My name is Sarah Trager and welcome to my guide on the best things to do in Mauritius. I’m a 30 year old traveller and animal lover. I live together with my boyfriend and two cats in a flat in Neuburg, Germany. I grew up in Neuburg and my life hasn’t followed a traditional path.
I left school to start an apprenticeship as a travel agent where my passion for travel was born. Now, I work as a web and graphic designer. It has always been fun for me to create something new and also be able to work at any location around the world (as long as there is Internet).
Back to travel – I have always enjoyed watching documentaries about destinations. I love to experience new cultures, landscapes and learn info about other countries. Most of all, I love the feeling of travelling through the unknown. I met my boyfriend in 2015 and since then he has become addicted to travel like me. The two of us now travel as much as possible.
I have always loved capturing my travels in photos so that I have memories to look back over and over again. My boyfriend started to work professionally with photography in 2017. Now, we can immortalise our adventures even more beautifully! He takes on the technical part of photography while I get involved in the composition.
10 Beautiful Days in Mauritius
Mauritius has always been one of those dream destinations for me. When I saw pictures of this beautiful island I immediately wanted to visit. The beautiful beaches with white sand, those awesome shades of blue of the sea, the reef around the island, the spectacular illusion of the “underwater waterfall”, mountains and green vegetation – it all looked wonderful!
Then, of course, there is the cultural diversity of Mauritius. You can discover a peaceful coexistence of people with different origins, religions and cultures. So in May/June of 2019 we finally took a 10-day trip to discover this beautiful spot. As we wanted to see as much as possible, we hired a car for the entire time. Note: they drive on the left hand side in Mauritius.
Because we wanted to see the sunrise on the east coast and sunsets on the west coast (without getting up early to drive to the east or drive back to our hotel after sunset) we decided to stay at different hotels at different places on the island. This was very practical because it allowed us to plan our day trips based on the shortest route from the hotel in which we were staying.
Why Mauritius should be on your Bucket List
The famous American writer Mark Twain once quoted one of the island residents saying: “Mauritius was made first, and then heaven; and that heaven was copied after Mauritius.” I think that sums up the island pretty well! Mauritius has it all – dreamlike beaches, a wonderful underwater world, majestic waterfalls and mountains where you can go hiking.
The island isn’t just for honeymooners. It’s for solo travellers, families with young children, couples, backpackers, for the young and old, for adventurous types, athletes and for those seeking peace and quiet. Everyone is welcome and everyone gets there money’s worth in Mauritius!
My Favourite Place in Mauritius – Le Morne
It’s hard to name just one favourite place. I think the most beautiful district is Black River (Riviere Noire) on the west coast of Mauritius. There are so many gorgeous spots on offer. One place in particular that I love there is Le Morne. Why? Well, because of its unbridled beauty.
Le Morne offers white sand beaches with palm trees, beautiful snorkelling spots, hiking trails at Le Morne Brabant which is a UNESCO site and kiting spots for active people. Of course, you can do many great boat trips here, for example: Crystal Rock or dolphin watching. There are even a few trips which include photo shoots due to the paradisiacal nature of Le Morne.
10 Best Things To Do in Mauritius
1. Rent a Car and Explore the Island
First of all: rent a car and go wherever you please. This beautiful island has so much to offer! This way you will get a wonderful overview of the island and its residents. Stopping anywhere you like will enable you to explore the most beautiful spots along the way, without any time pressure.
2. Relax at the Most Beautiful Beach – Flic En Flac
Flic En Flac Beach is located on the west coast of Mauritius. It’s one of the longest and most stunning beaches of the island. Just take a walk on this beautiful white sand beach or relax on the warm sand. Swimming in the turquoise waters is a must and so is checking out the views of Le Morne.
3. Go on a Hiking Adventure in Le Morne Brabant
If possible and if you are fit enough, go for a hike on Le Morne Brabant. The views of the peninsula along the way and from the top are breathtaking. This will be a fantastic opportunity to do some exercise while coming back with arguably the best photos of Mauritius. So bring your camera!
4. Visit the Chamarel Seven Colored Earth Geopark and Chamarel Waterfall
These two natural wonders are right next to each other. The Chamarel Seven Colored Earth Geopark (Terres des Sept Couleurs) is home to sand dunes of different colours. It was caused by volcanic activity – iron and aluminum oxides that have accumulated in the earth. The colours are nice to look at and as always it’s amazing to see what nature creates.
The beauty of Chamarel Falls, on the other hand, speaks for itself. The falls have a height of 83 meters (272 feet) making them the highest waterfalls in Mauritius. You have viewing platform access from both a lower and upper lookout from the Black River Gorges National Park. The views are amazing!
5. Discover the Seven Cascades of Tamarind Falls
Tamarind Falls are also known as the Seven Cascades. For us, this was the most impressive waterfall we saw in Mauritius. They are embedded in a beautiful green scenery. You can have a look at the falls from different viewpoints, hike down the upper four cascades by yourself or book a guide to hike all of the seven cascades. The hike down can be difficult, though.
6. Have a Couple of Rums at Rhumerie de Chamarel
Rhumerie de Chamarel is definitely worth visiting while in Mauritius. First of all, it’s located in a great park and fertility valley. Everything is green and blossoming. We enjoyed a wonderful tour here which brought us closer to the manufacturing process. You are shown the plant in detail and it’s really interesting to learn so much about the processing of sugar cane.
Right at the beginning of the tour you can taste a delicious rum cocktail of your choice. It ends with a tasting of nine different types! We had a lot of fun and you can buy all the rum you want from the shop. The only thing to keep in mind is to observe the alcohol limit when you are driving back.
7. Enjoy Beach Activities at Le Morne Beach
Another beautiful beach is the beach of Le Morne. With Le Morne Brabant at its back and with crystal-clear blue water – it’s definitely one of my favourite beaches. You can have a nice relaxing day on the beach on the western side, go snorkelling or book a boat excursion. Or you can head to the eastern side which is a bit rougher but has windsurfing opportunities.
8. Take a Boat Day Trip to Ile aux Cerfs
Ile aux Cerfs is one of the most popular attractions in Mauritius. This island is uninhabited and invites you to take a day trip with its white sand beaches, golf course and water sports. You have the option to buy tickets for the ferry directly at the counter in Trou d’Eau Douce or join a tour.
The tours usually include a BBQ on the beach and other extras. For this reason, they are more expensive than just buying the ferry tickets. If you want to spend a few relaxing hours on the island then a simple ferry crossing is sufficient. To spend a few nights, there is the option of booking a hotel that includes the crossing – like the Tropical Attitude Hotel.
The further you move away from the boat dock after your arrival, the emptier the beaches become. Grab your towel and find your spot! On the west and north side of this island, you will also find a few restaurants and bars where you can enjoy Mauritian dishes and cocktails. Be sure to inquire about the return ferry times. Most come back around 4pm.
9. Explore the Pamplemousses Botanic Garden
The Pamplemousses Botanical Garden – whose full name is known as Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden – is the oldest botanical garden in the southern hemisphere. It’s home to fragrant spices, colourful flowers, huge talipot palms (corypha umbraculifera) and other trees.
The well-known highlight in this 37-hectare area is the pond with the huge Victoria Regia water lilies which can reach a diameter of up to three meters and can even carry small children. You should also visit the old mansion Le Chateau de Mon Plaisir and the giant tortoises that call it home.
10. Watch the Sunset of Mauritius Every Night
My last (but not least) recommendation is just to enjoy the beautiful sunsets on offer at the beach every night. There is something truly majestic about the sun setting on this island and you will see why on your first night. Be sure to set aside at least an hour every day for this activity.
Peaceful Culture of Mauritius
The locals of Mauritius were always very friendly, helpful and open-minded to us. They have different backgrounds and all live in a peaceful coexistence together which is a reason why Mauritius may be a role model country in many ways. Mauritius is a melting pot of cultures and it’s fantastic to see.
Given the country’s history, it’s not surprising that the Mauritian culture is a colourful result of its past. A large part of the population is of Indian descent. There is also a Creole population group, Europeans and Chinese. The uniqueness of the culture in Mauritius is the peace on which it’s based.
While immigration, the mix of cultures, religions and idiosyncrasies in other parts of the world can lead to insoluble conflicts – the Mauritians prefer to rest in themselves. The Mauritians are proud of the harmony of living together and of the ease with which this happens. It’s precisely this diversity that essentially defines Mauritius. Such a peaceful little paradise!
Food Scene of Mauritius
The food in Mauritius is as diverse as the inhabitants which is also the reason for it. It’s characterised by Indian cuisine with curry, Asian cuisine with biryani and noodle dishes, and Creole cuisine with fish and spicy sauces. And of course, lots of fresh fruit. If you want to have an authentic experience (if you are not vegetarian) then you have to visit Escale Creole.
Where to Stay in Mauritius
We decided to stay at different locations and hotels in Mauritius. I would absolutely do this again! We stayed for three nights on the east coast in a 3-star hotel called Tropical Attitude Hotel, three nights on the west coast in a 4-star hotel called Sands Suites Resort & Spa and finally four nights on the southwest coast at a 5-star hotel called LUX Le Morne Resort.
We definitely recommend all three hotels! Tropical Attitude Hotel is a 3-star boutique hotel in Trou d’Eau Douce on the east coast. It was totally refurbished in 2017 and was built in a creole-style architecture with open spaces which makes it so charming and authentic. The hotel is located near the beach and the shuttle to Ile aux Cerfs is included in the price.
Tropical Attitude Hotel has small and simple (but also modern and authentically furnished) rooms in which everything was available that was needed. Above all, it was really clean! The rooms have this charm and feel good nature to them which defines the overall character of Attitude Hotels.
I would also describe the food as simple but there was something to eat for every taste bud! And as already mentioned, local dishes are always on offer within the buffet which is not often the case in large hotel chains. So if you value this then Tropical Attitude Hotel is the right place for you. The staff are very kind and helpful when you have questions to ask them.
Our favourite hotel in Mauritius was the 4-star Sands Suites Resort & Spa in Flic en Flac on the west coast. We have never felt so comfortable and welcomed at any place in the world as we did here! The staff were super friendly and helpful and there was always help on offer if you needed it.
We were always asked unobtrusively how we were doing, if we needed something and whether everything was okay. We were happy to chat away with the staff beyond the usual empty phrases. This allowed us to learn a lot about the life of Mauritians outside of their jobs working in the hotels.
I loved the open design of the main building at the Sands Suites Resort & Spa. The entrance area, bar and restaurant – everything is an open design. The food here was a little less local. Although there were always curry dishes to try which were tasty and often with a huge variety of choice.
Our room was massive too. We were located on the upper floor and the view was epic. Because Flic en Flac is opposite the Le Morne peninsula, you have a great view of Le Morne Brabant. This is why the entrance is so amazing. The first view when you enter the hotel is Le Morne Brabant.
The room was like a large apartment. You have a bathroom with a walk-in wardrobe. And of course, the room was totally clean so we felt comfortable. The beach of Flic en Flac is simply beautiful. I recommend staying in this area for a couple of nights. If you go into the water, however, you should be careful where you step as there are many sea urchins and stonefish here.
Lastly, we loved LUX Le Morne Resort – a 5-star hotel on Le Morne peninsula. We had a wonderful stay! You can see Le Morne Brabant right behind the hotel, the beach is fantastic and the area is nice. Like everywhere in Mauritius, the staff are kind. The food was good. However, it was prepared more for tourists with hardly any local options. Still delicious!
Our room at LUX Le Morne Resort was nice and clean. There are many different room categories you can choose from. We opted for the superior room as the prices on the peninsula are clearly higher. The most beautiful room would be the Ocean Junior Suites. If you can afford it, go for it!
If we had more time on the island (more than 10 days) we would have stayed at another different hotel but this time in the north of the island. You can base yourself at a hotel here and explore a couple of little islands off the coast of northern Mauritius. This gives us a reason to come back.
Need to Know Before you Go
If you want to travel to Mauritius, be sure to pay attention to the seasons. From May to November – the winter months – it’s a bit cooler and drier and the average temperatures are between 17 and 25°C. This is the drier season but even in these months rain falls almost every day (mostly at night).
The humid and warm rainy season is from November to March/April. This season can be accompanied by cyclones and heavy rainfall. The average temperatures are between 25 and 30°C. The southeast trade wind blows all year round. This is why the southeast coast is rougher than the others.
Therefore, the sun shines more often at the northwest and it’s less windy and usually a little warmer than on the southeast coast. So, if you are not coming to Mauritius to windsurf, you should pick your accommodation for the west or north side. This way you will get the best conditions.
In summary: the best time to travel to Mauritius is from April to June and from September to November. During these times, it’s dry, sunny and not too hot. The months of January to March are not recommended because in addition to heavy rains, cyclones can hit and the weather is sticky.
In August, the temperatures are still warm. However, it can get cooler in the morning and in the evening. We travelled to Mauritius from the end of May to the beginning of June. I have to say that I get cold quickly and become freezing quite easily. I should have brought warmer clothes because it was really fresh in the morning and evening due to the winds.
In addition, if you want to hire a car – and you are not from Great Britain or a former British colony – you should note that they drive on the left hand side in Mauritius. But don’t worry! You will get used to this quickly and it will become fun to say that you can drive on both sides of the road!
I would like to finish with my favourite memories of Mauritius. The first one was when we enjoyed a great view of the sea and Le Morne Brabant at sunset on Flic en Flac Beach. This was the day we arrived here from the beautiful but windy east coast. It felt like paradise because of the view.
The second best memory I have was when we made it to the top of Le Morne Brabant. We had this wonderful view over the peninsula, reef and colours of the sea. It was an amazing experience on the island and to be honest I can’t recommend visiting this heavenly paradise enough!
