Located in the Indian Ocean near the Reunion Island, Mauritius sits majestically at 800km east of Madagascar and part of the Mascarene Islands, a volcanic chain that extends up to Seychelles. Mauritius is an African country lying on the edges of 160km of sandy beaches and an azure sea, with an amazing backdrop of rugged peaks and shimmering sugar cane. Filled with amazing beauty and soul-enriching charm, this pear-shaped tropical island is a holiday destination for tourists and travelers.
With a total number of 16 islands and islets, each known for their beauty, tourists looking to travel to Mauritius are in for a very good time. Mauritius is one flamboyant and fragrant tourist destination that fulfills all your dreams of a vacation in paradise.
Bounded by a coastline littered generously with shimmering beaches, guarded by a virtually unbroken coral reef, this island is the perfect destination for your ultimate island tropical getaway.
With its array of some of the world’s finest hotels, temperatures rarely falling below 20oC, and a landscape set off by diminutive mountains, you’d definitely want to travel to Mauritius as it remains a perfect year-round holiday destination.
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Officially known as the Republic of Mauritius, the island nation is about 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) off the southeast coast of the African continent. With islands such as Rodrigues, Agalega, and St.Brandon, even including the main island also called Mauritius, the country spans 2,040 square kilometers (790 miles) with an exclusive economic zone covering 2.3 million square kilometers, with Port Louis serving as the largest and capital city where most of the country’s population is concentrated.
There is no official language in Mauritius but citizens speak French and English. The ethnic groups are Indo-Mauritius, 67%, Mauritian Creoles taking up 28%, Sino-Mauritians, 3%, and the Franco-Mauritians taking up 2% of the population.
According to the 2011 census of the country, there are four religious groups in Mauritius, 48.54% Hinduism, 32.71% Christianity, 17.30% Islam, and 1.45% for others. Mauritius is the 158th most populous country in the world with 1,265,475 people according to the 2019 estimate, with the Mauritian rupee (MUR) serving as the official currency.
Where to visit when you travel to Mauritius
With over four centuries of colonization, the island now has a rich multicultural mosaic of Indian, African, Chinese, and French heritage, which means each region of the country has its unique landscape, and attractions. Here are a few places of attraction to visit in Mauritius:
When you travel to Mauritius, you definitely want to check out its capital city which lies in the jumble of the Franco-British colonial buildings adjoining modern office blocks. Port Louis is surrounded by picturesque peaks of the Moka Mountain. With the landscape shaded by palm trees, colorful Chinese and Indian temples, and churches, and a flourishing market and modern waterfront, this city is atmospheric. Here you can visit the Central Market, the three Chinese temples; Kwan Tee Pagoda, Chinese Pagoda, and the Thien Thane temple in the verdant foothills of Signal Mountain.
- Mon Choisy
If you are looking to travel to Mauritius and you love the beaches, then you’d love this one. Sitting on the north coast of the island is Mauritius’s most popular beach found at Mon Choisy. This beach is a perfect location for snorkeling, swimming, strolling, and horse riding. At weekends, you find the beach crowded with tourists and campers in makeshift tents, with families and individual tourists feasting on parathas and curries.
Formerly known as the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden is only 30 minutes away from Grand Baie, the most popular attraction in the north. When you visit this garden, you witness the mazes of shady palm-lined avenues that border the indigenous flora of the Mascarene island. Other beautiful sights are the graceful yellow and white lotus, and the huge, flan-case-shaped leaves of the giant Amazon water lilies in the Lily Pond.
Other things you can add to your bucket list when you visit Mauritius ar
e:
- Splurge funds on a five-star resort
- Relax on the Beach
- Hike on the Le Morne Brabant
- Visit the National Botanical Garden of Mauritius
- Go Snorkeling or Diving
When is the best time to travel to Mauritius?
There is no wrong time to travel to Mauritius, however, it is more advisable to visit between October to December, which is the early summer season on the island.
During this period, you are welcome by normal beach conditions, sunny weather, and warm temperatures. If you decide to visit from December through March, you will find larger crowds as this period is the peak of the tourism season.
Visit Mauritius Travel Essentials
The most practical items to pack for your journey are; daywear, sunhat, sunglasses, sandals, sunscreen, light sweater. You must also note that:
- You don’t need a visa to enter Mauritius unless you are staying longer than 60 days
- If you want to have a good time exploring the island, you must have your means of transport
- Exchange your money at Mauritius
- Drink only bottled water as the water on the island is non-drinkable as it is a cyclone-prone island
- Mauritius is expensive
