Lagoons, volcanic peaks and a lively Creole culture
Mauritius is a volcanic island in the Indian Ocean, ringed by coral reef and turquoise lagoons. Beyond the resorts it has green mountains, waterfalls and sugar cane fields. Its people have Indian, African, Chinese and French roots, which shows in the food and festivals. It suits couples, families and divers who want beach time with some hiking.
Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.
A basalt mountain on the southwest tip where escaped enslaved people once hid. The hike to the top gives famous lagoon views.
The largest national park, protecting native forest, waterfalls and rare birds. Many trails start from Pétrin.
Dunes of sand in different shades from volcanic rock, next to a high waterfall. A small park surrounds them.
An island off the east coast with white sand beaches and a shallow lagoon. Boats run all day.
The remains of the immigration depot where indentured labourers from India first landed. A museum tells their story.
A busy market of fruit, spices and street food stalls in the capital. It is the place to try dholl puri.
A crater lake that is sacred to Mauritian Hindus, with temples and giant statues of Shiva and Durga. Pilgrims walk here for Maha Shivaratri.
One of the oldest botanical gardens in the Southern Hemisphere, known for giant water lilies. Old spice trees line the paths.
A protected lagoon with coral gardens close to shore, good for snorkelling and glass bottom boats. Water is calm.
A small nature reserve island restored with native forest, giant tortoises and rare birds. Visits are by guided tour.
A long white beach beneath the mountain, famous for kitesurfing. The lagoon is wide and calm in places.
A waterfall over square basalt columns in the south. It is short to reach on foot.
Wild cliffs on the south coast where there is no reef and waves crash in. Swimming is dangerous here.
Spinner and bottlenose dolphins rest in Tamarin bay in the mornings. Boat trips are numerous.
A dormant volcano crater in the cool town of Curepipe. A road circles the rim.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.
Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.
Capital with markets and history.
culture · Open the city guideLively north with beaches.
beaches, nightlife · Guide comingWest coast sunsets.
beaches · Guide comingSouthwest beaches and hikes.
nature, kitesurfing · Guide comingSoutheast village near Blue Bay.
culture · Guide comingEast coast and Île aux Cerfs.
beaches · Guide comingA laid-back west-coast surf and dolphin base.
surfing, dolphins · Guide comingA hill village near the coloured earths and the gorges.
nature, rum · Guide comingBusy resorts and calm bays.
Grand Baie, Pamplemousses
Sunsets, mountains and dolphins.
Le Morne, Tamarin, Flic en Flac
Wild cliffs and forest.
Black River Gorges, Chamarel, Gris Gris
Lagoons and islands.
Île aux Cerfs, Blue Bay, Île aux Aigrettes
Dry and sunny, with sunsets, dolphins and good dive sites.
Flic en Flac, Tamarin, Le Morne
Wild coast, cliffs, forests and highland villages.
Black River Gorges, Chamarel, Gris Gris cliffs
Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.
Best: May to December. The cooler, drier months are comfortable for beaches and hiking.
The east coast is windier in winter, while the west and north are calmer; cyclones can hit from January to March.
January. Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.
82°F daily high, 81°F average, 5.0 in
Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.
The US State Department rates Mauritius Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution due to crime, mostly petty theft.
Buses are cheap but slow; most visitors rent a car or hire a driver.
Resorts are costly, but local food and guesthouses are good value.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.
Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.
| Entry | Rules change, so check the Mauritius Passport and Immigration Office visa page and your own government's travel advice before you book. |
| Plugs | Type C, G; 230 V |
| Tap water | varies |
| Tipping | Tipping is not required, though 5 to 10 percent is appreciated. |
| Payments | Cards are accepted in resorts and supermarkets; small shops prefer rupees. |
| Emergency | 999 for all services; also 114 ambulance, 115 fire, 112 police |
| Etiquette | Mauritians are friendly and multilingual, so French or English both work. Ask before photographing people at temples. |
| What to wear | Cover up away from the beach and remove shoes at temples. |
| Driving | On the left |
| Between cities | Most visitors rent a car or hire a driver, since buses are slow. Distances are short, under two hours end to end. Taxis should be agreed before starting. |
| Main airports | MRU |
| Ride apps | Yugo, local taxi apps |
Mauritius had no permanent inhabitants until the Dutch arrived in 1598, and the dodo was extinct within a century. The French developed sugar plantations worked by enslaved Africans, then Britain took control in 1810. After slavery ended, hundreds of thousands of indentured workers came from India through Aapravasi Ghat in Port Louis. Mauritius became independent in 1968 and a republic in 1992.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.