and 19th-century shipwrecks and fascinating multi-coloured marine life.
If you’re a certified diver, many hotels have dive centres or have close relationships with one nearby. Alternatively, the water’s so clear you’ll be able to see plenty on a snorkelling trip.
For something different, some of the most unique things to do in Mauritius are a 2-hour underwater excursion in a submarine, a subscooter adventure, or even an underwater sea walk?!
Magical Sunsets
One of the absolute best reasons to visit Mauritius is for the sunsets. Sunsets in Mauritius are something else! Every evening the sky is filled with enchanting deep hues of pinks, blues, oranges, purples and reds.
There’s something so magical about watching the sun go down while listening to the sound of the sea!
Sugar History
Mauritius has over four centuries of history with sugar cane and being the island’s major export, it’s had a profound impact on the country’s identity and economy.
Head to L’Aventure du Sucre, housed in the old Beau Plan sugar factory, one of the best museums on the island. You’ll not only learn about the role sugar has played through the years but also about how the island was formed, how it was colonised, the slave trade and how it 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 very impressive and you can even walk through the giant vacuums! Finally, you’ll learn about the country’s rum trade and the role sugar played in making rum.
For a more in-depth (and tipsy) insight into Mauritius’ rum production, visit The Rhumerie de Chamarel.
Food; top reasons to visit Mauritius
This is possibly one of the best reasons to visit Mauritius! Mauritian food is often described as the ‘melting pot of flavours’ as it offers an incredibly diverse selection of cuisines from around the world.
Mauritius was uninhabited until the Portuguese found it on their voyage through the Indian Ocean. Colonial governments then turned the island into a plantation colony with slaves and servants from South Asia and Africa brought in to work in them.
Voluntary migration also eventually took place and over the generations, each culture has heavily influenced the cuisine.
Food tends to be a mix of French, Indian, Creole, Chinese and English. We often found ourselves at breakfast trying to decide between croissants or curry, charcuterie board or aloo paratha, scrambled eggs or Tunisian egg tagine.
We tried something different every day and shared meals so we could try more. It was all delicious, we didn’t find anything we didn’t like!
Our Top Tip: if you want to try some of the best street food, one of the best places to visit in Mauritius is Port Louis; voted one of the world’s greatest cities for street food by The Telegraph. We’d recommend the dholl puri, a soft and floury Indian pancake filled with curry and chutney (image above).
Epic Views
This is hands down one of the top reasons to visit Mauritius. The lush tropical interior of the island sloping down to the turquoise waters and white sand of the coast makes for absolutely epic views! Here are some of our favourites:
Chamarel Restaurant, where you can gaze out across the azure waters with Le Morne Brabant on your left and Île aux Benitiers straight ahead.
Our Top Tip: if you call ahead, you can book a table next to the open side with a front-row seat to the view. If you don’t, fear not, there’s a viewing deck.
Black River Gorges Viewpoint rewards visitors with incredible panoramic views across the island’s remaining rainforest, waterfalls, dramatic mountains and native flora and fauna.
Trou aux Cerfs is a dormant volcanic crater sitting approximately 605 metres above sea level. As well as its thick lush vegetation, there are also stunning views across the Central Plateau.
Markets
Port Louis; one of the best places to visit in Mauritius
The cosmopolitan capital of Mauritius justifies at least a couple of hours to amble about. There are two very different sides to Port Louis and they’re divided by the main road.
On the side furthest from the water, you’ll gain a real insight into daily local life.
At the centre is the bustling Central Market where you’ll hear stallholders shouting their latest prices and offers. You’ll find almost anything you can possibly think of. Handicrafts, fruit and veg, meat, tourist souvenirs, artwork, glass sculptors, clothes, shoes, the list goes on.
The market has been the centre of the local economy since Victorian times.
Close to the Central Market is Chinatown. The Chinese have occupied an important position in the life of Port Louis since the 1780s and a wander through the two friendship gates will immerse you in the rich mercantile life of the Chinese community. Follow the smells of steaming dim sum through doorways for a yummy snack.
On the other side of the road, a world away from the hustle and bustle is Le Cauden Waterfront. Here, you’ll find boutiques, waterfront restaurants, a marina, banks, a five-star hotel, a casino and much more. Check out the Blue Penny Museum for one of the best places to visit in Mauritius to learn about the island’s history.
Everything to Know Before You Visit Mauritius
The best time of year to visit Mauritius
There’s no best time of year to visit Mauritius, it’s a fantastic year-round destination.
There are two seasons in Mauritius. Summer which runs from October to April and winter. Both seasons benefit from a mild climate and most activities can be done at any time.
December and February experience the hottest temperatures and highest humidity and in February and March, there’s a risk of cyclones. However, due to its compact size, it’s often spared.
During the winter, the evenings are cooler and it’s windier so it’s a great time for surfers, kite surfers and windsurfers.
In general, the north and west of Mauritius are warmer and drier while the east has the south-eastern winds which are stronger in the winter.
If you visit between April and June or September to December, you’ll avoid the peak of summer and winter so there’ll be fewer crowds and prices won’t be inflated.
Because Mauritius is a small secluded island, it’s difficult to predict the forecast. We visited in March and we were issued with a cyclone warning. Although we had a little rain one evening, the cyclone missed the island and it was sunny every day.
Getting around Mauritius
Getting around Mauritius is very easy as it’s very compact. You can drive from the north to the south of the island in around an hour and a half.
One of the best things to do in Mauritius is to hire a car giving you complete flexibility and freedom to explore at your own pace. The roads are very quiet, you drive on the left and cars tend to be automatic.
Another popular way of getting around Mauritius is by taxi. We didn’t hire a car to go to Port Louis but booked a taxi through our hotel. That way we didn’t need to navigate city traffic or pay for parking, The price was also very reasonable.
Finally, one of the best ways of getting around Mauritius is by doing tours and leaving the planning and logistics to a knowledgeable local guide. Some of the best things to do in Mauritius can be done on day tours with Get Your Guide and some of our top recommendations are below. For more options, click on one of the tours to be taken to the website.
Where to stay in Mauritius
Where to stay in Mauritius is more about the atmosphere you’d like or whether you want to get out and about in the evenings. Wherever you stay, you’ll be able to get to the other areas of the island quickly and easily.
The north tends to be busier and more touristy whereas the east is quieter, rustic and wilder. The west coast has the best diving and snorkelling opportunities and magical sunsets. The south has a dramatic backdrop of the mountains in Black River Gorges and some beautiful long stretches of beaches.
If you want to get out and about in the evenings, stay close to a big town like Flic-en-Flac or Grand Baie.
We’d recommend staying in two areas so you can experience different regions of the island. We stayed in The Oberoi in Baclava on the West Coast and The Heritage Awali in Bel Ombre on the South Coast. Both absolutely gorgeous properties!!
How long to spend in Mauritius
We’d recommend 7 to 10 days in Mauritius. This allows for plenty of time to explore while also enjoying lazy days on the beaches or by the pool.
Currency
The currency used is the Mauritian Rupee. At the time of writing, 1 USD is 45.86 MUR.
What plug do I need?
There are two types of sockets in Mauritius; type C and G. Type C is the socket with two round pins and type G has three rectangular pins in a triangle (like in the UK).
Entry Requirements
One of our final reasons to visit Mauritius is that as a UK passport holder, you don’t need a visa. Your passport will be stamped on arrival granting you entry for 60 days.
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