Sun, Sea & Glorious Mountains
A country with vast expanse of sugarcane plantations & mountains, Mauritius is more famously known to tourists for its pristine beaches. If you are seeking solace from the humdrum of work, a quiet stay in one of the many beach resorts will leave you well-rested.
Some Tips
Transport:
It takes approximately 1.5 hours to travel through Mauritius from North to South, sans the occasional traffic jams around the capital of Port Louis. We were amazed at the hefty prices of the local taxis which usually cost US$50 (onwards) for a short, nearby round-trip.
Note: Most of our round trip taxi rides costed between US$120 – US$180. It is difficult to flag a taxi off the streets so most tourists would arrange for their hotel to call a taxi in and charter it for the required period. IMO it is easier to book a day trip with a reputable tour operator instead as this will settle your transport.
Renting a car with GPS (usually requires a minimum of 3 days) would be a more economical choice, with rates of approx US$150 for 3 days. Be warned, there are many one-way side streets which may leave you stranded all alone with only a chicken for company!
Currency:
Bring EUR / USD and exchange at the Airport for Mauritian Rupees. This would be cheaper vis-a-vis changing at your hotel / in the town as those money changers include commission charges. To our surprise, some of the money changers accept Singapore Dollars and CNY. Check out the indicative rates below:
Language:
The official language is French, while the native language is French-based creole language. Many locals are able to converse in basic English.
Weather:
Approx 32 degrees with occasional short rain showers. Bring lots of sunblock and insect repellant.
Religion:
The majority of the population are Hindus.
Shopping:
Most street shops close by 5pm and are not open on Sundays.
Map of key attractions
Highlight! Swimming with Dolphins (Tamarin Bay)
One of the few places in the world to get up close with wild dolphins in clear waters and observe their behavior. There are many tour operators which offer 0.5 / 1 day snorkeling or kayaking trips.
We booked our trip with Dolswim.
http://www.dolswim.com/Dolswim-Dolphin-watching-Mauritius.html
We were impressed with the way Dolswim educated the guests about the different species and how we should behave near them. We were also warned never to touch the wild dolphins so that we do not transmit any potential diseases to them. At any point in time, only 2 guest can snorkel with an experienced crew, this was done to prevent overcrowding in the waters and causing stress to the dolphins. Sadly, this was not the case with other operators.
Caudan Waterfront, Street & Wet Market (Port Louis, The Capital)
The waterfront view is beautiful and the surrounding shopping complex is relatively modern. Do take a 5 mins walk across the road towards the street and wet market for a more authentic experience. You can see the locals in action while they shop for local produce and you can pick up some bargain souvenirs along the way. The street market is similar to Bangkok’s Pratunam market.
Horse Riding (Le Morne – a world heritage site)
The horse riding culture is big in Mauritius! I found Haras Du Morne (equestrian facility) after seeing good recommendations online. One of the rare facilities which offer both beach, forest and mountain riding experience. During my private ride, I was accompanied by 2 professional riders (one in front, one behind) and we did trots & canters along the pristine beach. The team caters the pace in accordance to your experience. The horses are well cared for, good-mannered and incredibly responsive. Riding was such a joy here!
Call them 1 day in advance to book.
Tour of the South West Region
Not to be missed, the south west region offers spectacular views of the mountains, waterfalls and geographical formations. We booked the day trip via http://mauritiusattractions.com/activities.php and a private driver took us around for the entire day.
- Rochester Falls
- Alexander Falls
- Black River Gorges
- Chameral – Seven Colored Earth & Water Fall
- The geographical formation is worth a visit especially if you are exploring the south-western side of the island. The attraction (relatively small area of colorful sand dunes) is located in the Chamarel plain of the Riviere Norie District. The ticket costed around 200MUR per adult.
Casela Nature Park
The key attraction is the interaction with lion cubs and the 1 hr walk with the adult lions through the forest. Do take note of the time for the activities that you wish to participate in so that you can book 1 day in advance to ensure your slot. IMO the rates are slightly overpriced…but it worth a visit for the fun of buggy rides, mini safari experience, segway and the walk with the lions.
That’s all we visited during our week-long trip to the lovely Mauritius! We spent far too much time lazing on the quiet beaches and enjoying the snorkeling.
Have fun on your trip there!
NB: We flew Air Mauritius via KL with a total traveling time of 9.5 hrs from Singapore. We stayed at Club Med La Plantation d’Albion which offered full board & a host of activities. This particular Club Med village is more suitable for French / French speaking guests since most of the staff (i.e. G.O. (Gentil Organisateur)) spoke in the same language. If not for the friendly handful of G.O.s, mainly Asians, who entertained us and assisted with our requirements, the stay would have been most sterile and not what we had sought for in the spirit of Club Med.
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