From beaches to safaris, here are the absolute best things to do in Mauritius.
Mauritius is a beautiful island nation off the southeast coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. The nation is comprised of Rodrigues and Mauritius island as well as the outer islands, which are all part of the Mascarene Islands.
With amazing white sandy beaches, enticing turquoise waters, pictureque mountains, including several UNESCO World Heritage Sites and so much more packed in one country, you won’t run out of things to see in Mauritius! Below is just a partial list of ideas of what I think are great to do in Mauritius
that will make your vacation one that you will never forget!
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Black River Gorges National Park
I recall the memorable days hiking with my school friends in the Black River Gorges. Following my stint in Europe where most forests have been replanted by man, I can confirm that this natural forest is truly something else. The forests are dense, the animals that live in there are unique and the fresh tropical air, simply magical.
Located in the southwest of Mauritius, Black River Gorges National Park is the biggest and the most beautiful National Park in Mauritius. Lush green rainforest and beautiful hills are home to over 300 species of different plants, various birds, boar, monkeys, deer, and a big colony of giant fruit bats. If you visit just one National Park in Mauritius, make it this one!
This beautiful park is accessible via several roads, has two information centers, picnic areas, and over 60km of hiking trails. Needless to say that it’s best explored on foot.
The main highlights of Black River Gorges National Park are Gorges Viewpoint, Alexandra Falls, Macchabée Viewpoint, and Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire (the highest mountain of Mauritius).
Recommendation:
These days, there are some well-defined trails that you could follow and although the island is small, I would strongly recommend
booking a guide for the hike
.
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Chamarel: 7 Colored Earth, Waterfall & More
Chamarel is a cute village with its unique charm, located in the western hills on the west coast of Mauritius at an elevation of about 260 m between Savanne and the Black River districts.
The latter hosts the Black River Gorges where the cascades are formed, flowing through an "amphitheater of abrupt rocks". It is such a must-see that it's #1 on our list on this page :)
Charamel village is best known for two things: Rum Distillery and the 7 Coloured Earth Geopark
Nature has her own ways of piquing our curiosity with the Chamarel's 7 Coloured Earth.
One of Mauritius’ most iconic attractions, the island’s original and premier geopark provides a unique experience for geology enthusiasts, nature lovers and those who simply want to understand more about this rare and impressive phenomenon.
In my opinion, the 8.5-hectare park is the place to visit in Mauritius for an immersive experience blending geology, education and conservation with wonder and discovery in order to connect to the island’s fascinating natural heritage.
Giant Tortoises
In the same area, there are also Giant Toitoises, called Toto, Tizean, Rosette, Nini, Tizom and Tifam - munching away their food, wandering at a leisurely pace or simply lazing about in their enclosure. If you have kids, they will love these giant toitoises!
Originally from Aldabra in the Seychelles, the species can reach up to 1m in length with an average lifespan of more than 150 years. The park’s oldest giant tortoise is said to have died at the age of 250 years.
The second-largest species of tortoise in the world, the Aldabra species is a cousin of the native domed and saddle-backed giant tortoises, which have gone extinct since the early 18th century.
Chamarel Waterfall
Not far from the 7 colored earth, you can see another attraction of the area – the Chamarel waterfall
. Undoubtedly the tallest single-drop waterfall in Mauritius at about 100m high, the Chamarel Waterfall is a striking piece of nature standing amid dense vegetation. Fed by the waters of three distinct streams pouring into Saint Denis River, it has a powerful rush with a peak flow rate in excess of 40,000 m³ per minute.
Trek down the secret valley of the Chamarel Waterfall
The Charamel Waterfall can be accessed via a trail snaking through dense foliage. Overhanging the ledge of a basalt cliff, the Chamarel Waterfall splashes into an oval pool before flowing down a 6km tropical-forest-fringed canyon to Baie du Cap.This trek of three hours will take you to the base of Chamarel Waterfalls, where you can have a swim in the pool as the waterfall showers you from its majestic heights.
The sight not only floods the senses with freshness but it is also a spectacular showcase of millions of years of volcanic activity. The dramatic landscape is formed by lavas of two different ages. The layer of brecciated basalt near the base dates from between 10 to 8 million years ago, on top of which lies a second layer from the intermediate period between 3.5 and 1.7 million years ago.
No wonder why the Chamarel Waterfall is ranked among the most sought-after sightseeing spots in Mauritius!
Recommendation:
I would highly recommend to
book a guide for the whole Charamel tour including the trek
whereby you’ll get in-depth knowledge of the area ensure that the highest safety and security measures are followed to make you feel safe.
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Le Morne Brabant
This majestic basaltic mountain with a summit of 556 metres above sea level, is a UNESCO World Heritage
Site that bears enormous cultural significance for the islanders. The summit covers an area of over 12 hectares (30 acres) with many caves and overhangs on the steep slopes. It is largely surrounded by the magnificent Mauritian lagoon and it is one of the must visit tourist sites in Mauritius.
Since its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008, Le Morne Brabant was closed to the public but after much deliberation, it was officially reopened to the public in 2016. The majestic Morne Brabant mountain has been welcoming thousands of local and foreign visitors ever since.
Le Morne’s cultural landscapes is an exceptional testimony to the marronage and resistance to slavery, as the mountain was being used as a fortress to shelter escaped slaves. It is the most important slave site and maroon refuge in Mauritius and it is intimately tied with universal ideals of individual freedom and resistance to oppression. The mountain also holds two rare plants, the Mandrinette and the Boucle d'Oreille.
As an avid hiker in the German/Austrian Alps, I enjoyed hiking to Le Morne. However, do not underestimate the 550m of elevation.
Recommendation:
You could hike to the peak on your own but I would strongly recommend booking a professional guide
who will also share with you more history of this amazing mountain.
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Swimming with wild dolphins and whale watching
If you are looking for an unforgettable experience in Mauritius, then you cannot miss the ‘swim with the wild dolphins‘ boat trip! It’s one of the most exciting and memorable excursion to do on your Mauritius vacation.
You’ll plunge into the remarkable world of these powerful marine mammals and come face to face with the wild dolphins. They can only be seen on the western coast of Mauritius, south of Flic-en-Flac where La Marquise Résidence is located.
There are catamaran or speedboat options that can take you where the dolphins are located in the morning. These trips are usually combined with a BBQ lunch on île aux Bénitiers. If you are a staying over at La Marquise Résidence, you may use the contact form
to request a preferential tariff for such an excursion.
Recommendation:
Dolphin trips always take place early morning as that is the best time to see them. But it’s totally worth the early start! Here you can
book a day swimming with dolphins including a BBQ lunch on Île aux Bénitiers
. If you would like to combine swimming with dolphins and doing further into the ocean to watch the whales, then
secure your ticket early here
.
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Catamaran trip to Gunner’s Quoin, Flat Island and île aux Gabriel
Located off the north coast of Mauritius, Coin de Mire (aka Gunner’s Quoin) is a small island shaped like a sailboat, which offers one of the most beautiful landscapes of the island. At the foot of its cliffs, where the iconic tropicbird nest, you can snorkel on a shallow and rather unspoiled coral reef. There is a great diversity of reef fish, including butterflyfish, angelfish, damselfish, and wrasse.
This is one of my best full-day excursions and I totally recommend taking a catamaran that goes all the way to île aux Gabriel, with a stop at Flat Island. On my excursion, we had a rich BBQ lunch on board the catamaran and we really loved it. Near Île aux Gabriel, we also saw some sea turtles in the shallow water. Please note that swimming with the sea turtles is not allowed at the moment. I was simply surprised to see them near me and I made sure not to disturb them as I slowly swam away.
Recommendation:
The Gunner’s Quoin, Flat Island and île aux Gabriel is a must-do full-day trip and you can
head here to reserve your tickets
.
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Boat Day-Trip to île aux Cerfs
Don’t get fooled by the size of Mauritius. The island can feel very big sometimes and with the many islets around the main island, there is suddenly a lot to see.
Most of these small islands are tiny and uninhabited. Some have white-sand beaches, amazing snorkeling, and offer lots of activities for daytime visitors, while some others are just some rocks peeping out of the sea. No trip to Mauritius would be complete without taking a boat tour to explore the islands near the coast of Mauritius.
We took this Mauritius catamaran cruise that included snorkeling, a visit to historic Ile aux Fouquets (locals call it the Lighthouse Island), Grand River South East waterfall, and some free time on Ile aux Cerfs.
This paradise-like island has stunning scenery and so many activities that it has become one of the most popular day-trip destinations from Mauritius. Delicious BBQ lunch on board and all-inclusive drinks made the day completely perfect.
Recommendation:
I recommend the speedboat option to île aux Cerfs as this allows for more time to do other sight-seeing activities in the east. The catamaran one, which you can book here, is on the other hand, the more relaxing variant.
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Ganga Talao - Grand Bassin
Lying inland in the mountains of the southwest of the island, Grand Bassin, or Ganga Talao, is a crater lake sacred to Hindus, who believe that it was formed when Shiva spilt drops of water from the Ganges River in India. The largest natural lake in Mauritius, Grand Bassin is surrounded by candy-coloured statues of gods and Hindu temples. During Maha Shivaratri, which takes place at the end of February or beginning of March each year, half a million Hindus make a pilgrimage to the lake, the most holy place on the island. If you travel to Mauritius during this time, don’t miss this spectacular festival, which is one of the biggest Hindu celebrations outside of India.
Grand Bassin is close to a lot of natural attractions and interesting places to visit, including the wildest place on the island, Black River Gorges National Park, which is a must for animal lovers, birders, hikers and adventure travellers, the lovely village of Chamarel – home to an award-winning rum distillery, excellent restaurants and the famous multi-coloured sand dunes, and the newly established Ebony Forest, a wonderful place to see indigenous trees and birds.
The second-largest species of tortoise in the world, the Aldabra species is a cousin of the native domed and saddle-backed giant tortoises, which have gone extinct since the early 18th century.
Recommendation:
I recommend a full-day guided tour in the south east where you go to Grand Bassin and also continue the day to Chamarel and the Black River Gorges highlighted earlier. Here's a private tour you could opt to ensure you get full historical information about the unique places you'll visit in the south east part of Mauritius.
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L’Aventure du Sucre
L’Aventure du Sucre is one of the must-see and best museums to visit in Mauritius. It’s incredibly education where you'll learn deep information behind the history of sugar in Mauritius. You'll explore more about Mauritius island, its people, history, and culture, as well as taste some local rum. A visit here will make you see Mauritius with very different eyes.
Located in the beautiful Beau Plan Sugar Estate, L’Aventure du Sucre is an events center that also houses a museum, a restaurant, and a shop. The museum is set inside an old sugar factory. A visit here is like stepping back in time, yet the place is very modern and the exhibits are well thought-off.
Every museum visit includes rum- and sugar tasting. In addition, cocktail-making lessons and sugarcane cutting tours are available. There is also a very good restaurant on site.
Recommendation:
You could book a guided tour for the north of the island where you'll get to visit multiple highlights like the Botanical Garden, the capital city Port-Louis amongst others.
