Things to do · Mauritius
18 best things to do in Mauritius
18 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: "dronepicr", CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
The essential sights in Mauritius are Le Morne Brabant, Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths and waterfall and Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden. Of the 18 picks below, 8 are free, 2 work on a rainy day and 7 suit children. Allow about 9 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Le Morne Brabant
- Free sights
- 8
- Good on a rainy day
- L'Aventure du Sucre
- Time to see the highlights
- 9 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Le Morne Brabant | Le Morne peninsula | 3–4 hours | Free |
| Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths and waterfall | Chamarel | 1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden | Pamplemousses | 1.5–2 hours | Low cost |
| Black River Gorges National Park | Southwest | Half a day | Free |
| Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao) | Savanne highlands | 1 hour | Free |
| Île aux Cerfs | Trou d'Eau Douce | Full day | Mid-priced |
| L'Aventure du Sucre | Pamplemousses | 2 hours | Mid-priced |
| Port Louis Central Market | Port Louis | 1–1.5 hours | Free |
| Aapravasi Ghat | Port Louis | 1 hour | Free |
| Blue Penny Museum | Port Louis | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Blue Bay Marine Park | Blue Bay and Mahébourg | 2–3 hours | Low cost |
| Île aux Aigrettes nature reserve | Blue Bay and Mahébourg | 2 hours | Mid-priced |
| Casela Nature Parks | Flic en Flac | Half a day | Mid-priced |
| Trou aux Cerfs crater | Curepipe | 45 minutes | Free |
| Rochester Falls | Souillac | 45 minutes | Free |
| Gris Gris cliffs | Souillac | 45 minutes | Free |
| Catamaran trip to the northern islets | Grand Baie | Full day | Mid-priced |
| Dolphin watching off Tamarin | Tamarin and Black River | Half a day | Mid-priced |
The 18 best things to do
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Nature · Le Morne peninsula
1.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. A trail climbs to a viewpoint with a cross and then, more steeply, to the summit, with views over the lagoon and the reef's 'underwater waterfall' illusion.
Start at sunrise to avoid the midday heat; the upper section involves scrambling, so go with a local guide if you are unsure.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Active
- History
- Outdoors
Nature · Chamarel
2.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.
Visit in the late afternoon when the low sun brings out the colours, then stop at the rum distillery down the road.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Nature
Garden · Pamplemousses
3.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. Official guides at the gate explain the plants and their uses.
Hire one of the licensed guides at the entrance; without one it is easy to miss the spice trees and rare palms.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Nature · Southwest
4.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. Trails such as the Macchabée loop pass waterfalls and viewpoints, and endemic birds including the pink pigeon and Mauritius kestrel survive here.
Stop at the Gorges and Alexandra Falls viewpoints even if you are not hiking, and start walks early before cloud builds.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Active
- Views
Religious site · Savanne highlands
5.Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao)
A crater lake in the highlands that Mauritian Hindus regard as sacred, lined with temples and shrines. A 33-metre statue of Shiva, Mangal Mahadev, stands at the entrance, and hundreds of thousands of pilgrims walk here for Maha Shivaratri.
Remove shoes before entering the temples and dress modestly; monkeys around the lake will grab food.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
- Architecture
Island · Trou d'Eau Douce
6.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.
Walk away from the jetty to the far beaches for quieter sand, and avoid weekends when local excursions fill it up.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
Museum · Pamplemousses
7.L'Aventure du Sucre
A former sugar factory at Beau Plan turned into a museum on the industry that shaped Mauritius, from slavery and indentured labour to the machinery that crushed the cane. The visit ends with tastings of unrefined sugars and local rums.
Combine it with the botanical garden in Pamplemousses on the same morning.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Food
Market · Port Louis
8.Port Louis Central Market
The capital's Victorian iron-roofed market sells tropical fruit, vegetables, spices and herbal remedies downstairs, with textiles and souvenirs on the upper level. Stalls outside serve dholl puri, alouda and gâteaux piments, making it the best place for a street-food lunch.
Come in the morning on a weekday, eat dholl puri from a busy stall and bargain gently at the souvenir stands upstairs.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
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Historic site · Port Louis
1.Aapravasi Ghat
The remains of the immigration depot where about half a million indentured labourers, mostly from India, arrived between 1834 and 1920 to work on sugar estates. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006, it has an interpretation centre explaining the system that shaped modern Mauritius.
Start at the interpretation centre for context, then walk to the original stone steps that the labourers climbed on arrival.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
Museum · Port Louis
2.Blue Penny Museum
At Le Caudan Waterfront, this museum covers the island's maritime and colonial history and displays the famous 1847 'Post Office' Red Penny and Blue Penny stamps, among the rarest in the world. The originals are shown under low light for short periods to protect them.
Pair it with lunch and a stroll around Le Caudan Waterfront next to the harbour.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
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Nature · Blue Bay and Mahébourg
3.Blue Bay Marine Park
A protected lagoon in the south-east with branching and brain corals, reef fish and clear, shallow water. Glass-bottom boats leave from the public beach, and snorkelling trips visit the coral gardens a short way offshore.
Snorkel in the morning before the wind picks up, and choose a glass-bottom boat if you have young children.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Island · Blue Bay and Mahébourg
4.Île aux Aigrettes nature reserve
A small coral island off Mahébourg where the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation has restored native coastal forest. Guided walks show pink pigeons, Telfair's skinks, ornate day geckos and giant Aldabra tortoises, and explain how conservationists brought species back from near extinction.
Wear closed shoes; the coral-rock paths are sharp and uneven.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Visits are by guided tour only, run by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation; book ahead in high season.
- Nature
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
Theme park · Flic en Flac
5.Casela Nature Parks
A large wildlife and adventure park near Cascavelle with safari drives among zebras, giraffes and antelope, aviaries, a petting farm, ziplines and quad-biking. It is the island's most popular family day out after the beach.
Arrive early in the morning before the midday heat, and pre-book activities such as ziplines on busy holiday weeks.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Active
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Curepipe
6.Trou aux Cerfs crater
A dormant, forested volcanic crater about 300 metres across on the edge of Curepipe, with a road and footpath around its rim. On clear days the views reach the peaks of the west coast and the sea.
Go early on a clear morning; the central plateau is cooler and cloudier than the coast.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
Nature · Souillac
7.Rochester Falls
A short, wide waterfall near Souillac that tumbles over unusual vertical basalt columns into a pool. Local youths sometimes jump from the top for tips. It sits at the end of a track through sugar-cane fields.
Combine it with Gris Gris and the coastal gardens at Souillac on a south-coast drive.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Nature
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Souillac
8.Gris Gris cliffs
On the wild south coast, where there is no protective reef, waves crash against black basalt cliffs at Gris Gris and the nearby rock called La Roche qui Pleure, 'the crying rock'. A grassy clifftop makes a dramatic contrast with the calm lagoons elsewhere.
Admire the sea from the clifftop only; swimming here is dangerous because of strong currents and waves.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Experience · Grand Baie
9.Catamaran trip to the northern islets
Day cruises from Grand Baie sail past the wedge-shaped Coin de Mire to Gabriel Island, with a barbecue lunch on board, snorkelling and time on Gabriel's white sand. The sea between the islands is open water, so it can be choppy on windy days.
Choose a smaller boat with a capped number of passengers, and take seasickness tablets if you are prone to it.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Views
Experience · Tamarin and Black River
10.Dolphin watching off Tamarin
Spinner and bottlenose dolphins rest in the bays off Tamarin and Black River in the early morning, and boat trips leave at dawn to see them. Many trips continue to snorkelling spots or the Île aux Bénitiers sandbank.
Pick an operator that keeps its distance and limits boats around the pods; early departures see more dolphins and calmer water.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | L'Aventure du Sucre and Blue Penny Museum |
| History | Le Morne Brabant, Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao), L'Aventure du Sucre and Aapravasi Ghat |
| Views | Le Morne Brabant, Black River Gorges National Park, Trou aux Cerfs crater and Gris Gris cliffs |
| Outdoors and nature | Le Morne Brabant, Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths and waterfall, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden and Black River Gorges National Park |
| Food and markets | L'Aventure du Sucre and Port Louis Central Market |
| With children | Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths and waterfall, Île aux Cerfs, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden and Blue Bay Marine Park |
| On a rainy day | L'Aventure du Sucre and Blue Penny Museum |
What to book ahead
- Île aux Aigrettes nature reserve: Visits are by guided tour only, run by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation; book ahead in high season.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Mauritius?
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.
+What can you do for free in Mauritius?
Le Morne Brabant, Black River Gorges National Park, Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao), Port Louis Central Market and Aapravasi Ghat. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Mauritius when it rains?
Head indoors to L'Aventure du Sucre and Blue Penny Museum.