Mauritius, Africa Travel Guide: What to do in Mauritius
Mauritius, Africa Travel Guide
Mauritius is a beautiful and unique island nation in east Africa. Its complicated and multicultural past has made it the French + Creole speaking, Chinese + Indian cross cultural place it is today.
From the beautiful, tropical beaches to the stunning mountain vistas, to monkeys, whales, and more – there is something for everyone in Mauritius!
How to Get to Mauritius?
There are several ways to get to Mauritius, most of which include at least one connection. It’s a 7 hour flight from Cape Town, South Africa and a 12 hour flight from Frankfurt, Germany. If you’re traveling from the United States or Europe, your best bet is connecting through Frankfurt, Germany or Paris, France for price and ease. From there, you’ll need a flight to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU). As I said, It is a long trek, but well worth it!
Where is Mauritius?
Mauritius is located off the coast of South East African beyond Madagascar. Its beautiful beaches, stunning volcano-formed ridges, and cross-cultural history make it well worth the long journey it takes to get there!
What to do in Mauritius?
From napping in the sun on a Catamaran trampoline to hiking Le Morne Mountain for breathtaking views, there is SO much to do in Mauritius. Most mornings we went out from Le Morne – located in the southeast – to kite surf, snorkel, dive, or whale + dolphin watch. We also hiked all the top hikes in Mauritius, which are strenuous but worthwhile for some amazing Instagram photos and views!
One of the best hike's and views I've seen in my life, the Le Morne Mountain hike is not for the faint of heart – near the end it is essentially vertical rock climbing, but worth it for the summit. The tragic history of the indigenous people of Mauritius haunts this incredibly beautiful place.
Ilot Fourneau Island is also an amazing place. With stunning views of Le Morne Mountain, we also saw rainbows, dolphins, whales (when we took a boat out), and event camped out on the island overnight! The Kite Surfing school nearby helped us coordinate the island camping setup (and you can also take lessons + kite surf) Definitely a highlight of the trip for us!
How to Get Around Mauritius?
Once you arrive to Mauritius, you will need to secure transport to your accommodation. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU Airport), the primary International Airport on the island, is located in the South East of the island.
You may want to arrange an airport transfer in advance , grab a taxi when you arrive, or rent a car. We found that having a car made exploring the island a lot easier since we enjoy hiking and the best hikes on the island are quite spread out. You can drive across the entire island in about an hour and a half, but just beware of pot holes on certain roads! (we got TWO flat tires in one day!)
Where to Eat in Mauritius?
Mauritius offers incredible Indian food, French Bakeries, and more! The blend of diverse cultures here lends itself to a unique array of excellent options.
Located in the North West, Bloom had the best Eggs Benedict I've eaten IN MY LIFE as well as delciious coffee, a small shop and more! Great for remote workers as well and worth the drive if you’re not staying nearby.
Vanilla Village, located in the South West, offers great co-working spaces, vegan options, local artists shop, and more!
ROTI - not a place, but a common street food here, these wraps with Indian flavors is amazing and inexpensive!
Where to Stay in Mauritius
We stayed in Flic en Flac in the east for our visit to Mauritius. It was well located for activities in the South, East, and North. However, I have heard from more frequent visitors that they prefer to stay in the North when they visit.
Blue Bay is conveniently located right near the airport (MRU) and offers crystal clear blue water, great snorkeling, and a relaxing vibe.
Flic en Flac is a fun, beachy town in the west with cheap food truck options and beautiful sunsets and beach days! VillaSun is a great place to stay nearby run by lovely people with a pool, free shuttle, and multiple sized villas.
There are many resorts on the island like the Four Seasons if you’re looking for a more luxurious stay, but you can always stay somewhere else and do day passes to the resorts if you’re more budget conscious.