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Visiting Mauritius soon? Here\u2019s what you need to know before you go.<\/em><\/p>\nIf you dig a hole straight through the earth\u2019s center from the west coast, you end up in the ocean just south of Mauritius Island. Mauritius hadn\u2019t been on our radar until recently, and after booking our trip, we realized there was much to learn about the island on the other side of the world. If you\u2019re planning a trip to Mauritius Island, here is everything we learned during our time here to help you make the most of your visit.<\/p>\nPin<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/figure>\nThis post may contain affiliate links, where we receive a small commission on sales of the products that are linked at no additional cost to you. All opinions are always our own. Read our full disclosure\u00a0for more info. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Local Adventurer possible.<\/em><\/p>\nLast Updated: February 23, 2023<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Where is Mauritius?<\/u><\/h2>\n Mauritius is off of the southeastern African coast in the Indian Ocean. Sixteen islands and islets comprise the Republic of Mauritius, including Mauritius Island, along with Rodrigues, Agalega, St Brandon, and many others.<\/p>\n
Time Difference:<\/strong>\u00a0It is +4 hours Greenwich Mean Time (12-hour difference from PST)<\/p>\nSee More: 15 Best Things to Do in Mauritus + How to Plan the Perfect Vacation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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Things You Must Know Before Visiting Mauritius<\/u><\/h2>\n1. English is the Official Language<\/h3>\n The three main languages are English, French, and Creole. English is the official language, but the majority language used is French-Mauritius Creole, which was accurate on our trip. Many hotel employees also speak German, Italian, and Spanish. If you plan on venturing outside the resorts and popular tourist attractions, learning some basic French will help you.<\/p>\n
Most Mauritians are bilingual, and many are skilled in three or four languages, which makes them a popular recruit for cruise ships. It is also worth noting that 70% of the population can speak \u201cMorisyen.\u201d They also speak Indian languages such as Bhojpouri (31.4%), Tamil (3.5%), Hindi (2.8%), and Urdu (2.7%).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
2. It\u2019s Far! (From the US)<\/h3>\n If you\u2019re visiting Mauritius from the US, be prepared for two twelve-hour flights, especially from the west coast. Give yourself an extended layover (at least 6 hours) to clear customs and stretch your legs. You can make it even longer if you want a rest day or to visit a layover city. We planned to walk around Paris on our layover, but our flights got delayed.<\/p>\n
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3. Who\u2019s Visiting Mauritius<\/h3>\n Because of Mauritius\u2019 location, we noticed most tourists were Europeans. France, the UK, Germany, and Spain bring the most tourists, followed by China.<\/p>\n
When we visited, we got a few comments asking if we were from China. The borders have been closed because of the pandemic, so the Mauritians were excited that we might be among the Chinese tourists starting to visit again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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4. Bring your Benjamins<\/h3>\n Mauritius isn\u2019t considered a budget destination. Most people visit Mauritius for luxury, and they pay for it. Although you can travel here on a budget, there are better destinations if you\u2019re looking for an affordable beach vacation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nPin<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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5. Their Currency is the Mauritian Rupee<\/h3>\n They use the Mauritian Rupee, and roughly USD 1 = MUR 43.95.<\/p>\n
We only needed cash for tips and street vendors. Other spots took credit cards. You can exchange currencies at the airport and most hotels or withdraw from an ATM. If you withdraw from an ATM, we heard you should limit each transaction to MUR15,000. Otherwise, the machines might get jammed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nPin<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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6. Tipping Is Not Mandatory but APPRECIATED<\/h3>\n Tipping is not mandatory in Mauritius. Here is a quick guideline if you are looking to tip for exceptional service: Spas (5-10%), Tour guides (10%), Taxis (100-200 Rps), Hotels (100 MUR), and Restaurants (10-15%).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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7. Visiting Mauritius during High and Low Seasons<\/h3>\n Temperatures are warm all year<\/strong>, making it a year-round destination. The water temps stay between 71-80\u00b0F (22-27\u00b0C).<\/p>\nThe high season is during their summers (October-April)<\/strong> and winters (May-September)<\/strong>. During peak season, you should book hotels three months in advance and activities\/restaurants around one week before. Shoulder season runs March-April and September-October.<\/strong><\/p>\n\nSummers (Oct-Apr) <\/strong>\u2013 The mean temperature in the summer is 76\u00b0F (24.7\u00b0C). Dec to Mar are the wettest months. Thunderstorms are common but pass. During our December visit, the waterfalls were dry (usually late winter\/early Summer) but had been dryer than average. Once the rain starts in Dec\/Jan, the rivers and falls fill back up.<\/li>\nWinters (May-Sep) <\/strong>\u2013 The mean temperature in the winter is 70\u00b0F (21\u00b0C). Winter is windier and the best time to visit if you like mild temperatures and sports that require wind, like kitesurfing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nLocal Tip:<\/strong><\/span> They usually get a\u00a0cyclone\u00a0each season, and every ten or so years, it will hit the island directly. The last big one was in 1992, so locals have been expecting one any time now.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nPin<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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8. Places Close Early<\/h3>\n Many places closed earlier than expected, and many businesses closed for holidays and Sundays. Also, certain restaurants have random days they aren\u2019t open.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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9. Renting a Car vs. Getting a Taxi<\/h3>\n Renting an (automatic) car is an option on the island, and you don\u2019t need an international driver\u2019s license. Just remember they drive on the left side of the road, which can be disorienting.<\/p>\n
Roads outside the city are easy to navigate and not too crowded, but driving in a city can be stressful. Navigating via google maps worked well going to popular attractions, and the roads were in good condition compared to other countries we\u2019ve explored. Speed limits are usually around 40 kph (25 mph) in towns, 90 kph (50 mph) outside of them, and 110 kph (68 mph) on the freeway.<\/p>\n
Taxi costs vary <\/strong>and are not regulated.<\/strong> For example, from Port Louis to Flic n Flac, it can cost between MUR 800 and MUR 1,000. Be wary of taxi drivers, since some are affiliated with shops they will try to take you to for \u201ca good deal\u201d to receive a cut of profits. But now that I think about it, it\u2019s similar to some bloggers and influencers too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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10. Traffic can get crazy<\/h3>\n It can take 1-2 hrs to get from one side of the island to the other. Keep that in mind when you plan activities or where you\u2019re visiting. We had a lot of early days since we had to add in the travel time.<\/p>\n
Traffic on the island starts around 8 am and 4 pm. Although we didn\u2019t see traffic, they kept telling us how bad traffic was, so we always left earlier or way later to avoid it.<\/p>\n
Local Tip:<\/strong><\/span> If you booked a\u00a0hotel with breakfast\u00a0but have an early activity, you will most likely miss breakfast. Ask for a to-go bag.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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11. Tap Water is Technically Safe<\/h3>\n Locals drink\u00a0tap water,\u00a0but it isn\u2019t recommended for visitors. Regardless of safe drinking water, we pack this\u00a0self-cleaning water bottle\u00a0on all our trips to fill up at the hotel or airport.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nPin<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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12. Mauritius has a lot of history, and Sugar is a Big part of it<\/h3>\n Most of the fields in Mauritius are sugarcane fields, and sugarcane farms still dominate 70% of the land. One of the best places to learn more about the history of sugarcane in Mauritius is Sugar World (L\u2019Aventure de Sucre). Here, you can also do a sugar tasting and a rum tasting.<\/p>\n
Due to the sugar industry, after slavery was abolished, the British tested out indentured labor and spread it to the rest of the world due to their success. You can learn more about that at Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site, the remains of an Immigration Depot built in 1849.<\/p>\n
Did you know the now-extinct Dodo bird is also from Mauritius? You\u2019ll find them on souvenirs and branding all over the island.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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13. Souvenirs<\/h3>\n\nSugar from L\u2019Aventure du Sucre <\/strong>\u2013 we bought several for friends back home that love baking or drinking coffee.<\/li>\nPhoenix <\/strong>is the island\u2019s most popular local beer. We never check our bags, but you can bring back some local beer or liquor if you do.<\/li>\nLocal Rum or Fruit Wines <\/strong>\u2013 Most cocktails are made with rum since they source from local rhumeries. There aren\u2019t local grape wines, but you can find local fruit wines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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14. If you Love Golf, You\u2019ll Love Mauritius<\/h3>\n Golfing is very popular in Mauritius. There are ten 18-hole courses and four 9-hole courses, some designed by Gary Player and Ernie Els. Mauritius was home to the first golf course in the southern hemisphere.<\/p>\nPin<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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15. World Class Diving Over Snorkeling<\/h3>\n We weren\u2019t impressed with the snorkeling at the reefs, but Mauritius has world-class diving. There are around 50 dive sites across the island. If we could have a do-over, we would have taken a PADI refresher course and booked some diving excursions instead.<\/p>\n
Local Tip:<\/strong><\/span> Don\u2019t forget coral-safe sunscreen. We were disappointed by all the bleached coral we saw.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nPin<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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16. The underwater Waterfall can only be Seen from a Helicopter<\/h3>\n The underwater waterfall, an optical illusion, is a famous landmark you must see while visiting Mauritius. It can only be seen via helicopter, which is always weather dependent. Plan your ride early in your visit so that if it gets canceled, you\u2019ll have plenty of time to reschedule.<\/p>\nPin<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Where to Stay in Mauritius<\/u><\/h2>\n We split our stay between two different areas on the island to maximize our stay. In general,<\/p>\n
\nThe\u00a0northern shore<\/strong>\u00a0is more\u00a0touristy,\u00a0<\/li>\nthe\u00a0south<\/strong>\u00a0side is\u00a0wilder,<\/li>\nthe\u00a0west<\/strong>\u00a0side is closer to\u00a0popular attractions,<\/li>\nand the\u00a0east side<\/strong>\u00a0is quieter, with more\u00a0luxury resorts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nLocal Tip:<\/strong><\/span> There are over 100 beaches along the coast. Most pristine ones in photos are private beaches for resorts and hotels.<\/p>\n