Last Updated on May 8, 2024 by Roslin Dwivedi
Imagine lounging on the sun-kissed sands of a pristine Mauritian beach, soaking in the symphony of azure waters and verdant peaks. Those mountains? One day, you’ll conquer them, but for now, let’s conquer the art of relaxation. Meanwhile, kiddos are sculpting sandcastles, adventurers are making waves with water sports, and there’s a bar pumping out tunes so groovy, even the seagulls are tapping their feet. Ah, welcome to Mauritius!
This tropical paradise isn’t just a blip on the travel radar; it’s a beacon for wanderlusters worldwide. With its recent reopening after Covid, Mauritius has become the hottest ticket in town with hotels, rental cars, and excursions flying off the shelves faster than you can say “paradise found.” So, heed these words of wisdom from seasoned Mauritius explorers: here are the top things to do and a handful of insider tips to ensure your trip is smoother than a coconut cream cocktail.
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Note: Check all the details on Mauritius travel sites before booking.
Check here for your travel and visa requirements for Mauritius.
Small general knowledge about Mauritius as we experienced it:
Ah, Mauritius, where even the palm trees roll out the welcome mat for tourists like they’re Hollywood royalty.
First off, let’s talk taxi drivers of Mauritius. They’re not just chauffeurs; they’re your personal guides to the island’s hidden gems. Need a restaurant recommendation? They’ve got you covered. Want to know the best spots to catch a sunset? They’ve got more insider knowledge than a gossip columnist.
And speaking of internet connections in Mauritius has leveled up its Wi-Fi game faster than you can say “download speeds.” Seriously, network services had improved since our last time here a couple of years ago. Malls, airports, you name it – they’ve all got Wi-Fi so fast, that my heavy youtube videos were getting uploaded reasonably quickly, it’ll make your head spin (in a good way).
Now, about staying connected via phone data: We bought a sim from My.T which had a more reasonable tourist Sim package than Emtel. Grab a SIM card faster than you can say “I need data for my Instagram stories,” and you’ll be snapping selfies on the beach in no time.
About safety: We felt safe about Covid or anything in general while holidaying in Mauritius. Also, we got welcomed with warm greetings in the two hotels we had booked in the best areas to stay in Mauritius on arrival.
Travelling to Mauritius from Seychelles
Travelling to Mauritius from Seychelles takes 2 and half hours approx. It doesn’t sound much, but adding the 2 hours before check-in and 1 hour of wait time before boarding makes it a half-day affair for a short distance.
We only have 1 flight a week for the moment, so if you plan to stay for a week, then it’s alright.
Also checkout: Best Places to stay in Mauritius
Things to do in Mauritius
Port Louis, the Capital city of Mauritius
Port Louis, located on the northwest of Mauritius, is a lively town with a mix of history and modern cultures. You will enjoy the diverse presentation of restaurants, cafes, and shopping options. Town also showcases the political buildings, and the place is pretty crowded with the number of people who work there. Keep your GPS on even after reaching the town, as the roads get confusing sometimes. You can see the local life up close over here. Meet more Mauritian people in the city, learn about the history, enjoy the Mauritian local and street food. Shop from the colourful markets and walk on the street and get the feel of the country.
The Caudan Waterfront
A vibrant shopping centre with a harbour front. You can spend half a day in this place enjoying shopping or simply sitting at the waterfront restaurant and enjoying the port and movements of ships. Caudan waterfront is also an excellent place to watch the sunset.
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (SSR) Botanical Garden
The SSR Botanical Garden is not far from Caudan Waterfront. And can be reached conveniently when in Port Louis. The garden features unique flora and fauna, including land and aquatic species of plants. You can visit the place with or without a guide. If you are interested in learning better about the garden then, there is an option of hiring a guide you will find at the entry point with some reasonable price on a per-person basis. The usual time to see the garden would take up to 2 hours, but if you hire a guide, you may finish touring quickly as they show you the main places.
Ganga Talao /Grand Bassin
Ganga Talao is a sacred place for the Hindu community in Mauritius. The spot features Hindu Gods Durga Mata and Shiva’s tall statues. Temple where you can worship and see the Hindu worshipers and their rituals. The place’s name is Ganga Talao because it’s a miniature version of Ganga Ji in India. It is believed that this lake is connected to the sacred river Ganga Ji. Book this tour here.
Sugar cane field Tour
You can do this tour either on your own by stopping your car on one of these fields. Just promise you don’t destroy or steal the sugarcanes. If you are interested in knowing how the raw sugar is made from these sugarcanes, visit the museum, L’Aventure Du Sucre. Get a feel of it by walking around it or clicking some pictures to make a memory of these vast fields.
Bagatelle mall for premium brands
Shopping and you can get a 15% VAT refund of the total at the airport. Being in Seychelles, this factor matters for us since in Seychelles, we don’t have big malls with high end branded products.
Viewpoint Black River Gorges – a small hike and walk in national park gorges
A beautiful view that can be done with kids. This viewpoint is totally free of cost and next to the Ganga Talao. This 6,574-hectare natural reserve is filled with hiking trails to observe the indigenous forests and variety of wildlife. There are hiking tours available if you are interested in hiking. Book this tour here.
Chamarel Waterfall and Seven coloured earth
Chamarel waterfall is one of the most popular places in Mauritius. It is a single drop 100 meters high waterfall. Surrounded by the forest. Around 3 hours of the trek down, you will reach the waterfall base where you swim and enjoy being in the middle of nature. From the waterfall, deck take a small hike to get this amusing nature’s formation, the Seven coloured earth. The area has seven distinct coloured soil dunes. The place also has a tortoise park and coffee shop. And also a souvenir shop from where you can buy these seven coloured soil. Book this tour here.
Ile Aux Cerfs Island –
Ile Aux Cerfs Island is a small island on Mauritius’s east coast with white sandy beaches and dense vegetation. The Island’s small part of beaches is claimed by Anahita and Four Seasons Resort.
You can take the boat from your hotel, come to this Island, and spend all day at the beach. There are water sports available on the Island.
The Island also features a few excellent restaurants that serve lunch, snacks and drinks. From where you can enjoy refreshing drinks and relax. If you are interested in golf, then there is a golf course in the care of the resort.
How you can reach Ile aux cerfs.
You can book a catamaran from Blue bay of Trou d’Eau Douce to make the trip adventurous. Read all about this excursion in detail.
Where to stay at Ile Aux Cerfs – There is a famous 3 star cute looking, Bubble lodge at the Island Ile Aux Cerfs. And also, there are a few other luxury hotels around the Island. You can learn more about it over here.
Book this tour here
Grand Bay
Grand Baie or Bay is a village located on the northwest coast of Mauritius island. The La Cuvette beach in Grand Bay is one of the most visited beaches by tourists. There are small food stalls that offer some excellent Mauritian food and drinks at the beach.
The village has vibrant restaurants, bars and the Bazaar is often crowded with tourists. The sailboat – dotted the Offshore, Gunner’s Quoin and Flat Island are surrounded by waters with hammerhead sharks and game fish. Grand Baie also has the famous Pereybere Beach with pristine white sand and turquoise water. If you need to go shopping, there is a La Croisette shopping mall close by.
Suggested tours near Grand Baie –
Underwater Sea Walk & Beach Hopping In The North, here
Beach Hopping In The North, here
Swim With Wild Dolphins and Beach Hopping, here
The listed activities you can do with your family or kids or babies. These are not crazy activities like hiking or tiring beach hopping.
How to get around Mauritius
Since the size of the Island is huge. Tourist attractions are not that close. You can do some of the main attractions together, like one day South tour and another day North tour. Like this, you won’t be exhausted at the end of the day. Travelling inside Mauritius by car is the best way of travelling in our experience. We rented the car from Maki Rental Cars. That gave us the freedom to move around as and when we wanted.
Travel Documents Required for Mauritius
- To enter the country, you need to show 72 hours of negative PCR Tests.
- You have to show the COVID 19 covered travel insurance.
- You will have to show your vaccination certificate at the time of airport check-in.
- There will be a health form you will have to fill up. We got it on the plane. And presented at the immigration counter.
- Fully vaccinated! you do not have to quarantine on arrival, and you are free to explore the entire Island.
- But you will have to get a COVID 19 rapid test (Antigen test) on arrival at your hotel or at the airport. You will get the idea once you land at the airport. These tests can be chargeable. For us, it was for free at our hotel.N
- Not vaccinated! you will have to quarantine for 14 days on arrival at your hotel, and you need to show your quarantine hotel booking for 14 days at the time of check-in at the airport. You will have to get a PCR Test on arrival and on the 14th day.
What vaccines do I need when travelling to Mauritius
It is not explicitly mentioned which vaccine is prefered in Mauritius. There are no selected vaccinated travellers mentioned on any of the Mauritius travel sites. So you do not have to be afraid of flying to Mauritius or vacationing over there.
Do I need any vaccinations to go to Mauritius?
As I mentioned above. Even if you are not vaccinated, you can still holiday in Mauritius. But the downfall is you will have to spend your precious 14 days in quarantine. And take the PCR test twice between that period. Which is, of course, not a pleasant thing. But after 14 days and negative PCR tests, you are free to roam around the Island just as much as the locals or Vaccinated tourists.
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