Mauritius packs a lot into a small island: reef-sheltered lagoons for snorkeling, the rainbow dunes and waterfall of Chamarel, rainforest trails in Black River Gorges, Le Morne Brabant rising over the southwest coast, and the street food and history of Port Louis. Nothing is far apart: crossing the island from east to west takes about 1 hour 15 minutes by car, and from north to south about 1 hour 20 minutes.
This page starts with our ranked picks for a first trip, best first, each with a practical tip on timing or booking. Below them you will find every sight we cover around Port Louis, Grand Baie and Flic en Flac, with opening notes and checked entry fees where we have them, then answers to common questions.
The 17 best things to do in Mauritius
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- 1Chamarel
Walk the rainbow dunes of Chamarel's Seven Coloured Earth
In the green hills above the southwest coast, the 7 Coloured Earth Geopark protects dunes streaked with red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow sand, a rare and fragile landscape shaped by volcanic minerals. The same ticket covers the viewpoints over Chamarel Waterfall, the tallest single drop in Mauritius at nearly 100 m, fed by three streams. Buy your ticket at the drive-through booth, then it is a 1.5 km drive to the waterfall and 3 km to the dunes, with parking at both; keen walkers can do the whole 6 km round trip on foot. The geopark covers about 8.5 hectares and has a coffee shop and a restaurant for a break between the two.
Tip: Come in the morning or late afternoon for cooler air and softer light, and plan for December to April if you want the waterfall at its fullest.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth Geopark; Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com)Non-resident adult, includes the waterfall: MUR 800 (about $17) · Pay at the gateLast verified
- 2Le Morne
Watch the sunset under Le Morne Brabant
Le Morne Brabant, the mountain on the island's southwest tip, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many people who escaped slavery found refuge on the mountain, and the Slave Route Monument at its foot honors their fight for freedom. Le Morne Beach runs along its base: white sand, clear water and coconut palms with the mountain behind. Strong, steady trade winds blow here, especially from April to November, and the area around One Eye at Pointe du Morne is one of the world's best-known kitesurfing spots, with kite and surf schools for beginners. Fit walkers can hike the marked trail to the top for wide views, then come back down for sunset on the sand.
Tip: If you hike Le Morne Brabant, start early with plenty of water, sunscreen and proper shoes, and go with a certified local guide.
Search tours on TiqetsSources: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com)Free to visit - 3Port Louis
Trace the indentured laborers' story at Aapravasi Ghat
Aapravasi Ghat, in central Port Louis, is the remains of an immigration depot built in 1849 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006. After slavery was abolished in the British Empire in 1834, more than 462,000 indentured laborers arrived here, mostly from India but also from China, the Comoros, Madagascar, Mozambique and Southeast Asia, to work on the sugar plantations. About 70% of Mauritians today descend from them. A visit starts at the Beekrumsing Ramlallah Interpretation Centre, about 30 to 40 minutes, then about 20 minutes among the remains of three stone buildings. Exhibits include artifacts and a ten-minute film with testimonies from descendants. Entry is free, and Le Caudan Waterfront, Central Market and Chinatown are all within walking distance.
Tip: It is open on weekdays and Saturday mornings only and closed on Sundays and public holidays, so put your Port Louis day on a weekday.
Search tours on TiqetsSources: Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund; Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com)Free to visit - 4Port Louis
Eat your way through Port Louis Central Market
Central Market, which locals also call Bazaar Port Louis, is where the capital does its food shopping. Stalls are piled high with tropical fruit and vegetables, and stallholders call out prices across the hall. Explore every section, then head for the street food kiosks for samosas and dholl puri, sweet pastries and a glass of the island's creamy alouda drink. Stalls just outside sell clothes and bags, and the first floor is the place for locally made crafts. The market sits next to Chinatown and a short walk from Le Caudan Waterfront, so it slots easily into a walking day in the city, between the history of Aapravasi Ghat and the street art of the old Chinese quarter.
Tip: Bargaining is welcome at the market stalls, but always agree on the price before you buy.
Sources: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com)Pay as you go - 5Black River Gorges
Hike the forest trails of Black River Gorges
Black River Gorges is the largest national park in Mauritius, about 17,000 acres of rainforest, valleys, rivers and waterfalls laced with more than 50 km of trails, from easy forest rambles to hard climbs. Black River Peak, the island's highest point at 828 m, rises inside the park. Much of what lives here is found nowhere else: look for some of the nine bird species unique to Mauritius, such as the echo parakeet, and for the Mauritian flying fox. If you only have a short stop, follow the signs to the Alexandra Falls viewpoint for a view over the waterfall and the forest. The park sits above the southwest coast, so it pairs well with Chamarel and Grand Bassin in one day.
Tip: Hiking is most pleasant from May to October, when it is cooler; tell someone your route and consider booking a certified guide for the longer trails.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com)Roadside viewpoint - 6Pamplemousses
Stroll the palms and giant water lilies at Pamplemousses
The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden at Pamplemousses, about 10 km northeast of Port Louis, began in 1736 as Governor Mahé de Labourdonnais's vegetable garden and grew into the oldest botanical garden in the Southern Hemisphere. Pierre Poivre, who brought spice plants from the Moluccas, shaped the present garden after he bought the estate in 1770. Today you walk through no fewer than 80 palm species, including the talipot, whose flower is the largest in the plant kingdom, past spice trees and a pond of giant Amazon water lilies, whose flowers open creamy white in the late afternoon and turn pink the next day. You enter through a wrought-iron main gate that has stood here since 1868.
Tip: Hire one of the garden's guides to make sense of the spice trees and palms; you pay the guide directly after the tour.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden (Government of Mauritius); Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden (Government of Mauritius); Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden (Government of Mauritius); Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden (Government of Mauritius); Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden (Government of Mauritius)Visitors without a Mauritian residence permit, 5 and over: MUR 300 (about $6) · Pay at the gateLast verified
- 7East coast
Take the boat across to Île aux Cerfs
Île aux Cerfs, a private island off the east coast, is one of the most popular offshore islands in Mauritius. No one lives there and there are no hotels, so most visitors come for the day: white beaches, a clear turquoise lagoon and rustic beach bars on the northern tip, with more beach dining on the southeast coast. The reef-protected lagoon suits parasailing, waterskiing, wakeboarding and speedboat rides, and golfers come for the 19-hole championship course designed by Bernhard Langer. The easiest way over is the regular boat shuttle from Pointe Maurice, which lands at Masala Jetty on the beach side; golfers take a separate shuttle to the golf club jetty. Catamaran and speedboat tours also run from around the island.
Tip: Check the island's own website for the day's shuttle times, and on any boat trip choose a boat with a registration starting with PC and wear the lifejacket.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (Mauritius Now, official); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com) - 8Grand Bassin
Visit the sacred crater lake at Grand Bassin
Ganga Talao, also known as Grand Bassin, is a crater lake high in the mountains of Savanne and one of the most important Hindu sites in Mauritius. A 33 m statue of Shiva stands at the gateway to the lake. Take your time walking the shoreline past the colorful shrines along the water's edge, enjoy the quiet, and watch the monkeys that play around the shore. The lake is the heart of Maha Shivaratri, usually held in February or March, when pilgrims from all over Mauritius and abroad walk to it on foot to pray, light incense and make offerings to the gods. Away from the festival, visit it as the place of worship it is, not just a viewpoint.
Tip: Check the date of Maha Shivaratri before you go: come then to see the pilgrimage, or pick another day for a quieter visit.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com)Sacred site; dress modestly - 9Cap Malheureux
Photograph the red-roofed chapel at Cap Malheureux
Cap Malheureux is a fishing village on the island's northern tip, and its small church, Notre-Dame Auxiliatrice, is one of the most photographed sights in Mauritius: a bright red roof against blue sky, the turquoise lagoon and the headland of Coin de Mire offshore. Despite the name, which means unfortunate cape, it is a peaceful spot. Visitors are welcome to step inside, whether to join mass or to see the holy water basin made from a giant clam shell. Fishermen bring the day's catch in near the church, where residents wait with baskets to buy the best fish. It pairs naturally with Grand Baie, the lively hub of the north coast.
Tip: Pair it with an evening in Grand Baie, where around 50 cafés and restaurants line the bay and the coast road to Pereybère.
Search tours on TiqetsSources: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com)Free to visit - 10Trou aux Biches
Snorkel the calm lagoons of the northwest coast
The northwest coast is known for calm, clear lagoons. Trou aux Biches, often described as one of the best beaches in Mauritius, is good for snorkeling and diving, with dive schools close by, and its casuarina-shaded sand makes a long, cool walk. Mont Choisy, also in the northwest, curves around a turquoise bay with plenty of space, calm and very clear water for snorkeling, and sometimes food stalls under the palms. The lagoons around Mauritius are protected by coral reefs, and Trou aux Biches is a fine place to stay for sunset. Like every beach on the island, both are public.
Tip: Watch your feet for stonefish, lionfish and sea urchins, and book boat and dive trips only with licensed operators.
Search tours on TiqetsSources: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeFree to visit - 11Pamplemousses
Taste the island's sugar story at L'Aventure du Sucre
Sugarcane shaped Mauritius: the Dutch brought it in 1639, and Governor Mahé de Labourdonnais started the sugar industry in 1743. L'Aventure du Sucre tells the story inside a historic sugar mill at Beau Plan, right beside the Pamplemousses garden, through ten themed areas covering more than 280 years of island history. You see how sugar is made, can try a cane-cutting experience, and finish by tasting more than 30 sugarcane products. Guided sessions share the history and secrets of sugarcane, and the on-site restaurant, Le Fangourin, makes an easy lunch stop between the museum and the garden next door.
Tip: The museum is closed on Sundays; guided sessions run at 10:30 AM and 2 PM Monday to Thursday and at 2 PM on Friday.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: L'Aventure du Sucre; Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com)Adult: MUR 1,200 (about $26) · Pay at the doorLast verified
- 12Port Louis
See the Post Office stamps at Blue Penny Museum
The Blue Penny Museum on Le Caudan Waterfront is an art and history museum devoted entirely to Mauritius. Its rooms take you through the age of navigation, the island's colonial history, old maps and images of Port Louis in the 18th and 19th centuries, and the love story of Paul et Virginie, the French novel forever tied to Mauritius. The highlight is the history of the postal service and the world-famous Post Office stamps. To protect them from aging, they are lit for just 10 minutes at a quarter past each opening hour. Afterward, walk the umbrella-covered lanes of the waterfront, with its cafés, restaurants, food court and the Caudan Arts Centre.
Tip: Time your visit to be in the stamps room at a quarter past the hour, and note that the museum is closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Blue Penny Museum; Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com)Non-resident adult: MUR 325 (about $7) · Pay at the doorLast verified
- 13Port Louis
Wander Chinatown's food shops and street art
In the 1940s, large numbers of Chinese immigrants opened businesses around Royal Road in central Port Louis, and the district became one of the oldest Chinatowns in Africa. Its narrow streets hold shops and restaurants passed down from generation to generation: biscuit shops, Chinese cakes and steaming dim sum that tempt you through the doorways. Look for the street art too, such as the panda bursting through a wall on Emmanuel Anquetil Street and the manga murals on Venpin Street. Chinatown sits right next to Central Market, so the two make an easy afternoon. In May, the Chinatown Food and Culture Festival fills the quarter, and Chinese New Year brings lion dances and firecrackers.
Tip: If you are on the island in January or February, check the date of Chinese New Year, which brings the biggest celebration to Chinatown.
Sources: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com)Free to visit - 14Rivière des Anguilles
Meet giant tortoises at La Vanille Nature Park
La Vanille Nature Park, set in a tropical valley at Rivière des Anguilles in the south, has been a conservation-led wildlife park since 1985. It protects more than 1,000 free-roaming Aldabra giant tortoises, one of the largest tortoise species in the world. More than 2,000 Nile crocodiles live here too, with feedings at 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM. Look out for lemurs, iguanas, chameleons and Mauritian bats, and a fossil museum with hundreds of fossils from Madagascar. There are 3.5 km of nature trails, and an average visit takes 2 to 3 hours, with a restaurant open to all visitors during park hours.
Tip: Arrive before 3 PM to see everything, and book optional animal encounters in advance, since places are limited.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: La Vanille Nature Park; La Vanille Nature Park (official); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com)Non-resident adult: MUR 950 (about $20) · Buy a dated ticketLast verified
- 15Souillac
Feel the ocean's power at Gris Gris
Gris Gris, near Souillac at the southern tip of the island, is nothing like the calm lagoon beaches elsewhere. Strong currents and huge waves make it unsafe for swimming or snorkeling, so come to walk along the cliffs and listen to the ocean roar. From the beach you can reach La Roche Qui Pleure, a well-known spot where waves crash against the rocks. About 2.5 km from Souillac, Rochester Falls drops 10 m over a cliff of jagged rectangular rocks, a backdrop in many Bollywood films and a good spot for a swim on a hot day. Its name comes from Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel Jane Eyre. Both fit easily into a south coast day.
Tip: Stay out of the water at Gris Gris, and skip Rochester Falls during or after heavy rain, when the rocks turn slippery and the water rises.
Search tours on TiqetsSources: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com)Free to visit - 16Curepipe
Look into the crater of Trou aux Cerfs
Trou aux Cerfs, near the town of Curepipe on the cooler central plateau, is a dormant volcano believed to have erupted only once, around 700,000 years ago. Its crater sits 605 m above sea level, ringed by forest with native plants and pines, with a small lake at the bottom. It is a good spot for a short hike, and the viewpoint gives a sweeping panorama across the island to Rempart mountain, Trois Mamelles and the Moka range. The Metro Express light rail runs from Port Louis to Curepipe, so you can reach the town without a car.
Tip: The central plateau can be much cooler than the coast, so bring a light layer, and come on a clear day for the widest views.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com)Crater rim viewpoint - 17Flic en Flac
Snorkel and eat street food at Flic en Flac
At about 8 km, Flic en Flac on the west coast is one of the longest beaches in Mauritius, with casuarina trees for shade along the sand. Snorkelers can explore the warm lagoon and coral reef straight from the beach, and divers head out to the popular Snake Reef and Cathedral dive sites. When you get hungry, the street food stands near the beach serve quick local bites to eat on the sand. West coast beaches are more sheltered from the wind from May to October, which makes it a good base in the cooler months, and it is a convenient one for days out to Chamarel, Black River Gorges and Le Morne in the southwest.
Tip: Petty theft is common in busy beach areas, so keep valuables out of sight and leave passports in your hotel safe.
Search tours on TiqetsSources: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com)Free to visit
Every sight, city by city
Alexandra Falls Viewpoint
Signposted viewpoint in Black River Gorges National Park over a waterfall and the forested park.Entry: Roadside viewpointSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsBlack River Gorges Viewpoint
Lookout over the gorges of the island's largest national park, on the Plaine Champagne road.Entry: Roadside viewpointSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsChamarel Seven Coloured Earth
Dunes of red, violet, blue and yellow volcanic earth inside an 8.5-hectare geopark.Entry: Pay at the gateSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsChamarel Waterfall
Waterfall of nearly 100 m, the tallest single drop in Mauritius, seen from two viewpoints.Entry: Included in the geopark ticketSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsFlic en Flac Beach
About 8 km of sand on the west coast, with casuarina shade and a reef lagoon for snorkeling.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsFlic en Flac beach food stands
Street food stands near the beach, for a casual meal on the sand at the end of the day.Entry: Pay as you goGrand Bassin (Ganga Talao)
Sacred Hindu crater lake ringed by shrines, with a 33-metre Shiva statue at its gateway.Entry: Sacred site; dress modestlySearch tickets and tours on TiqetsGris Gris, Souillac
Wild southern cliffs and beach where big waves break, with a path to La Roche Qui Pleure.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsL'Alchimiste, Rhumerie de Chamarel
Restaurant of the Chamarel rum distillery, cooking with produce from the estate, open for lunch.Entry: Pay as you go. Closed SundaysLa Preneuse Beach
Quiet west-coast beach with a Martello Tower and old cannons, facing Le Morne at sunset.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsLa Vanille Nature Park
Wildlife park in the south with free-roaming Aldabra giant tortoises, Nile crocodiles and a fossil museum.Entry: Buy a dated ticketSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsLa Vanille Nature Park restaurant
Restaurant inside the park, open to visitors during park hours as a midday break.Entry: Pay as you goLe Morne Beach
Wide beach at the foot of Le Morne Brabant, a UNESCO-listed mountain, known for kitesurfing.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsRochester Falls, Souillac
A 10-metre waterfall over rectangular basalt rocks, about 2.5 km from Souillac.Entry: Natural site; slippery after rainSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsTrou aux Cerfs, Curepipe
Dormant volcanic crater 605 m above sea level, with island views from the rim road.Entry: Crater rim viewpointSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsChâteau de Labourdonnais, Mapou
Restored 19th-century mansion with period rooms, an underground museum and rum and fruit tastings.Entry: MUR[fee]Search tickets and tours on TiqetsGrand Baie
Sheltered horseshoe bay where around 50 cafés and restaurants line the shore and the coast road.Entry: Pay as you goL'Aventure du Sucre, Pamplemousses
Museum in a historic sugar mill that tells the island's story through sugarcane, with tastings at the end.Entry: Pay at the door. Closed SundaysSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsLe Fangourin, L'Aventure du Sucre
The museum's restaurant at Beau Plan, open for lunch from Monday to Saturday.Entry: Pay as you go. Closed SundaysMont Choisy Beach
A long curve of white sand on a calm, clear bay in the northwest, with some food stalls.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsNotre-Dame Auxiliatrice, Cap Malheureux
Red-roofed chapel on the northern tip of the island, facing the island of Coin de Mire.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsSSR Botanic Garden, Pamplemousses
Historic botanic garden begun under Governor Labourdonnais, with palms, avenues, a spice corner and ponds.Entry: Pay at the gateSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsTrou aux Biches Beach
Long public beach shaded by casuarinas, good for snorkeling, diving and sunset walks.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsAapravasi Ghat
UNESCO-listed immigration depot where more than 462,000 indentured laborers arrived, with a modern interpretation center.Entry: Free to visit. Closed SundaysSearch tours on TiqetsBlue Penny Museum
Museum at Le Caudan on the island's history, home to the rare Mauritius Post Office stamps.Entry: Pay at the door. Closed SundaysSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsChinatown
Old streets around Royal Road with biscuit shops, dim sum and some of the city's best-known murals.Entry: Free to visitFort Adelaide (La Citadelle)
British stone fort built between 1830 and 1840 on the hill above Port Louis, with 360-degree views.Entry: Hilltop fort and viewpointSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsKwan Tee Pagoda
Red pagoda built by the Chinese community in 1842 in Les Salines, facing the sea.Entry: Place of worship; dress modestlySearch tickets and tours on TiqetsLe Caudan Waterfront
Harborside complex of shops, a food court, cafés and restaurants, with an arts center and artists' corner.Entry: Pay as you goNatural History Museum
The island's oldest museum, in the Mauritius Institute building, known for its dodo skeleton.Entry: MUR[fee]Search tickets and tours on TiqetsPort Louis Central Market
The capital's main market hall, with fruit stalls, crafts upstairs and kiosks selling dholl puri and samosas.Entry: Pay as you goQuestions travelers ask
What are the best things to do in Mauritius for a first trip?
Spend a day in Port Louis for Aapravasi Ghat, the Central Market and Chinatown, then a day in the north for the Pamplemousses garden, L'Aventure du Sucre and the chapel at Cap Malheureux. Give the southwest at least a day for Chamarel's coloured earth and waterfall, Black River Gorges, Grand Bassin and sunset at Le Morne. Add a boat day to Île aux Cerfs or a snorkel in a northwest lagoon, and a south coast drive past Gris Gris and La Vanille.
Sources: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (Mauritius Now, official)How many days do you need in Mauritius?
Five days covers the main sights without rushing: Port Louis, the north, the southwest around Chamarel and Le Morne, and the south coast, plus time on the beach. The island is small: driving from the east to the west coast takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, and from north to south about 1 hour 20 minutes. Add days if you want more beach time, boat trips or longer hikes. Note that the airport is in the southeast, about 50 minutes from Port Louis.
Sources: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com)When is the best time to visit Mauritius for sightseeing?
Mauritius works all year. Winter, May to October, brings coast temperatures of about 22 to 28 C, more wind and the most pleasant hiking weather. Summer, November to April, is hotter at 28 to 33 C, popular for diving, and wetter from January to March. September to November are the driest months. The tropical cyclone season usually runs from November to May, so follow local warnings if one forms. Kitesurfers come from April to November for the steady winds.
Sources: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com); UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeWhich attractions in Mauritius should you book ahead?
Many sights, such as the Chamarel geopark with its drive-through ticket booth, sell entry at the gate, but a few things are worth arranging early. Animal encounters at La Vanille Nature Park have limited places, guided visits at Aapravasi Ghat need prior booking, and private visits at the Rhumerie de Chamarel are limited to small groups per slot, as are dinner tables at its restaurant. Château de Labourdonnais takes bookings for visits and tastings. Book boat trips and excursions only with licensed operators, ideally through your hotel.
Sources: Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth Geopark; La Vanille Nature Park; Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund; Rhumerie de Chamarel; Domaine de Labourdonnais; Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com)How do you get around Mauritius?
A rental car gives the most freedom; driving is on the left. Buses cover the whole island and are inexpensive, with faster air-conditioned express buses, but they stop at about 8 PM in towns and 6:30 PM in rural areas. The Metro Express light rail links Port Louis and Curepipe and uses a prepaid MECard. Taxis wait outside hotels and malls: agree the fare first, or use an app such as Yugo for a fixed price. Central Port Louis is easy to explore on foot.
Sources: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com)Do you tip or bargain in Mauritius?
Tipping is not mandatory in Mauritius, but it is welcome if you are happy with the service. Some high-end restaurants add a service charge of 10 to 15%, so check the bill before you leave anything extra. In markets, bargaining is welcome, but always confirm the price before you buy. The currency is the Mauritian rupee, used nowhere else, and you will find ATMs and exchange desks at the airport as you leave baggage reclaim.
Sources: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (mauritiusnow.com)