Travel guide · Mauritius
Mauritius travel guide
Reef-sheltered lagoons, volcanic peaks, dholl puri and Creole, Indian and French culture
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: "dronepicr", CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Mauritius is a volcanic island in the Indian Ocean, about 65 km long and 45 km wide, almost entirely ringed by a coral reef that shelters calm, shallow lagoons. Resorts and guesthouses line the coast: busy Grand Baie and Trou aux Biches in the north, long white beaches at Belle Mare in the east, and the kitesurfing lagoon below Le Morne Brabant in the southwest. Inland, the Black River Gorges, Chamarel's coloured earths and the sacred lake of Grand Bassin are an easy day's drive. The population's Indian, African, French and Chinese roots show in its temples, churches and street food, from dholl puri in Port Louis to rougaille and vindaye. Plan 9 days for a first visit; the best months are April–May and September–November.
Key facts
- Country
- Mauritius
- Best time to visit
- April–May and September–November
- Ideal stay
- 9 days
- Main airports
- MRU
- Mid-range daily budget
- $150–$300 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Lagoon beaches, Le Morne Brabant, Dholl puri and Seven Coloured Earths
Why visit Mauritius
- A coral reef encircles most of the island, so lagoon beaches such as Trou aux Biches, Pereybère and Blue Bay have calm, clear water for swimming and snorkelling.
- Le Morne Brabant, a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape where escaped slaves once took refuge, can be hiked for views over the lagoon.
- The southwest packs Black River Gorges National Park, the Chamarel waterfall and the Seven Coloured Earths into a single day's loop.
- Street food is cheap and excellent: dholl puri, gâteaux piments and boulettes from Port Louis's Central Market and Chinatown.
- Distances are short: the drive from the north coast to the south takes under two hours, so you can stay on one coast and explore the whole island.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
Nature · Le Morne peninsula
Le Morne Brabant
This 556-metre basalt monolith at the island's south-west tip sheltered escaped slaves in the 18th and 19th centuries and is now a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Active
- History
- Outdoors
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Nature · Chamarel
Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths and waterfall
A small patch of rippled volcanic dunes in shades of red, brown, violet and yellow, formed by the weathering of basalt, inside a nature park that also has a viewpoint over the 100-metre Chamarel waterfall and a pen of giant Aldabra tortoises.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Nature
Garden · Pamplemousses
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden
Founded in the 18th century, this garden in Pamplemousses is famous for its pond of giant Victoria water lilies, avenues of royal and talipot palms, spice trees and a pen of giant tortoises.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Nature · Southwest
Black River Gorges National Park
The island's largest national park protects most of its remaining native forest across deep gorges and the Black River Peak, at 828 metres the highest point in Mauritius.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Active
- Views
Religious site · Savanne highlands
Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao)
A crater lake in the highlands that Mauritian Hindus regard as sacred, lined with temples and shrines.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
- Architecture
Island · Trou d'Eau Douce
Île aux Cerfs
A small island in the east-coast lagoon with white-sand beaches, a golf course and water-sports centres, reached by boat from Trou d'Eau Douce or on catamaran day trips that stop at a waterfall on the Grande Rivière Sud-Est on the way.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
Where to stay
Grand Baie is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, budget and shopping
Grand Baie
The island's liveliest resort town, with bars, restaurants and boat trips to the northern islets
$$$ · Best for families, beach and first-timers
Trou aux Biches and Mont Choisy
Long casuarina-shaded lagoon beaches on the north-west coast
$$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and beach
Pereybère
Small, lively beach village north of Grand Baie with guesthouses and snack stalls
$$ · Best for budget, families and beach
Flic en Flac
Long west-coast beach with apartments, sunsets and dive centres
What to eat
- Dholl puri — Two thin flatbreads stuffed with ground yellow split peas, wrapped around butter-bean curry, rougaille and pickled chutney.
- Farata — A soft, flaky Mauritian paratha, rolled around curry, beans or rougaille like a wrap.
- Gâteaux piments — Small fried balls of ground split peas with chilli, onion and coriander, eaten hot and crunchy, often stuffed in a buttered baguette for breakfast.
- Rougaille — The Creole kitchen's basic tomato sauce, cooked with onion, garlic, ginger, thyme and chilli, and served with sausages, salted fish, prawns or octopus.
- Mauritian curry — Mauritian curries are lighter than Indian ones and often flavoured with curry leaves and fresh thyme; octopus curry (cari ourite) and chicken curry are classics, served with rice, lentils and chutneys.
- Vindaye — Fish or octopus marinated in mustard seed, turmeric, garlic and vinegar, served cold or warm.
When to go
The best times to visit Mauritius are April–May and September–November, when it is warm, dry and sunny without the humidity and cyclone risk of mid-summer or the cooler winds of July and August. December and early January are hot and the most expensive. January to March is cyclone season and the wettest period, although many days are still sunny.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Hot summer | December–February | Hot, humid and the wettest period, with the highest cyclone risk from January; Christmas and New Year are the busiest, most expensive weeks. |
| Late summer | March–May | Rain and humidity ease, the sea is at its warmest and diving visibility is good; Easter brings a short peak. |
| Winter | June–August | Warm days and cool nights, with strong trade winds on the east and south coasts; ideal for kitesurfing and hiking, with whales offshore from July. |
| Spring | September–November | Dry, sunny and warming, with calm seas; one of the most reliable times for beaches and excursions. |
Getting there and around
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) is at Plaine Magnien in the south-east, about 15 minutes from Blue Bay. Transfers take about 45 minutes to Belle Mare, about an hour to Flic en Flac and Le Morne, and about 1–1.5 hours to Grand Baie. Most resorts arrange transfers; taxis and car-hire desks are in the arrivals hall.
Mauritius is small enough to cross in under two hours, but roads are narrow and busy around towns. Most visitors hire a car or a taxi with driver for day trips; buses cover the whole island cheaply but slowly, and the Metro Express light rail links Port Louis with the central towns.
Plan your days
Five days allows a south-west loop, a catamaran trip, a Port Louis day and time on the beach. Most visitors fly long-haul and stay 7–10 nights, often split between a northern or western base and a quieter east or south coast resort.
Practical information
- Currency
- MUR
- Language
- Mauritian Creole, English and French
- Plugs
- Type C and Type G sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is treated, but many visitors and residents drink bottled or filtered water, especially after heavy rain.
- Emergency number
- 999 (police), 114 (ambulance), 112 also works
- Tipping
- Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory.
Swim inside the lagoon and away from reef passes, where currents can be strong, and never swim off the unprotected south coast. Wear reef shoes against stonefish and urchins, and do not leave valuables on beaches or visible in parked cars.
Flights to Mauritius
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Mauritius?
Five days allows a south-west loop, a catamaran trip, a Port Louis day and time on the beach. Most visitors fly long-haul and stay 7–10 nights, often split between a northern or western base and a quieter east or south coast resort. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Mauritius?
The best times to visit Mauritius are April–May and September–November, when it is warm, dry and sunny without the humidity and cyclone risk of mid-summer or the cooler winds of July and August. December and early January are hot and the most expensive. January to March is cyclone season and the wettest period, although many days are still sunny.
+What is Mauritius known for?
Lagoon beaches, Le Morne Brabant, Dholl puri, Seven Coloured Earths, The dodo, Sugar cane and rum, Kitesurfing and Honeymoon resorts. A coral reef encircles most of the island, so lagoon beaches such as Trou aux Biches, Pereybère and Blue Bay have calm, clear water for swimming and snorkelling.
+Is Mauritius expensive?
Mauritius is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $150–$300 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Mauritius?
Useful but not essential. A hire car or a taxi with driver for two or three day trips is enough for most visitors; staying put at a resort needs no car at all.