Travel Destination: Mauritius
About Mauritius
Mauritius is an island nation located southwest of Indian Ocean off the coast of African continent. Its scenic beaches and inviting cobalt blue seas are not the only things that turn on its charm, it is also a place to see historic sights, shop, enjoy cultural diversity and experience the warm welcome of its people. Sunbathing and swimming are not the only things to behold for there are much, much more to expect!
Mauritius’ only international airport is the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. It has domestic services that connect the mainland to Rodrigues, a dependency of Mauritius about 560 kilometres to the northeast. The two other dependencies are Agalega Islands and Saint Brandon. From the airport, it’s easy to go around the mainland for there are plenty of taxis to take you to Port Louis, the city capital, or Grand Baie, a cosmopolitan town known for its pulsating night life. There are buses, tram, motorcycles, car hire and bicycle to take you from one stop to the next.
Take note that Mauritius has a typical tropical weather where summers can be extremely humid (December to April) and winters are cooler and drier (May to November). Between the two seasons, the latter is the more preferable time to visit, until early December. January and February are not-so-good times for water sports activities because these are peak cyclone months.
Port Louis is the largest city and main port of Mauritius. It is the richest city in Africa per capita income and the second most important financial centre in Africa, after Johannesburg. The mountainous landscape is so scenic, complemented with skyscrapers not common to small African cities. Despite being modern, the island life can still be enjoyed here. The Central Market is where you can buy the freshest produce of the island and local crafts for souvenirs. Curry (or cari) and tea (or dithé) are important commodities and there is an abundant supply here. The Chinatown is also a good place to eat and shop because of the affordable prices and picturesque ambiance. Tourism is a big boost to the city’s economy and one of the most visited tourist spots is the Caudan Waterfront, a booming leisure and shopping complex that has all the modern amenities such as specialty shops, interesting dining places, a marina and even a five star hotel. There are also many historic buildings and museums that can be included in your itinerary. Visit the Mauritius Stamp Museum, Blue Penny Museum, Mauritius Natural History Museum, Fort Adelaide, Champ de Mars (the oldest race course in the Indian Ocean, circa 1812) and Port Louis Waterfront.
Port Louis City is not the only attraction in Mauritius. You can also head to Beau Bassin/Rose Hill and have a relaxing time at Balfour Gardens and Cascadelle View Point. Curepipe is another town that offers scenic views and its Curepipe Botanic Gardens houses the rarest breeds of palm trees. Vacoas-Phoenix is the largest town in the country and here you can find old shops, bazaars and chic residential places. It is known as the garden town because of its traditional role of being a big source of vegetables and flowers.
Mauritius is world-famous for its white-sand beaches, wildlife, deep sea fishing, honeymoon destinations and city travel. There are lots of public beaches that can accommodate your sun and sand adventure. Swimming, sunbathing, surfing, sailing and water skiing are best in Grand Bay, Pereybere, Belle Mare, Blue Bay, Le Morne & Tamarin and Flic en Flac.
When you’re up for a nature trip, looking for a new R&R playground or just exploring another island, Mauritius can bring in a fresh approach.