East of Madagascar and southeast of the Seychelles, Mauritius is an island republic that shimmers like a pearl in the southern Indian Ocean. The nation's largest port and capital city are both called Port Louis. In addition to offering some of the greatest honeymoon packages, Mauritius is one of the world's most popular vacation spots. Beautiful beaches are one of Mauritius's most well-known features. In addition to its beaches, Mauritius tourism is incredibly alluring and perfect for an unforgettable vacation because of its thrilling mountainous scenery, sweeping valleys, dormant volcanoes, and conveniently accessible waterfalls. You will be enthralled by this country's breathtaking beauty and natural aesthetics. Mauritius has a plethora of attractions, many of which are well worth a visit.
Best Places in Mauritius
1. Ile aux Aigrettes
800 meters off the southeast coast of Mauritius, close to the tiny settlement of Mahebourg, sits the tiny coral island known as Ile aux Aigrettes. The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation is preserving the island, which has been designated as a nature conservation site. It is the biggest islet in Grand Port Bay, covering 27 hectares. It is the final remaining area of dry coastal woodland on Mauritius, composed primarily of coralline limestone with sand and soil layers on top.
In 1965, Ile aux Aigrettes was designated as a wildlife reserve. The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF) has worked extremely hard to eradicate invasive species from this coral island and allow the native forest to rehabilitate. Reintroductions of other species have included gigantic tortoises and birds. Ile aux Aigrettes is now a stunning natural location that is well worth visiting.
2. Casela Nature Park
Located in the southwest of Mauritius, next to the Rempart Mountain, is the picturesque Casela World of Adventures natural park. Casela is one of the island's two animal parks; the other is called La Vanille. In addition to being the oldest park in Mauritius, it is a popular destination for tourists. The Yemen Reserve includes Casela World of Adventures.
250 hectares of untamed landscape, rich woodland, a scorched-earth safari, and breathtaking gorges in the mountainous region make up the Casela World of Adventures. Both native and foreign species thrive there, including tamarind, pink pepper, cassia, ebony, and macaque monkeys, as well as fruit bats, wild boars, hares, macaque monkeys, mongooses, and Java deer. The energetic and lively park is distinguished by the variety of leisure pursuits it offers, such as fast off-road vehicle rides, daring experiences, and real safari tours. Popular activities at Casela include "walking with lions," which lasts for an hour, and "interaction with big cats." These activities are among the best things to do in Mauritius.
3. Grand Bassin
Grand Bassin, also known as Ganga Talao, is a crater lake in the Savanne district of Mauritius. Ganga Talao, one of the most significant Hindu pilgrimage destinations outside of India, is regarded as the most sacred Hindu location in Mauritius and is situated at an elevation of 1800 feet. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Sagar Shiv Mandir is situated on the lake's edge.
Along the Grand Bassin are temples devoted to many gods, such as Lord Ganesh, Goddess Ganga, and Lord Hanuman. A 108-foot-tall statue of Lord Shiva, a replica of the Shiva statue at Sursagar Lake in Vadodara, Gujarat, India, is also present at the entry. Many pilgrims in Mauritius go barefoot from their homes to the lake during Shivaratri.
4. Trou aux Cerfs
Known by many as Murr's Volcano, Trou aux Cerfs is a dormant volcano in Mauritius that lies roughly 0.5 miles west of Curepipe. This amazing natural creation is an excellent example of a "cone and crater" volcano, which implies that the volcano's peak features a sizable concave valley. This massive dormant volcano is 80 meters deep and approximately 2,000 feet above the surrounding terrain. It is a favorite location for joggers and is covered with beautiful vegetation. The volcano is dormant, but within the next thousand years, experts say it could erupt at any time. There is simply a narrow, dangerously steep embankment leading down to the crater. Due to clogging caused by silt and water, the crater is now much less accessible. There are beautiful views of the surroundings from this location.
5. La Vanille Nature Park
Nestled in the southern village of Riviere des Anguilles, La Vanilla Nature Park is home to a variety of wildlife, including giant tortoises from Madagascar, Seychelles, and the Nile crocodile. With over 500 Giant Aldabra tortoises of various ages living in freedom within the park, La Vanille is also the largest center of reproduction for these tortoises worldwide. Discover the various butterflies and insects in its insectarium. The collection's conservative, Mr. Jacques Siedlecki, has been gathering Paguroidea insects from all around the world for more than 30 years.
Along with an aquarium, a museum dedicated to tortoises, a museum featuring ammonite fossils, and an exploration of the world of marine mammals in Mauritius are all features of the Vanille Nature Park. The park also has a "Jungle Adventure Playground" with entertaining kid-friendly attractions and activities.
6. Chamarel Falls & Seven Coloured Earths
Situated close to Tamarin and Le Morne on Mauritius' west coast is a little settlement called Chamarel. Nonetheless, Chamarel is more well-known for Chamarel Falls and Colored Earths. The Seven Colored Earth is a well-known tourist destination in Mauritius and a natural phenomenon. As clay minerals were formed from basaltic lava, the hues changed. It's thought that colors will separate on their own if they are mixed.
The Chamarel Falls on the St. Denis River is another fascinating location to see in Chamarel. Three different streams of water drop into a gorge at a height of 272 feet. This waterfall is regarded by many as the most exquisite in Mauritius. It is very breathtaking to see this magnificent waterfall set against the picturesque mountains and forest.
7. Mauritius Botanical Garden
The Sir Seewoosagur Botanical Garden, formerly known as the Botanical Garden, is situated in the Pamplemousse neighborhood close to Port-Louis. The SSR Gardens, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mauritius, is also one of the best botanical gardens in the world, second only to London's Kew Gardens. Nearly 300 years ago, the French governor of Mauritius first established the garden as a private garden. Later, it was transformed into the country's official botanical garden.
The botanical garden covers an enormous amount of ground. More than 650 different plant species may be found there, with some of the most well-known ones including giant water lilies, baobabs, palmier Bougainville, numerous medicinal plants, a sizable spice garden, and many more. A pond brimming with enormous South American native Victoria Amazonica water lilies serves as the focal point of the grounds. Several foreign luminaries, such as Nelson Mandela, Indira Gandhi, and numerous British royals, have planted trees in the area. In addition to the vast array of trees and plants, this area is home to a sugar mill, a farm housing deer and turtles, and a historic colonial castle known as "Chateau Mon Plaisir."
8. Black River Gorges National Park
The sole national park in Mauritius' southwest is called Black River Gorges National Park. The park, which spans 6754 hectares and preserves the remnants of the island's native tropical woods, makes up around 3.5% of Mauritius' total land area. It is well-known for its hiking paths, viewpoints, and waterfalls. For those interested in bird watching, it can be an amazing location and one of the best spots to explore Mauritius tourism.
The park is home to numerous endemic species of flora and animals, such as the Mauritius bulbul, pink pigeon, Mauritius parakeet, Mauritius kestrel, and Mauritius flying fox. Of the 700 islands in the Mauritius, it supports about 311 rare plant species. The largest protected forest in Mauritius, Black River Gorges National Park, offers more than 50 kilometers of hiking paths.
9. Ile aux Cerfs Island
Located in the Flacq district close to Mauritius' east coast lies the stunning island known as Ile aux Cerfs Island, sometimes referred to as Deer Island. This 100-hectare Mauritius island is spread out over a large region. The island is peppered with little lakes, gorgeous white sand beaches, and outcrops of volcanic rock in addition to its naturally occurring vegetation and undulating topography. It is one of the locations that Mauritius tour packages really must include.
It is well-known for its gorgeous lagoon, sand beaches, and range of activities. Ile aux Cerfs Island, known as a water sports enthusiast's paradise, provides a range of aquatic activities, including swimming, snorkeling, water skiing, glass bottom boats, and more. The enormous black boulders that jut out of the water, along with the stunning coral reef teeming with marine life, make this an excellent location for snorkeling and taking in the diverse undersea environment. In addition, there are dining options and a five-star hotel with a golf course. The island is home to the internationally recognized 18-hole championship Bernard Langer golf course, which is run by the Le Touessrok Hotel.
10. Grand Bay / Grand Baie
In the Riviere du Rempart department of Mauritius, Grand Bay, also known as Grand Baie, is a beachfront community with a sizable tourist beach. The most sought-after vacation spot in Mauritius is Grand Bay, a resort town known for its emerald waters and once called De Bogt Zonder Eyndt (Bay Without End) by the Dutch in the 17th century.
It provides areas for windsurfing, water skiing, sailing, and swimming that are safe. It serves as the starting point for boat excursions to the northern Mauritius islands, including Gunners' Quoin, Flat Island, Round Island, and Serpent Island, as well as deep-sea fishing expeditions. With the underwater sea walk, submarine tour, and underwater scooter, this is also an excellent location to explore Mauritius' amazing underwater marine life. There are also lots of options for fashion and craft stores around Grand Bay. It is well-known for its restaurants and hotels with bay views of Mauritius. Because it is home to the majority of the island's top pubs and nightclubs, it is also well-known for its nightlife.
