A Traveller’s Guide to Mauritius
Since Mauritius is an island in the Indian Ocean it is mostly popular due to its tropical beaches and pleasant weather. It is an ideal vacation spot not just for couples but with friends, family, and even for a solo trip.
Besides the natural charm of this island paradise, it also has various historic places along with several adrenaline rushing activities. Instead of going there unprepared, one should decide in advance the places they would wish to visit or the things they would like to do.
Top 7 things to do in Mauritius
The island of Mauritius has become one of the top tourist vacation spots due to the various things it has to offer. These are mostly the natural scenic beauty, history and culture, gardens, activities, local products, and cuisine.
Explore Beaches
As Mauritius is an island, it has beaches on all sides. Since many of the resorts are built with private beaches, one can choose to enjoy solitary time. But one can also simply visit the public beaches that have tourists and locals both.
While the beaches on the eastern coast are the richest, those found on the south coast are usually quieter. The beaches of the western coast of Mauritius are where tourists mostly enjoy activities on the water.
History to Learn About
Mauritius was an uninhabited island till the 16th century. The Dutch first colonized it, followed by the French and British. Mauritius only gained independence in 1968. There are French-styled mansions that were built by the colonialists that have now become architectural treasures.
These mansions have old styled high ceilings, verandas, casement windows, and beautiful gardens. Tourists travel back in time by visiting the Chateau Labourdonnais or the Eureka Mansion.
Deep Diving to Explore Sea Beauty
The west coast has a stunning lagoon which is not only a picturesque sight but the reefs on its rim also offer diving. These shallow waters are filled with marine life. People who love diving can discover a different world underwater. Divers flock to Flic en Flac including La Cathedrale.
Mountains
Mauritius is not just about sunny beaches and resorts. It has numerous hills that people can climb and experience gorgeous views of the sea from there. Chamarel is one such place tourists flock to for the fine dining experience in the wilderness offered there. There is also the infamous natural wonder of seven colored sand in Terres de 7 Couleurs.
Resorts
Even if there are people who visit Mauritius for seeking new adventures, most tourists come for relaxing. This is also due to the numerous luxury beach resorts on this island. While some are too lavish for honeymoon couples, others cater to families with kids.
The services they offer such as water sports, make people not want to leave the resort grounds. Some other features that these resorts have are multiple swimming pools, spas, gardens, wonderful restaurants, and large but luxurious rooms.
Local Food during the Trip
The cuisines on this island have influences from all over the world. They are inspired by Chinese, Indian, Creole, and French influences. There are numerous restaurants around the island where tourists can enjoy the local delicacies, for example, Restaurant Le Barbizon in Chamarel offers home-styled cooking.
Being an island country in the Indian Ocean, they also have a wide variety of seafood such as prawns, octopus, lobster, calamari, grilled fish, etc. Tourists can enjoy such fine dining with a view. All they have to do is visit a beachfront shack in Trou Aux Biches or St. Francois and order the seafood of their choice.
Gardens
Those who wish to see the gardens full of tropical vegetation can visit the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens at Pamplemousses. Back in 1735, it was originally a vegetable garden for the Mon Plaisir Chateau. It is well known for the unusual botany like the giant tortoises or the Victoria amazonica water lilies.
Transportation
For tourists, there are various options for car rentals in Mauritius. There are car hires from Mauritius airport available as well.
The most recommended type of transportation for tourists is renting a car. Not only can they visit any place for any amount of time, but it will also be budget-friendly. While there are others options like buses or cabs available, they would cost a bit more.
In case they rent the car beforehand, they would also have to pay the amount that is below average. They can usually rent a car for a week, two weeks, or a month and also decide on the type of car depending on the number of people they are traveling with.
Conclusion
Mauritius is an amalgam of sunny white beaches, blue waters, dramatic mountains, and lagoons, with a culture that is influenced by different countries around the world. The thriving tourism industry is a result of the high-end resorts and spas besides the natural beauty.
This is one of the top destinations for adventures and travelers who come from not only different countries but continents as well. To make the trip more satisfying, it is better to create a plan in advance regarding the places they wish to visit or the expenses they would have. The purpose of this article is to provide information on some such things they can enjoy in Mauritius.