Mauritius Travel Guide — Visas, Climate & Attractions

Mauritius Travel GuideMark Twain wrote that Mauritius was made first and then heaven was modelled after it — the volcanic peaks of the Black River Gorges above a perfect ring of coral reef, the extraordinary beach resorts of the east and northwest coast, the multicultural Creole-Indian-Chinese-French society of Port Louis, endemic pink pigeons and echo parakeets in the island's surviving native forest, and one of the Indian Ocean's finest cuisines.Key Facts

Capital: Port Louis

Currency: MUR (Mauritian Rupee)

Language: Mauritian Creole, English, French

Time Zone: UTC+4

Top Places to Visit

Le Morne Brabant — A dramatic basalt peninsula rising 556m from the southwest lagoon — a UNESCO World Heritage site commemorating the escaped slaves (marrons) who sought refuge on its cliffs. Extraordinary hiking, the finest lagoon views on the island, and a profound cultural significance.

Black River Gorges National Park — The largest remaining area of native forest in Mauritius — pink pigeon, Mauritian kestrel (once the world's rarest bird), echo parakeet, and endemic ebony trees in gorge-cut highland terrain with extraordinary views over the southwest coast.

Île aux Aigrettes — A small coral islet off the southeast coast — painstakingly restored to its pre-human condition by the Mauritius Wildlife Foundation, with Aldabra giant tortoises, Telfair's skinks, and the pink pigeon in a forest that looks as it did before the dodo walked.

The Underwater Waterfall — Off the Le Morne peninsula, sand and silt cascading down an underwater shelf creates the extraordinary illusion of a waterfall plunging into the abyss — best seen from a helicopter or light aircraft over the southwest coast.

Port Louis — A genuinely interesting capital — the Central Market with its street food and spice stalls, the Caudan Waterfront, the Champ de Mars (world's oldest horse racing track in the southern hemisphere), and the extraordinary cultural mix of Hindu temples, mosques, and Chinese pagodas.

Local Food

Dholl Puri — Mauritius's beloved street food — a thin, soft roti filled with yellow split pea dhal, served with rougaille (tomato chilli sauce), coriander, and lime. Sold from roadside stalls across the island from early morning, eaten at any hour.

Octopus Vindaye — Octopus marinated and cooked with mustard seeds, turmeric, garlic, and vinegar — a Mauritian Creole dish with Indian and Malagasy roots, served cold as a starter or warm with rice at beach restaurants around the island.

Mine Bouilli and Mine Frite — Mauritian Chinese noodle dishes — mine bouilli (noodles in a light broth with vegetables and meat) and mine frite (stir-fried noodles with Creole spicing) reflect the Sino-Mauritian community's centuries-old contribution to the island's kitchen.

Biryani Mauricien — Mauritian biryani from a Muslim traiteur (takeaway) — long-grained rice layered with slow-cooked lamb or chicken, saffron, and whole spices, served with brèdes chouchou (chayote leaves) and a fiery chilli sauce.

Back to PlanTrip