Once upon a time, the great writer Mark Twain said that God first made Mauritius and only later made Paradise, copying it from this precious little island. Namely, Mauritius is an earthly paradise so if you still don't know it, you should include it in your list of best summer destinations.
Gone are its days as a refuge for pirates and today it receives international tourism in its white beaches, luxury hotels, lush gardens, colonial residences and temples of yore. The culture here is a mix of Chinese, Indian, French and Creole cultures so… what are you waiting for?
Visit Mauritius
It's actually a destination that can be visited throughout the year because it is very close to the equator and always has summer temperatures. However, high season runs from October to April which is when it is hotter, it usually receives some rain and there is humidity. If you want to escape the showers, be careful, because from January to March is cyclone season and between May and September it is winter, nothing cold and very dry.
Thinking of the northern hemisphere, the western and northern part of the island is better when it is our summer holidays. The other way around, the east coast is better in winter. If you go in the summer to the island you have to avoid the north coast because it is extremely hot. Another thing to consider is that the island has a certain microclimate That means that if it rains in one place there may be sun in another, so it should be taken into account when scheduling excursions or activities.
You arrive by plane and there are several airlines: Air Mauritius, British Airways, Lufthansa, Emirates. The planes will drop you off at Ramgoolam International Airport, on the southeastern part of the island and the trip to your accommodation will depend on where it is located. Calculate an average of 40 minutes, but it can easily be more than an hour. Most likely, if you buy a package the transfer is included.
What to visit in Mauritius
The center of tourism is Grand Baie. The most popular hotels, entertainment services and beaches are concentrated here. The east coast is the best known and without a doubt it is for something. Its white beaches are great! On the west coast there are beaches that are calmer and therefore more familiar. There are more hotels on the southeast coast. As you can see you can move practically everywhere that there is always something and the beaches, wherever you go, you will not be disappointed. There are 160 kilometers of beautiful beaches and even a coral lagoon.
The best is that the beaches are pubic, all of them, and you have parking and restrooms. The coastal hotels what they only do is clean them or have them a little better. If you are staying for a short time and want to have a more complete view of the coast of the island then the north is better. Why? Because there are a variety of beaches, from white sand beaches to almost private coves or others with the shadow of the casuarinas. Those on the west coast are golden with calm waters and sunset views for a postcard.
The south is more rugged and therefore concentrates the surfers and of course, around there are some islands that can always be visited. Small, picturesque, unforgettable paradises. As I said above, the most popular of the beaches is the Grand Baie, but it usually has a lot of people. Emerald green waters, dozens of little boats, lots of activity. There are those who can never stay still because many tours can be hired.
There is a road that connects the airport with Grand Baie right and you can take a taxi, rent a car or take buses. The route is very popular. Another possible destination is Trou aux Biches: a beach lined with casuarinas with white sands and calm water because it is surrounded by a reef. It's great for couples and families. Here you can snorkel and marvel at the hundreds of colorful little fish that swim and scurry around.
You can also dive among shipwrecks or take underwater photos or go deep-sea fishing. Both on the first beach and this second there are restaurants and bars for all budgets. You can eat Italian pasta with wine or an octopus sandwich, for example. You reach Trou aux Biches by the same road as Grand Baie.
Another white sand beach with transparent waters is La Aux Cerfs Island. Are you going with your partner? This is a great destination, but don't go on weekends because it can be quite crowded. It is also a great destination for water sports, from rides on inflatable bananas to paragliding, through fast boats or pirate boat for children, catamarans along the coast and more. It also has a golf course with wonderful views.
At low tide you can even cross to another smaller island, the Mangenie Island, a private place that must be reserved in advance but provides you with loungers and a butler to have a luxurious experience. How do you get to Aux Cerf Island? By ferry, one that runs between 8 am and 5 pm and departs from Trou d'Eau Douce beach or from Hotel Shangri-La Le Tousserok Resort but here is for guests only.
Finally, another beautiful beach is the Belle Mare Plage, a 10 kilometer long white beach, beautiful where you look at it. It has a highly recommended diving site, Pass, the winds ensure windsurfing and sailing. There are many hotels and they have restaurants and bars. To finish, you can also visit the Ile aux Aigrettes Nature Reserve, an island of just 27 hectares that is 800 meters from the coast near Mahebourg and is a paradise.
Another park is the Blue Bay Marine Park with fish and corals that can be seen from the beach. Y Mauricio even has a geyser, Le Souffleur, which expels its jet about 30 meters high when there is wind and high tide. Quite a show! And if you like history because there is an old colonial battery located in Devil's Point that protected the French colony from the English, there is the XNUMXth century Cavendish Bridge that was used to transport sugar cane, the National Museum of History or the Castle by Robillard.
As you can see, a few days in Mauritius can combine many activities: beach, sea and history. And gastronomy of the richest in the world.