Mauritius

Mauritius is an island in the Indian Ocean which lies off the coast of Africa. The island is known for its stunning beaches and turquoise seas and is one of the world’s top luxury tourism destinations.

Need to know:

Local currency: Mauritius Rupee (MUR)

Language: English and French

Transport: Taxi

Fun fact: Mauritius is the only recorded home of the extinct dodo

 

How I booked:

I booked my flights and hotel with Emirates on a full board basis.

 

Where to stay:

Mauritius has a microclimate – it can be stifling hot in one area but be raining five minutes away.

• North Coast is the tourism capital and has the most hotels, which means the beaches are busier, however, there are more tourist attractions.
• East Coast is the most exclusive with the most luxurious hotels. The east boasts some of the most beautiful powder-white beaches on the island.
• The south is rugged and full of wildlife. There are fewer hotels causing it to be quieter but it’s a great choice if you want a private and quiet getaway.
• West Coast is most famous for its beautiful sunsets and stunning beaches. It is home to the UNESCO heritage site, Le Morne Mountain. The calm waters in the west make it popular for water activities.

Where to stay depends on you as an individual and what you want from your Mauritian experience, either way, any corner of the island will provide a slice of paradise.

I stayed in Le Morne, situated in the West, the location of the hotel was perfect. Read more about my stay here.

What to Eat:

Mauritian cuisine is a unique blend of Chinese, European and Indian influences.

As I stayed at the St. Regis on a full board basis, I wasn’t able to eat outside of the hotel as much as I would have liked. However during a day tour of the Island, I was able to try chicken roti from a local restaurant which was divine.

Mauritian dishes to try include:

• Mauritian Biriyani – flavoured rice with spices, potato and usually with meat or seafood. Bol Renverse is a popular type of biriyani.
• Dholl Puri – street food which is bread stuffed with peas and served with curry.
• Roti – an Indian flatbread which is also served with curries, pickles and chutneys.
• Boulettes – Chinese dumplings served with bouillon.

Many resorts offer the options to dine on the beach which is perfect for a romantic getaway.

 

What to do:

Island Hopping

Spend the day island-hopping by speed boat or luxury catamaran from mainland Mauritius. There are tours on offer which take you to several of the mini islands that surround Mauritius.

You can snorkel to see the coral and sea life and most tours offer lunch on one of the islands.

Swimming with Spinner Dolphins & Whale Watching

The Mauritian Spinner dolphins attract many tourists each year who come specifically to swim with them.

You’ll need to set out early morning; breakfast can be served on the boat that takes you. This is an amazing experience to swim with dolphins in their natural environment.

Casella

Casella is a nature park and one of the leading tourist attractions in Mauritius. The park offers Safari, Lion encounters, zip-lining, quad biking and more.

I did the Lion encounter as the ‘Walk with Lions’ experience was fully booked. It was amazing to interact with these majestic creatures.

 

Port Louis

Port Louis is the capital of Mauritius, and is where you can go to get a real feel of the island culture. There is shopping, markets, food tours, museums and more.

Island Day Tour

The half-day trip around the island saved us time by taking us to several activities in one day.

We visited Seven Coloured Earth which is a geological formation found in Chamarel. It is a fascinating sand dune made up of seven colours of sand (brown, violet, green, blue, yellow, red and purple). It’s best to visit on a sunny day when the colours really stand out.

Rum Tasting was the last stop on the tour… which was for the best. There are several breweries that offer a rum tasting tour, I went to the Rhumerie de Chamarel. The tour cost around £10 and involved trying 8 different types of fresh Mauritian rum.

We stopped off at the dormant volcano ‘Trou aux Cerfs’ which is in the CenterPoint of the Island and ended the tour at the Black River Gorges National Park which is a rainforest.

Le Morne Brabant

Le Morne Brabant is a UNESCO Heritage site and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Mauritius. The mountain holds a huge amount of history and is culturally significant as it once harboured runaway slaves.

Nature and fitness lovers can take professional guided hikes which last 3 to 4 hours.

The Beach

Whatever you decide to do in Mauritius, make sure that visiting the beach is at the top of your list.

The best beaches on the Island include:

• Trou aux Biches
• Ile aux Cerfs
• Belle Mare Plage
• Blue Bay
• Le Morne (my personal favourite)

Mauritius was a holiday to remember – it was quiet and relaxing and it gave me an opportunity to recuperate. I highly recommend a trip to this charming island, be it with friends, family or a baecation.

1. Drop a comment if you’ve been to Mauritius or elsewhere in the Indian Ocean, or if you have any questions.

Love Roberta x