Holidays in Mauritius

Mauritius Holidays - Destination Profile

The intriguing mixture of cultural influences on the island include Indian, African, Chinese and European, so you can expect to find a wide range of mouth watering cuisines to try. For active travellers there are excellent opportunities for various watersports including, surfing, wind surfing and sailing and keen shoppers can pick up great bargains thanks to some duty-free items.

Our featured hotel, the Movenpick Resort and Spa is located on the south-west coast of Mauritius, in the heart of the preserved nature area of Bel Ombre and is set against a backdrop of breathtaking mountains. If you want to experience your own slice of paradise, this is definitely the place for you.

English is the official language. The language of the people is a Creole which is understood by all Mauritians and has a close connection with French, which is also widely spoken. Hindu and Urdu are also spoken by locals.

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Holidays in Mauritius - Things to see

Caslea Bird Park: A great day out for families with 90 aviaries on 25 hectares (61 acres), it has more than 140 bird varieties, from five continents. The main attraction is the pink pigeon, one of the world's rarest birds.

Mauritius Aquarium: Populated by 200 species of fish, invertebrates, live coral and sponges originating from the waters around the island. It also has a touch pool for children.

Black River Gorges National Park: The park contains a number of hiking trails crisscross the wild and empty Black River Gorges National Park. Home to the black ebony trees and the wild guavas. The national park is great for bird-watchers and home to Mauritius kestrel, pink pigeon, echo parakeet and Mauritius cuckoo-shrike.

Tamarin Falls: The Tamarin falls are slightly awkward to get to but defiantly worth the effort and once there you will see a series of seven spectacular waterfalls. They are only accessible via a challenging trail that begins near the Tamarin Falls reservoir, but you will have to explore to find it. It's best to take a local guide from Henrietta.

Things to do on a Holiday in Mauritius

Water Sports: Holidays in Mauritius are a great opportunity to participate in the huge range of watersports in most of the beach resorts. The summer months guarantee offshore winds providing ideal conditions for parasailing and windsurfing.

Diving: Diving is most popular on the west coast. The south coast and several parts of the east coast can be dangerous because of strong currents and exposure to the south easterly trade winds which are a common feature of the weather pattern. The capital, Port Louis, divides the west coast into two distinct parts. In the southwest diving activity is centred round the Beachcomber Meridien resort at Le Morne and at the several hotels at Flic-en-Flac. On the north west coast a large number of different dive sites are situated within an easy boat ride from one of the many hotels at Trou-aux-Biches, Grand Baie and Pereybere. A few miles north of Mauritius are a couple of smaller islands providing further sites. Several hotels on the east coast provide diving at a number of carefully selected sheltered sites.

Eating/Drinking During Mauritius Holidays

The mixture of cultures in Mauritius means that you will find a great variety of dishes to choose from. Fresh tropical fruits and vegetables, currys and oriental dishes are just a few of the choices available - there are dishes to suit all tastes!

Getting Around on Mauritius Holidays

Bus: Mauritian buses are generally good - albeit a bit slow - and can take you to (or near) just about any place on the island. There are several different operators, none of which cover the entire island. Port Louis and Curepipe are the main hubs. Tickets are cheap and should be kept handy, as inspectors check them frequently.

Car: Mauritian roads range from smooth to potholed and pavement-free. Driving is sketchy at best on Mauritius, with speed limits often ignored, headlights a rarity and weaving pedestrians all too common. If you think you're up to it, rent a car in one of the major towns or at the airport. Smallish motorbikes can be rented around Grand Baie. Drivers should have an international drivers' licence, and most rental agencies require drivers to be over 23. Driving is on the left.

Mauritius Holidays Shopping

Duty Free Shops: Designer clothes or perfumes at discount prices are a reality with the duty-free shops in the island. You can find all sorts of best-branded luxury goods at duty-free prices. There are also jewellery shops and consumer electronics appliances that can be bought in shops offering those discounts. The payment can be made in foreign currencies or the Mauritian Rupee and a passport and return ticket are also required for the purchase. The goods will be delivered at the airport on departure.

Arts and Crafts: Arts and Crafts shops in Mauritius are located mostly in towns, in the market place. But there are other places where they are displayed. In all the markets, you'll come across a section where baskets, hats, shells or corals are sold. Shops can also be found in shopping areas and near beach resorts. Le Caudan Waterfront Arts and Crafts Market offers a wide variety of products like model ships, sculptures, paintings, baskets, hats, etc. Another market has recently opened next to the Mahébourg Museum. Like everywhere else in Mauritius, bargaining over the prices is quite useful.

Jewellery: Mauritius has had a tradition of jewellery coming from its Indian and Arabian immigrants. These masters' craftsmen have left a legacy of quality and impeccable finish. Today, you can find this tradition of excellence in a variety of jewellery shops. Some are duty free shops where you can have very attractive prices.

Holidays in Mauritius - Beaches

Baie du Tamarin: Situated at the mouth of Tamarin River, in a beautiful landscape is the centre of surfing in Mauritius. Gigantic waves roll to the bay almost over the whole year.

Belle Mare: white sandy beach with a deep lagoon at the east coast. The tourism centre extends to Trou d'Eau Douce.

Blue Bay: long beach (Pointe d' Esny to Pointe Corps de Garde) with white sand and crystal-clear ice blue water .Suitable for sailing, surfing and snorkeling.

Cap Malheureux: small fishing village at the north top of the island, with a fantastic view of the little islands Ile Plate, Ile Ronde and Coin de Mire. The beautifully situated graveyard and the chapel on the beach are remarkable for a photo. The name Cap Malheureux arose after the Englishmen landed secretly there on September 2nd, 1810 and expelled the Frenchmen from Mauritius.

Flic-en Flac: long beach on the west coast with a beautiful lagoon and a lot of tourism offers such as apartment houses, restaurants, snacks and shops.

Grand Baie: the biggest tourist centre in Mauritius with a variety of accomodations, water sports offers (excluding offers of the hotels), shops and excellent restaurants. One also finds a choice of discotheques and bars there. Several suppliers organize tours across the island and excursions on the sea; for example going to the island Coin de Mire. The beaches lie in a large (deep to the country outgoing bay) which are protected from wind and waves.

Ile aux Cerfs: small heavenly island at the East coast which can be reached by boats from Pointe Maurice (about 30 minutes trip). Splendid white sand and lagoons with water in all blue tones. Water sports offers and a restaurant are available. One meets wild living deer at raids over the island. Ile aux Cerfs is one of the most beautiful places in the Indian ocean. Don't fail paying a visit there!

Trou-aux-Biches: one of the most beautiful beaches in Mauritius. It is particularly suitable for children since the water isn't deep there. It is also a nice place to snorkel, especially for beginners because you can reach the lovely coral-reefs and a variety of exotic fishes easily after only 50 - 100 m swim. The indian temple of Maheswarnath in Triolet can be reached after a short walk of about 30 minutes.

Weather and climate information

The climate of Mauritius is characterised by warm, dry winters and humid, tropical summers.

Max Temp C	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct
Mauritius	28	26	25	23	23	25	26
London	14	19	19	20	20	17	15
Sunshine Hours	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct
Mauritius	6	6	6	6	6	6	8
London	5	6	7	6	6	5	3

Mauritius Holidays - View 5 Day Forecast