Best Holiday Destinations in Mauritius Guide, Vacation in Mauritius Planning Tips and Travel Information

There’s always a reason to consider the best holiday destinations in Mauritius for you and your family. Because of its nature and culture, it has been one of the most prevalent islands for escapers, travelers, as well as sports chasers. There are over ten dozens of activities, attractions, and places that you will want to visit and do in Mauritius. Besides the beaches, the destination Mauritius offers parks, traditional museums, reserves, cruises, island trips, and many more.

Make sure you and your family discover fantastic Mauritius to the fullest for recreation and leisure.

Facts and figures of holiday destination Mauritius

Area: 2040 km²
Population: 1,270,368 (2018)
Language: Creole 86.5%, Bhojpuri 5.3%, French 4.1%, other 4.1%
Religion: Hindu 48.5%, Roman Catholic 26.3%, Muslim 17.3%, other Christian 6.4%, other 1.5%
Population density: 623.22/km²
Capital: Port Louis. Port Louis has about 148,870 (2016) United Nations
Currency: Mauritian rupee (MUR)
Vehicle registration: MU
International dialing code for Mauritius: +230
Form of government: Unitary parliamentary republic
Largest city: Port Louis
National Holidays: 1st January – New Year
2nd January – New Year
31st January – Thaipoosam Cavadee
1st February – Abolition of Slavery
13th February – Maha Shivaratree
16th February – Chinese Spring Festival
12th March – Independence Day
18th March – Ougadi
1st May – Labour Day
16th June – Eid-Ul-Fitr (Depending on the visibility of the moon)
15th August – Assumption
14th September – Ganesh Chaturthi
2nd November – Arrival of 1st Indentured labourers
7th November – Divali
25th of December – Christmas
Emergency numbers: Police: 999; Fire: 995; Ambulance: 115
Time zone: Indian/Mauritius (GMT +4.0)
Entry requirements: Visa and valid passport
Electricity: 220V/50Hz (European plug)
Driving side: left

History and Culture of holiday destination Mauritius

Due to the location of Mauritius was remote, there was no individual set the footstep until the 16th century. The island was the place for Arab traders. But then, the sailors from Portugal set foot on the island and built a trading center in around 1510. Since then, the island was crowded.

Until one day, the small Dutch force sailing to Grand Port 1638 and colonized the island. However, the Dutch failed to colonize the island. Then, Mauritius was once inhabited again in 1710. Five years later, the French colonized the impoverished island. African slayers brought by the French worked on the sugar plantations. British then captured Mauritius within the Napoleonic wars. In 1814, it became part of the British Empire.

In the 1830s, Indian laborers came to the Island. With a lot of folks, the nowadays locals demography now present more than two-thirds of Indians.

But the British only dominated until 1957. It became the self-government location with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state. There had been 150 years of French influence towards Mauritius. Mauritius attained full independence in 1968 and became a republic in 1992.

The Religions in Mauritius are 52% Hindu, 31% Christian (mainly Roman Catholic), 15% Muslim and 2% other. Speaking about social culture, it is pretty standard to handshake as the form of greeting. So, it is safe to assume to conduct it whenever encountering with the locals. Mauritius has two official languages: English and French.

Highlights of best holiday destinations in Mauritius

Mauritius is the paradise for the luxury beaches lovers. It is the vibrant place which is the manifestations of a mixture between the Indian, African, and European cultures. The exotic paradise does promote not only beaches for the travellers but also the enormous hiking, mountain, climbing, as well as high-profile diving experience.

The beaches are the life of Mauritius. These are situating surrounding the island. But more rooted in the paradise, we can pay respect to the native forests grow over the central plateau. These situations provide the home to rare and unique flora and fauna. One of the most spectacular natures you will see is Mauritius flying fox. You won’t see this beautiful creature in any other part of the universe.

The coast offers the fantastic coral reef that surrounds the island and has been the paradise for the divers around the world. When you focus your holidays to Mauritius in the northern regions, you will enjoy the combination of beaches, local delicacies, as well as nightlife that you won’t ever see in other places. The island is also coming with the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The holiday destinations in Mauritius can offer the weather, areas, as well as fantastic beaches. If you haven’t visited it, you know that it will be worth exploring.

Attractions of holiday destinations in Mauritius

Whether you are going alone, with the couple, with a group of friends, or with your family, the holiday destination Mauritius can’t go wrong. Mauritius is not only about the beaches. There are sites or tourist attractions that are worth checking.

Le Morne

It is an inhabited place located in the South of the Island. For perfect holidays to Mauritius, consider taking your time here. It boasts the World heritage Le Morne Mountain. The place offers a lot of viewpoints which you can use to explore the beauty of the island.

Black River Gorges

It is the national park which boasts the native forests and wildlife. This fantastic forest is the sanctuary of over unique 300 species of flowering plants. It is the place of the Pink Pigeon and other rarest birds in the world.

Chamarel

Chamarel is also internationally known as seven colored piles of earth. It attracts international travelers because of its “Seven Coloured Earth,” which are the dunes come in different colors.

La Vanille Crocodile Park

As the name suggests, the interesting thing to see is the crocodile. But there are also giant bats, giant turtles, monkeys, and enormous insect collection in the park.

Pamplemousses Botanical Garden

This botanical garden covers around 60 acres of the land and boasts some varieties of palm trees.

Château de Labourdonnais

If you want to refer back to the history of Mauritius, it is the place that you want to visit. It brings you back to the 19th century of the Mauritian lifestyle.

Ile Aux Cerfs

As mentioned, Mauritius is famous because of its beaches. But if you are selective for your upcoming holidays to Mauritius, consider visiting Iles Aux Cerfs. It is a treasure island which comes with beautiful sandy beaches, palm trees, and blue waters. It is a perfect place to escape with your significant ones.

Le Souffleur

Le Souffleur beach is a paradise for the goers. It is popular because of the beautiful big waves presenting to you.

National parks of holiday destination Mauritius

There are three main national parks in the Mauritius island. Here are they:

Black River Gorges National Park

It is a national park in the southwest part of Mauritius. Mauritius attained it on June 15, 1994. The National Parks and Conservation Service has been managing this national park for years. For those who love adventure, it is a great destination. It boasts two information centers, picnic areas, as well as the trails which length is 60 kilometers. Although several areas have been fenced to preserve the native wildlife, you will have the opportunity to see the different species of birds, including Mauritian Flying fox.

Bras d’Eau National Park

Bras d’Eau National Park is located in the north-east of the Mauritius island. Back then, the forests were destroyed. Then the developers planted Mahogany, Eucalyptus, Tecoma, as well as Araucaria. None of them are the original Mauritian plants. However, we can still see the giant Mauritian ebony trees there. Larger species of animals are extinct. But we can notice the rarest bird species flying around the area.

Islets National Park

The park is different from the other parks in holidays to Mauritius. The park consists of eight small islands. The most significant island is Ile D’Ambre. It is located in the north east of Mauritius. You will see more information provided by your agency. But if it is your first time, it is recommended to visit Ile D’Ambre first.

Discover the holiday destinations in Mauritius’s major cities on your vacation in Mauritius

The holiday destinations in Mauritius consists of nine districts. Each district has towns and villages. The total land is 2040 km2. But you will see the most important cities for traveling here. First things first, you and your group could go to Grand Bay. It is a seaside village and large tourist beach in the Riviere du Rempart District at the north of Mauritius. The bay was once called the Bay Without End by the Dutch back then in the 17th century. You will see the great village with the culture and beauty of the locals. The resort town of Grand Bay is indeed a popular holiday destination.
Then there is Flic en Flac which is located along the west coast of Mauritius. It has become one of the most significant tourist areas in Mauritius after Grand Bay. The beautiful villages offer you the sanctuary to fleeing together with your company. From the little fishing to the water activities, it is a perfect destination as well.

Flic en Flac Beach

You will also need to check the capital of Mauritius, Port Louis. It boasts the vibrant paradise elements of the island. It is the largest city and the most vibrant one. The economic center-point also provides the spaces for the travelers looking for attractions and activities. You can enjoy tons of sights, delicacies, cultures, events, attractions, as well as leisure in this city.

Top places to visit for nature and wildlife of best holiday destinations in Mauritius

Speaking of nature, the most recommended holiday destination Mauritius park is The Casela Nature & Leisure Park. Located in the western part of Mauritius, the 14 ha nature park boasts over 1500 birds from 150 species and varieties of beautiful creatures like giant turtles, monkeys, big cats, lions, etc. You can also enjoy the beautiful exotic plants and flowers. Make sure to bring your camera since there are many Instagrammable sights in this park. The good thing about this park is that the place opens daily from 9 AM to 6 PM.

One of the most popular activities is to interact with wild cats. Don’t worry, though. The whisperers have tamed these feral cats so that you can have the direct opportunity to interact with these cuties. You can also walk with the lions. Just be prepared.

If you are the real nature lover, you will surely want to experience the Rondo Fun. Rondo Fun is a mix of hiking, climbing, and adventure. Within the Casela Park, you’ll have the opportunity to interact with nature. That is not at all. You can also explore the options to enjoy Casela Park to the fullest. There are other activities like Segway tour, Quad Bike tour, Photo Safari, Fishing Tilapias, Petting Farm, Mini golf, and so on.

Top activities of best holiday destinations in Mauritius

L’Aventure du Sucre

It is a museum which tells the story of Mauritius sugar. It was an old factory until the developer converted the place. It will bring you and your group back to history. And after finishing the tour, you will be able to try the excellent dining experience in the Le Fangourin restaurant.

Grand Bassin

Grand Bassin sacred lake is the worship space of Mauritian Hindustan. It is interesting to see the different side of holiday destination Mauritius in this place.

La Vanille Réserve des Mascareignes

It is the name of a fresh and fantastic park. The vegetation is abundant and beautiful so that there is always a reason to stroll around with your significant ones.

L’île aux Cerfs

This place offers you everything to enjoy the holidays to Mauritius. It provides nature views, white sand, and you can’t miss the beautiful turquoise water for your perfect leisure. Don’t miss to enjoy your time in its beautiful lagoon.

Food & drink in the holiday destinations in Mauritius

The best destinations in Mauritius have wide variety of delicious foods influenced by French, Creole, Chinese, as well as Indian People. The good thing about it is that the island boasts great natural foods. So, you will taste everything fresh from the local farms and greeneries.

If you are looking for a national dish, Dholl Puri is probably the best food which can represent the country. Although it is originated from the Indian flatbread, paratha, the bread is different and has unique characteristics with the ground yellow split peas filling, atchar, chutney, and bean curry. Indian foods have been influencing on Mauritius folks for years. So, it is not surprising that you will meet a lot of curry delicacies made by the local restaurants and food chains. One of the most popular types of curries is seafood curries. You can also find many poultry curries as well. Try to visit Gris Gris beach to see these delicacies.

Since holiday destinations in Mauritius has ample beaches, it boasts mouth-watering seafood as well. You can get the seafood in the forms of anything you want like the grilling, baking, frying, or sauteing. There are a lot of restaurants which can provide you the best menu. You can also find Chinese cuisine, French cuisine, Dutch Cuisine, Japanese Cuisine, and many other international dishes.

If we talk about the drink, we could recommend you to two items: vanilla tea and rum. The black tree growing in Mauritius has a unique and delicious taste. The best way to find it is at the Bois Cheri cafe. Make sure to visit it after the tour. Mauritius Rum is also a perfect item to try. You can find it almost anywhere in Mauritius.

How to get to your holiday destination Mauritius

The destination Mauritius has a mild tropical maritime climate. It is visitable all-year round, but you need to consider the seasons. Summer temperature is 24.7 degrees Celsius, and the winter temperature is 20.4 degrees Celsius. If you prefer a warmer month, consider visiting between November to April.

How to get to your best holiday destinations in Mauritius

Mauritius Airports: Arrivals and Departures
Plaine Corail Airport: Arrivals – Departures
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport: Arrivals – Departures. Finding cheap flights to Mauritius is easy.

Entry requirements of holiday destination Mauritius

A valid passport is needed for your identification. You will need to bring it anywhere in Mauritius. The terms of applying visas are easy. If you have ever visited other countries, making holidays to Mauritius visa shouldn’t worry you much. But you need to pledge not to engage in any profit-making activities. Your sole purpose should be traveling. Contact your travel agency for more information.

Discover of holiday destinations in Mauritius activities and things to do in your Mauritius holidays.