TravPa

Mauritius

Swim off the beaches of Grand Baie and Flic en Flac, eat street food in Port Louis, walk Chamarel's Seven Coloured Earth and watch the sunset under Le Morne.

Best timeApr to May, Sep to NovMoneyMauritian rupee (MUR)PlugsType G and C, 220 to 230 VMain airportMauritius (MRU)
Approved by TravPa Editors, Nov 7, 2026
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Overview

Most first trips split the stay between two beach bases: Grand Baie in the north, for Port Louis, the Pamplemousses garden and the northern tip, and Flic en Flac in the west, for Chamarel, the Black River Gorges and Le Morne. The island is small: crossing from east to west takes about 1 hour 15 min by car and from north to south about 1 hour 20 min. The airport is in the southeast, about 50 min from Port Louis.

Summer, from November to April, is hot, with the most rain from January to March, and cyclone season runs from November to May. Winter, from May to October, is cooler and windier, good for hiking and kitesurfing at Le Morne, and September to November are the driest months.

When to go

BestGo with a plan
janRainyfebRainymarRainyaprBestmayBestjunMildjulMildaugMildsepBestoctBestnovBestdecHot

For Maha Shivaratri, usually in February or March, pilgrims walk from all over the island to the sacred lake of Grand Bassin. Diwali lights up homes in October or November.

Every month in detail: weather and recent fares

Itineraries

[Photo: Grand Baie]
Grand Baie in 2 daysAapravasi Ghat, Central Market, Blue Penny Museum, Le Caudan, Pamplemousses garden, L'Aventure du Sucre, Cap Malheureux, Grand BaieBalanced pace
[Photo: Flic en Flac]
Flic en Flac in 3 daysBlack River Gorges, Grand Bassin, Chamarel Waterfall, Seven Coloured Earth, La Vanille, Gris Gris, Le Morne, Port LouisBalanced pace
[Photo: Mauritius]
Mauritius in 5 daysPort Louis, Pamplemousses garden, L'Aventure du Sucre, Cap Malheureux, Trou aux Cerfs, Grand Bassin, Seven Coloured Earth, La Vanille, Le MorneBalanced pace

Where to stay

Flic en FlacFlic en Flac village for the long beach and street food; La Preneuse and Black River for a quieter bay and boat trips; Le Morne for kitesurfing under the mountain.Best areas to stay in Flic en FlacHotels in Flic en Flac
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Grand BaieGrand Baie village for restaurants and nightlife; Trou aux Biches and Mont Choisy for long beaches and snorkeling; Cap Malheureux for a quiet fishing village at the northern tip.Best areas to stay in Grand BaieHotels in Grand Baie
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Port LouisLe Caudan Waterfront for the harbor, restaurants and an easy walk to the sights; the center by the Central Market for street food and buses; or a beach base such as Grand Baie with day trips in.Best areas to stay in Port LouisHotels in Port Louis
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Getting around

  • Driving: Cars drive on the left; crossing the island takes about 1 hour 15 min east to west and 1 hour 20 min north to south.
  • Buses: Buses run from about 5:30 AM to 8 PM in towns and 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM in rural areas; express buses are faster and air-conditioned.
  • Metro Express: The light rail runs between Port Louis and Curepipe and takes a prepaid MECard sold at the station machines.
  • Taxis: Book through your hotel and agree on the fare before you set off; apps such as Yugo give a fixed price.
  • The airport: Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport is in the southeast, about 50 min from Port Louis, though booking apps often list it as Port Louis.

Before you go

Travel insuranceHealth insurance from home often doesn't cover care abroad. Check what your plan includes, then compare travel cover for your dates. Cyclones can close the airport from November to May, so check that delays are covered.
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Phone dataMobile data keeps maps at hand on a self-drive trip between the coasts, and lets you follow cyclone bulletins in the wet season.How a travel eSIM works
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