Mauritius is a great destination for a combination of relaxing beach holidays and active hiking in the mountains and national parks.

Plus, you'll enjoy authentic cheap and safe street-food and visit a few sights.

Boat cruises or organised guided tours to natural attractions, organised by many local tour operators, are a great option.

Compare prices and book an activity at getyourguide.com

Beaches and swimming

Many tourists travel to Mauritius specifically for its beaches, which are some of the most beautiful in the world.

All Mauritian beaches are made up of white, fine sand that is not only extremely comfortable to walk on, but looks simply exclusive in photos!

Public beaches and enclosed beaches of hotel resorts

By law, all beaches in Mauritius are public.

In reality, many beaches are set aside for hotel resorts and convenient access to them is only through the reception of the resort in question, but these are private property and can be difficult to get through if you are not a guest of the resort.

However, if you are walking along the coast and walk from the free beach to the hotel beach, you will not be told anything and you can move freely on the hotel beaches as well.

It's just not possible to use services such as sunbeds and umbrellas, which are reserved for hotel guests only.

Places designated as Public Beach are completely free to access from the surrounding area without having to go through the hotel reception.

In general, however, all beaches in Mauritius are accessible free of charge.

Beach facilities

Public beaches are usually equipped with free toilets, which tend to be very basic but have always been clean!

Some beaches also have freshwater showers, but this is not exactly the norm.

On almost all beaches you will come across various stalls selling local delicacies, usually open from 9:30am to 4:30pm.

The best beaches of Mauritius

There are great beaches all along the coast. In general, the north and northwest have the coldest weather and the best chance of clear skies.

The waves tend to be biggest on the south coast, but even here there are plenty of beaches protected from the open sea by long shoals or coves.

The north coast

Among the most famous beaches are Trou-aux-Biches and Grand Baie (also Grand Bay), which is the heart of tourism in the north of the island. However, Grand Baie is more of a boat and yacht anchorage, from which catamarans also depart for Ilot Gabriel and other islets.

If you continue further north, stop in Peréybere and end your day on the lava rocks at Bain Boeuf, which is spectacular at sunset.

For a quiet getaway, the resort of Grand Gaube is popular.

But my favourite beach in the north is definitely Mon Choisy, the longest public beach in Mauritius.

West coast

Streams of tourists head to the seaside town of Flic en Flac, which offers a plethora of reasonably priced apartments and luxury resorts.

The beach is long and wide with plenty of refreshment stalls. Flic en Flac is considered the largest and liveliest resort in Mauritius.

Another tourist destination is Tamarin, where in the early morning you will see pods of dolphins migrating along the coast towards the Le Morne peninsula. Many local fishermen make a living by chartering their boats and organising 'dolphin swims' where, with a bit of luck, you can get really close to these magnificent marine mammals and enjoy the sight of them swimming in the water around you.

On the southern part of the west coast is one of the most beautiful beaches , Le Morne, popular not only for its stunning scenery with Le Morne Brabant mountain in the background, but also for the big waves that surfers and windsurfers hit.

But Le Morne Beach also has quiet spots with shallow water without waves, making it suitable for families with children.

• Our hotel tip: stay at the RIU Turquoise **** with the best location in Mauritius and affordable prices.

East Coast

A stone's throw from the international airport, the bay and Blue Bay offer stunning blue sea and white sand.

The public beach is right in the centre of the village, but we'd recommend our secret tip - the great long beach of La Cambuse on the other side of the bay even closer to the airport.

If you're looking for a quiet beach in a small authentic village, head to Le Bouchon.

The area north of Blue Bay is known as Pointe d'Esny and boasts a beautiful beach, reached by narrow passages between villas (or a longer walk along the coast away from Blue Bay). During the winter months it is a paradise for windsurfers and kitesurfers thanks to the gusty winds.

View the best beach hotels

If you continue further north, you'll reach the beautiful beaches of Belle Mare and Palmar.

Many tourists set off from the fishing village of Trou d'Eau Douce to the islet of Ile aux Cerf, which is surrounded by great and often deserted beaches.

The south coast

The public beaches of the south aren't as white-sanded, but you won't go wrong if you head here. Gris Gris beach, with its black rocks, is not suitable for swimming due to the large waves and dangerous currents, but it's definitely worth a visit, along with La Roche Qui Pleure, the Weeping Face, located behind the Gris Gris headland.

The nicest beach in the south, in my opinion, is St Felix near the town of Riviere des Galets.

When driving along the south coast, don't miss the rock of La Maconde at Baie du Cap.

Hiking

Mauritius is a great destination for hiking in national parks or hiking up mountains.

There is something for everyone - you can go on very easy and comfortable trails, but also on day hikes or challenging climbs where you have to climb on all fours.

I have visited these places and can personally recommend them.

• Black River Gorges National Park - the largest hiking area where you can have fun for 3 days straight on over 60 km of marked trails
• Le Morne Brabant - an absolute Mauritian icon and one of the most photogenic mountains in the world, a very challenging climb with climbing passages that even amateurs can manage with care
• Bras d'Eau National Park - an easy walk through the flat forest in the north of the island
• Vallée de Ferney - a private reserve in an idyllic landscape of a wide valley of meadows, groves and forests

Looking for a destination that's perhaps a little more photogenic and has more hiking trails?

Combine a trip to Mauritius with the nearby island of Réunion, an absolute hiking paradise.

Snorkelling

Mauritius offers countless snorkelling spots, as almost the entire island is surrounded by a coral barrier that protects it from waves and sharks.

However, the coral reefs have changed greatly over the years and are dying off at an increasing rate. The proof is in the many broken corals that litter the beaches.

In general, Mauritius may not be the world's top snorkelling destination, but as an additional activity during your holiday it is absolutely great.

The best places to snorkel from the beach

If you don't want to pay for boat trips, visit these beaches where you can snorkel:

• Blue Bay Marine Park
• Le Morne Beach (part of it near the RIU Hotel)
• Trou Aux Biches

Snorkelling boat trips

For snorkelling in better places, you can take a boat trip from Blue Bay Beach. These are the shortest snorkeling trips, where you can take a boat ride of just 5 minutes.

For more snorkeling, take a full day cruise - the 5 Islands Tour on the east coast or the 3 Islands Tour on the north coast.

Details of the cruises are described below.

Cruises by boat and catamaran

Mauritius has many small islands along its coastline, ranging from 2 to 10 km away. The waters around these islands are often very good for snorkelling.

This is one of the reasons why boat trips or large catamarans are extremely popular in Mauritius.

There are many options to choose from, the most popular being the full day cruises (usually 8:30-15:00) which take place at various locations in Mauritius.

Compare boat trip prices at getyourguide.com

East Coast - 5 Islands Tour

Most cruises are organised in the south-east of Mauritius in an area where many small islands lie.

The most common and popular cruises are called 5 Islands Tour and are usually full-day cruises. I tried this tour too. How does such a cruise work?

I used the company Tino Boats sailing out of the small town of Trou d'Eau Douce.

The meeting point is always at the office of the particular boat company, the address usually comes to you by email or WhatsApp 24 hours in advance.

After that, you will be taken by van or you can take your own car to the port where you will board the boat (usually modern fast boats for about 20 passengers or large catamarans).

The cruise itself has 5 stops. The order varies depending on where the cruise starts:

• Ile aux Cerfs - usually a 40-45 minute stop for swimming, beautiful sandy beaches and souvenir shopping.
• Ile au Phare - an island with a deserted lighthouse, usually a 30 minute stop with a chance to walk around the island
• Ile de la Passe - a small island with a former prison, it is not possible to anchor at it, so you can only see it from the boat
• Ile aux Aigrettes - nature bird sanctuary, anchor off the shore and you can go ashore for a swim (usually a stop for about 20 minutes), it is not possible to visit the island itself
• Grand River South East Falls - take a boat to the mouth of the river where you will discover waterfalls about 15 metres high
• stop for snorkelling - usually 30-45 minutes at various times along the route
• stop for lunch - most often on the Ile aux Cerfs section or less often directly on the boat

So in reality there is usually only a stop at 4 islands, but Ile aux Cerfs is made up of several smaller islands and the food stop is usually on a different island to the swimming stop, which is why this tour is generally referred to as 5 Islands.

Lunch, drinks and snacks along the way are included by all agencies.

Cruises are usually organised from the following towns:

• Trou d'Eau Douce - for example, Tino Boats
• Mahébourg - for example Croisiers Turquoise, Catamaran Cruises
• Blue Bay - for example Totof Tours, La Criée
• Compare prices at getyoruguide.com

Lowest prices start at 85 usd, you'll often come across them with various discount incentives right on getyoruguide.com.

North Coast 3 Islands Tour

Make your beach holiday in the north more enjoyable with a full-day 3 Island Tour.

The cruise itself has multiple stops. The order varies depending on where the cruise starts:

• Ilot Gabriel - about an hour to an hour and a half to the local beautiful sandy beaches
• Ile Plate - a walk around the flat island with nice views of the ocean and the opposite Ilot Gabriel (usually 45 minutes)
• stop for snorkeling - usually 30-45 minutes at various times along the route
• stop near Gunner's Quoin Island (you can't disembark here, but you can often swim right off the boat)

We would only recommend the cruise to those of you who are not seasick. The cruise to Ilot Gabriel is on the open sea and there are often big waves, despite the fact that most of the cruises are catered for by very stable catamarans.

Lunch, drinks and snacks along the way are included by all agencies.

Cruises are usually organised from the following towns:

• Grand Baie - e.g. Top Cat, Blue Vibes
• Trou aux Biches - e.g. Blue Safari, Sunrise Excursions
• Compare prices at getyoruguide.com

The lowest prices start at 75 usd, you'll often come across them with various discount incentives right on getyoruguide.com.

There are also cheaper half-day cruises or 3-hour sunset cruises.

South West Coast

Around the famous Le Morne mountain, the crystal clear water, shallow waters and coral reefs make for ideal conditions for snorkelling, dolphin watching trips or cruises to the small island of Ile aux Benitiers.

Cruises in this part of Mauritius are usually full day cruises (in reality they last 5-6 hours) with a few stops for snorkelling and a lunch stop usually at Ile aux Benitiers.

Prices range from 65 usd, you'll often come across them with various discount incentives on getyoruguide.com.

Cruises are usually organised from the following towns:

• Le Morne - e.g. Lydia Boat, Karlos Excursions
• Tamarin - e.g. Mauritius Whales, Lokal Adventure
• Black River - e.g. Black River Charters, Catamaran Cruises
• Compare prices at getyoruguide.com

Sightseeing flights by seaplane and helicopter

Beautiful hilly landscape and turquoise sea of coral reefs contrasting sharply with the dark blue of the deep - a combination best seen from the air!

And that's why Mauritius is one of the world's top destinations for sightseeing helicopter flights. Perhaps the only better views I've experienced are in Kauai, Hawaii.

What are the prices of sightseeing flights?

Prices vary by company, but are generally similar for airplanes/hydroplanes or helicopters.

Most often, companies quote prices in Euros because most of their clientele are European tourists.

Compare sightseeing flight prices at getyourguide.com

• 15-minute flight - from 150 eur
• 40-minute flight - from 300 eur
• 80-minute flight - from 500 eur

How far in advance do I need to book my flight?

We recommend booking sightseeing flights at least 4 weeks in advance in the low season (June-September) and at least one month in advance in the high season (November-March).

You can try visiting individual operators on the spot to see if last-minute seats have opened up, but this is not the rule.

Where do I fly from and to?

Several companies operate flights to Mauritius.

• LagoonFLIGHT - flies seaplanes from the south coast over Mount Le Morne Brabant and the adjacent lagoon, with longer flights over the Black River GorgesNational Park
  • Booking and info: lagoonflight.com
  • Airport location: south coast between Baie du Cap and Le Morne, see map
• Corail Helicopters - helicopters fly on the south coast over Le Morne Brabant and the Chamarel reserve or along the north coast
  • Booking and info: corailhelico-mu.com
  • Location of heliports: Bel-Ombre (see map), Chamarel (see map), Triolet (see map)
• IslandWings - flies seaplanes from the north coast from Grand Gaube and on to the 3 islands
  • Booking and info: islandwingsmauritius.com
  • Airport location: directly in Grand Gaube, see map

Visit the rum distilleries

As you travel through Mauritius, you will notice the ubiquitous sugar cane, which in itself suggests that Mauritius will be a major rum producer.

If you want to learn more about the production of this spirit, taste samples or buy traditional Mauritian rum as a souvenir to take home, visit these distilleries, called rhumerie.

• Domaine Saint Aubin
• Rhumerie Chamarel
  • rhumeriedechamarel.com
  • 650 mur for a tour with tasting

Vanilla plantations

Although Madagascar and Zanzibar are particularly famous for vanilla and spices, Mauritius has also historically grown vanilla, fruit and exotic spices.

Today, sugar cane is the main product of local agriculture, but you can still visit two beautiful and especially fragrant vanilla plantations.

I visited both of them as well and the information, photos and admission prices are described in the details of the places:

• Domaine Saint Aubin
• Plantation Vanille St Julien d'Hotman

Gastronomy and street-food

Mauritian cuisine is varied with predominantly Creole and Indian influences.

It is one of the few places in the world where you can sample really cheap street food without the risk of food poisoning. Hygiene standards are high in Mauritius and not once did any of the food make me sick.

Try the typical samosa pastries (from 10 mur for 1 piece) or simple nutritious meals in the local markets.

We have a separate chapter on Mauritian cuisine, detailing local traditional dishes and their prices.

Check out the Food in Mauritius chapter.

Experience the hustle and bustle of the markets

Although Mauritius is a modern country full of supermarkets and huge shopping malls, traditional marketplaces remain an indispensable part of life in all major cities.

I've been to one of the markets almost every day and I'm still fascinated by the great quality of fruit and vegetables that supermarkets can only dream of.

View the cheapest hotels in Mauritius

In addition, goods in the markets are usually a third to half the price of those in regular shops.

Which marketplaces did I like best?

• Central Flacq - the largest market in Mauritius, but only open on Wednesdays and Saturdays
• Mahébourg - a typical market open every day in the largest city in the south of the island

Plane spotting

When an Emirates Airbus A380 arriving from Dubai lands, many local enthusiasts huddle around the runway fence as the plane lands directly over your head. There's also a fresh papaya and pineapple stand.

The best place to watch the planes is either right on the runway centerline by the main road (see location on map) or on a side road by the fence along the runway (see location on map).

Plane-spotting is a popular pastime in Mauritius it is perfectly legal to take photos or video of planes near the runway.

Surfing and kitesurfing

The west and southwest coasts of Mauritius are great places for surfing (on beaches facing the open sea) and kitesurfing (on beaches in shallow lagoons with strong winds).

There are certainly better and more famous places to surf in the Indian Ocean (such as the Maldives or South Africa), but if you're new to the sport, Mauritius is an absolutely ideal destination.

The best surf spots are on these beaches:

• Tamarin
• Le Morne
• Flic en Flac