10 Best Activities in Mauritius
What is Mauritius Most Famous For?
Mauritius, an island off the southeastern coast of Africa, is an idyllic destination for sun-seekers looking for white sandy beaches and calm lagoons. In fact, the lagoons are protected from the sometimes rough Indian ocean by the world’s third-largest coral reef. But there is more to do on the island than lounge around the beach.
What are the best activities to do in Mauritius? On the list: cultural museums, natural parks featuring sand coloured like a kaleidoscope, Hindu temples and hikes up a basaltic monolith. And for a taste of luxury, Mauritius also has golf courses, waterfront shopping centres and some unique accommodations. This small island packs a surprising amount of activity in it, so let’s get stuck in.
1. Port Louis
The island’s main port, known for its French-inspired architecture
Ideal para: História, Alimentação
Whether you’re stopping in Mauritius just for the day as a cruise excursion or planning to visit as your prime holiday destination, you’ll want to spend time in Port Louis. The small island’s capital city is a cultural hub.
What can you do in Port Louis besides watch the boats roll in? For one, Port Louis is divided into many neighbourhoods. Chinatown is one worth visiting for authentic cuisine and cultural festivals and you can get there by walking along Royal Road. Or hike up to the Citadelle, an old stone fortress, for a view of the city below. Last, visit the city’s eclectic assortment of museums, like the Bank of Mauritius, Postal Museum and Natural History Museum.
Port Louis
2. Grand Baie
Restaurants line the perimeter streets of this emerald lagoon
Ideal para: Aventura, Vida noturna
Grand Baie, or Grand Bay, is a beach town with some of the best activities to do in Mauritius, such as scuba diving, taking a bay cruise and parasailing. The Grand Baie area also has beautiful beaches, some of which are public while others belonging to luxury resort properties.
But Grand Baie isn’t just a destination for beach activities. The city has a vibrant nightlife. Night clubs and bars are known to host partygoers into the early hours of the morning.
Grand Baie
3. Le Morne Brabant
Intriguing geologic feature named after a 1783 grounded ship
Ideal para: História, Foto, Aventura
Mauritius’s southern peninsula, Le Morne Brabant, offers tourists a unique ecological hiking experience. Note that hiking the basaltic monolith starts out gradual and increases in difficulty around halfway up the trail. If you’re concerned about navigating it on your own, companies in the area offer tours that include transportation from nearby hotels and supplies along the hike.
Le Morne is a UNESCO World Heritage site, meaning you’re sure to see some incredible panoramic views and wildlife. It’s also home to the International Slave Route Monument, paying tribute to the resistance against slavery. Though the mountain is beautiful, it is also a sombre place of remembrance.
Le Morne Brabant
4. Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth Geopark
The tallest waterfall on the island
Ideal para: Famílias, Foto, Viagens alternativas
The sand dunes of the Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth Geopark are a sight to behold, comprising of 7 different colours of sand. This geopark in the south of Mauritius is a dazzling display of red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow sand. The natural phenomenon is almost unbelievable, and the undulating stripes of colour are a photographer’s dream.
The sand isn’t all there is to see in the Chamarel Geopark, though. Here you can hike to waterfalls or watch the habits of the park’s population of giant tortoises. The enclosed park also has cafes, gift shops and an adventure park for an additional charge.
Localização: 7 Coloured Earth Road, Chamarel, Mauritius
Abre: Daily from 8.30 am to 5 pm
Telefone: +230 483-4298
Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth Geopark
5. Grand Bassin
The tallest statue in Mauritius
Ideal para: Foto, Econômico
Grand Bassin, also known as Ganga Talao, is a crater lake in the south of Mauritius. For Hindus, it is the most sacred place on the island and should be visited with respect for local culture. Here you will find a beautiful temple and grand statues of the Hindu god Shiva and goddess Durga.
The area surrounding Grand Bassin is a sight to behold, too, with colourful flowers and captivating wildlife. You may even see little monkeys running around. Near the end of February, hundreds of thousands of people flock to Grand Bassin to worship and celebrate the Great Night of Lord Shiva. Non-Hindus are welcome to come celebrate and learn about the culture, too.
Localização: HFJV+M97, Bois Cheri, Mauritius
Grand Bassin
6. Le Caudan Waterfront
A destination for arts, shopping, dining and culture
Ideal para: Compras, História, Vida noturna
Le Caudan Waterfront is a unique seaside complex in the Mauritius capital of Port Louis and is a great way to spend an afternoon or evening. You can peruse woodcarvings and other art in the artists’ corner, gamble at the casino or dine at restaurants serving Indian, Italian and Asian fusion cuisine. The shopping centre’s food court is housed in an old astronomical observatory, making for some fantastic photos.
Don’t miss a chance to visit the Blue Penny Museum, too, to learn more about the history of Mauritius. The museum gets its name from the collection of Blue Penny and Red Penny stamps, issued in 1847.
Localização: Marina Quay, Caudan, Port Louis, Mauritius
Abre: Daily from 9.12 am to 7.12 pm
Telefone: +230 211-9500
Le Caudan Waterfront
7. Île aux Cerfs
A picturesque luxury island
Ideal para: Casais, Luxo
Every 30 minutes a ferry from Pointe Maurice shuttles eager travellers to Île aux Cerfs, a private island off the eastern coast of Mauritius. What do they see when they arrive? White sand beaches, a championship golf course designed by pro-golfer Bernhard Lager and plenty of fine restaurants.
Île aux Cerfs is also home to an Instagram-worthy hotel: the Bubble Lodge. These clear, domed suites allow you to view the natural beauty of the island from the comfort of your bed. There are only 3 lodges on the island, however, so bookings are very limited. The Bubble Lodge is also the only hotel on the island; all other visitors stay on the main island and travel in for the day.
Île aux Cerfs
8. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden
Features an incredible pond full of giant waterlilies
Ideal para: História, Foto
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden is a beautiful destination in Pamplemousses, Mauritius. The Garden has a long history dating back to 1767 when a French Intendent, Pierre Poivre, introduced plantings from all over the world to the plot. Nutmegs and cloves were the most prized species planted, introducing spices that were rare at the time.
Get a sense of the local wildlife with the resident deer, tortoise, tropical birds, bats and fish inhabiting the garden ponds. Besides seeing verdant gardens and animal life, visitors to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Gardens can also see historical monuments and artefacts, like a model of an old sugar mill.
Localização: VHWJ+448, Pamplemousses, Mauritius
Abre: Daily from 8.30 am to 5 pm
Telefone: +230 243-9401
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden
9. La Vallée des Couleurs
Hiking, ziplining and 4x4 tours are popular in this nature park
Ideal para: Famílias, Foto, Viagens alternativas
On a beautiful tropical island like Mauritius, it makes sense that a nature park like La Vallée des Couleurs would make the list as one of the best things to do. In fact, the scenery here is so beautiful, it’s become a popular wedding venue.
The main attraction here is the multi-coloured volcanic ash. Due to a natural phenomenon that occurs because of interactions with weather and oxidation over time, the ash is a kaleidoscope of 23 different colours ranging from a natural brown to an out-of-this-world purple. Beyond that, the park also has 2 restaurants serving Indian food and local Mauritian cuisine like venison, seafood platters and salads made from fresh, in-season produce that can’t be missed.
Localização: B102, Mare Anguilles Chamouny, Mauritius
Abre: Daily from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm
Telefone: +230 660-4477
La Vallée des Couleurs
10. L’Aventure du Sucre
An important place of history and culture
Ideal para: Famílias, História
Learn about Mauritius’ history and culture at L’Aventure du Sucre, an old sugar factory turned museum. Beyond the 10 themed exhibits that showcase the factory’s machines, transport and agriculture, there is also an onsite restaurant and boutique with more than 30 sugar cane products available to taste.
L’Aventure du Sucre features some unforgettable experiences too, like a class where you can learn to cut sugarcane and mix a cocktail with the juice, for an additional fee. Guided tours are available if you want to learn even more about the factory’s history.
Localização: B18, Pamplemousses 21001, Mauritius
Abre: Monday–Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm (closed on Sundays)
Telefone: +230 243-7900
L'Aventure du Sucre
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