Mauritius Travel Blog

Let us take you to Chamarel, Mauritius The village of Chamarel in southwest Mauritius is home to two natural wonders – the magnificent Chamarel Falls and the colored earths of Chamarel. The earths are particularly unsual; created by volcanic rocks that cooled at different temperatures, the earths form beautiful patterns of color in the exposed hillsides. And if you mix the colored earth together, they’ll eventually settle into separate layers. Sometimes the colors play tricks on you and appear to be shadows. Close to Black River Gorges National Park, from the village of Case Noyale, a winding road leads to the coloured earths at Chamarel. Over time the weathering and subsequent erosion of volcanic ash has led to the formation of exposed hills complete with contrasting tiers of different shades of red, yellow, green and blue. From the hillside an easy walking trail leads to the beautiful...

World famous holiday destination, Mauritius Mauritius, located off the Southeast coast of the African continent in the Southwest Indian Ocean, has a colourful history that includes the British taking control during the Napoleonic Wars and later gaining its independence from UK in 1968. The island of Mauritius is also well known for its production of rum, derived from the sugar cane that forms 90% of the islands agricultural crop, as well as being renowned for having been the only known home of the dodo. This world famous holiday destination offers the height of luxury, magnificent beaches and a varied selection of things to do that will allow you to do as much or as little as you choose. The mix of ethnicity’s and tropical climate will help ensure you have a memorable holiday and we have some suggestions of things you might like to do when in Mauritius. The crystal clear blue waters make Mauritius...

Shopping in Mauritius: What you need to know Mauritius became a duty-free port in 2010 and has the best shopping in the Indian Ocean. The island is known for diamonds, designer clothing, cashmere and linen, which can be a third of the price back home. Many of the best shops, and a craft market, are found in Le Caudan Waterfront in Port Louis, but there are markets island-wide and a wide selection of shops on the central plateau. Organized shopping excursions will take you to a selection of tourist-oriented shopping centres, including Le Caudan and key markets (Mahébourg is the cheapest), but for serious shopping it’s best to strike out on your own. For clothing, shopping centres sell western labels at western prices, but decent high-street brands and quality cotton clothing can be found at knock-down prices at markets (try Flacq and Quatre Bornes), in factory shops,...

Not to miss: Famous watersports in Mauritius Mauritius’s dive sites are the best in the Indian Ocean, ranging from canyons to submerged wrecks teeming with tropical fish, eagle rays, turtles, sharks and moray eels. The best dive sites are found in the west and the islands off the north coast, while Rodrigues is just as inviting, with colourful coral and virgin sites to be found in the east. There are around fifty dive centres registered with Mauritius Scuba Diving Association (MSDA), of which many are PADI and CMAS certified. Most are based in hotels and resorts with access for non-residents, and cater for novice to experienced divers, with good equipment and English-speaking instructors. December to May is the best time of the year for doing watersports as waters are clear, calm and warm; June to July is best avoided. All decent-sized hotels arrange snorkelling trips, with masks,...

Multicultural Society : Mauritius with its religious festivals held year-round. Whichever time of year you’re visiting Mauritius, you may find your trip coincides with one of our many religious occasions and festivals for the different groups held year-round. Dates vary annually depending on religious calendars. Visitors are welcome to attend any of the major public festivals, and it may be worth timing a visit to coincide with one of the more spectacular ones listed below. Festival Calendar Thaipoosam Cavadee January/February. Island-wide. Tamil penitents parade through the capital with their tongues, chests and cheeks pierced with needles in this devout and spectacular Tamil festival. Chinese New Year/Spring Festival February. Port Louis. Chinese dragons and lion dances grace Port Louis’ Chinatown when the Chinese–Mauritian community exchange traditional wax cakes, light firecrackers to chase away evil spirits and spread red, a symbol of happiness, everywhere. Maha Shivaratree February/March. Grand Bassin....

A big family meal equals happiness for most Mauritians, and with a blend of Indian, African, French and Chinese culinary traditions, island cuisine is tasty, unique and varied. Locals mix and match, so it’s quite usual to have croissants for breakfast, Indian dholl puri for lunch and Chinese-influenced bol renversé for supper. Unsurprisingly seafood features heavily, with dishes ranging from octopus curry to vindaye (deep-fried fish coated in turmeric, ginger, chillies and mustard seeds) – both usually served with rice as the main staple. The island also produces camarons (freshwater crayfish) and smoked blue marlin, which is delicious when combined with palm heart salad. You’ll also find plenty of fresh fruit including lychees, mangoes, pineapple and bananas. French hunting traditions are reflected in seasonal game such as venison and wild boar, which is served on the domaines or estates themselves as well as in the island’s restaurants...