What to See and Do in Mauritius

The small island nation of Mauritius, situated in the Indian Ocean and just off the coast of Africa, is a popular tourist destination for beach lovers across the world. For some travellers, two weeks relaxing on a beach is a little bit too much relaxation and they get itchy feet to go and explore everything an island like Mauritius has to offer.

Mauritius is split into five distinct areas of interest – north, east, south east, west and inland. Most international travellers will enter Mauritius by plane on the south eastern side of the island. As well as beautiful sandy beaches, warm turquoise seas and stunning coral reefs, this part of Mauritius is also home to one of the oldest settlements in Mauritius at Vieux Grand Port.

The south east also features the remarkable island of IIe aux Aigrettes, which sits just off the coast. This nature reserve is made up of rare species of Mauritian flora and fauna. The island features some of the world’s rarest animals, including the Pink Pigeon and the Giant Aldabra Tortoise.

Heading up the east coast is the village of Flacq. This pretty little village is very popular and holds the country’s largest open air market that attracts a large number of people from the east of the island.

The east coast is very popular for watersports lovers, with The Waterpark Leisure Village on the coastal road at Belle Mare. The island of Ile aux Cerfs is also popular for its watersports and has one of the best beaches in the whole of Mauritius.

Moving north you reach the main shopping area of Grand Bay. This is the most tourist orientated part of Mauritius and where locals go for a good night out. Visitors to the north can also take a tour around the Balaclava ruins near Baie aux Tortues. The ruins offer an insight into the medieval history of the island. There is also an opportunity to visit the island’s largest Hindu temple, the Maheswarnath, at Triolet. For the more active traveller there are mountain bike tours around the Labourdonnais Orchards.

Travelling down the coast to the west of the island brings you to the Martello Towers, which symbolise the end of slavery on Mauritius and the beginning of the Indian immigration. The west of Mauritius is also a haven for nature lovers with the Casela bird park and the Yemen Reserve situated here. Casela, in the Rivière Noire district, is spread over 25 hectares and is home to more than 140 bird species from five continents. The Yemen Reserve is not the largest game reserve on the island but it features a lot of animals, including herds of deer and some of Mauritius’ most beautiful fauna.

Finally moving inland and away from the beaches you can see some of Mauritius’ most breathtaking landscapes, including the Grand Talao Lake. Grand Talao is an important pilgrimage site for Mauritian Hindus and lies in the crater of an extinct volcano. Another natural highlight is the Black River Gorges, a 6,754 hectares national park. This park was created to protect the remaining native forests of Mauritius and is home to some of the most incredible vistas that Mauritius has to offer.

Mauritius holidays are traditionally known as luxury beach holidays, but if you take a little time away from the white sands of this beautiful island you’ll see there is a lot more on offer.