Mauritius

Port Louis, Mauritius.

Mauritius is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) from the African continent. The country consists of the main island of Mauritius and the smaller islands of Rodrigues, the Agalegas and the Cargados Carajos shoals.

Mauritius is mostly appreciated by visitors for its natural beauty and man-made attractions, multi-ethnic and cultural diversity, tropical climate, beautiful beaches and water sports.

Cities, Towns and Villages

• Port Louis, capital of Mauritius.

• Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, the country's second biggest settlement.

• Curepipe, the largest highland city in Mauritius.

• Quatre Bornes.

• Vacoas-Phoenix.

• Blue Bay, bluest water and most amazing white sand beaches you will ever see.

• Centre de Flacq one of the most important villages in Mauritius. This meeting point for inhabitants of the East boasts the country’s largest open air market. This extremely colourful market attracts a large number of people.

• Chamarel.

• Grand Bay Grand-Baie, a shopping and leisure paradise. With adjoining Pereybère beach resort.

• Flic en Flac, a local fishing village that has expanded to become a popular destination for tourists and expats.

• Mahébourg, one of the main fishing villages on the island.

• Pamplemousses, village in the district of the same name.

• Souillac. A small seaside resort along the rugged coast of the Savanne district. Nearby La Vanille Réserve des Mascareignes.

• Tamarin.

• Triolet. The longest village on the island, Triolet offers an opportunity to visit the biggest Hindu temple, the Maheswarnath, first built in 1819 in honour of the Gods Shiva, Krishna, Vishnu, Muruga, Brahma and Ganesha.

• Trou d'Eau Douce. Located in the east, visitors may easily visit L'Ile aux Cerf from there

Other destinations

• Agaléga a pair of outer islands 1000 km north of the main island.

• Rodrigues a separate island 500 km east of the main island, but under the political control of Mauritius.

• Black River Gorges. This national park of 6,574 ha (16,244 acres) was created in 1994 for the protection of Mauritius’ remaining native forests. Visitors can enjoy magnificent landscapes, with endemic plants and rare bird species. A trail leads from the Pétrin information centre to an area of typical plant life and to a conservation area.

• Le Morne cultural landscape. A peninsula and an eponymous mountain in the southwest of Mauritius. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

• Domaine du Chasseur, +230 634-5011, fax: +230 634-5261. Nestling in the Anse Jonchée hills, the Domaine des Grand Bois has splendid hunting grounds covering an area of 900 ha. Stags, monkeys and boars live amidst the luxuriant vegetation of the hillside. One can watch a few species of endangered birds, including the kestrel.

The Domaine contains four thatched-roof bungalows and a restaurant with a panoramic sea view. Take an opportunity to enjoy a meal of venison. The view is great and well worth the visit, but the food can best be described as average. The venison is very chewy. There is a steep hike up the hill from the car park to the restaurant.

The restaurant offers a 4WD taxi service which is free if you eat one of their overpriced meals, but if you only want a cup of tea or desert they charge Rs230 per person for the 5-minute ride.

• Macchabée - Bel Ombre Nature Preserve.

Climate

Tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May).

Natural hazards: Tropical cyclones can occur between November and April, however are most likely from late December until March.

Mauritius has only two seasons, winter and summer. Temperatures do not differ greatly over the seasons. The climate on the central plateau is cooler than on the coastal areas.

— The hottest and driest part is the west coast
— The windiest and wettest part is the East coast
— December to February are the hottest months of the year
— The driest month of the year is October
— The coolest months are from June to August

Get in

Citizens of many countries, including Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand and most other OECD countries do not need a visa in advance.

If you require a visa to enter Mauritius, you might be able to apply for one at a British embassy, high commission or consulate in the country where you legally reside if there is no diplomatic post of Mauritius. For example, the British embassies in Al Khobar, Amman, Belgrade, Guatemala City, Jakarta, Jeddah, Pristina, Rabat, Riyadh, Rome and Sofia accept Mauritius visa applications (this list is not exhaustive).

British diplomatic posts charge GBP50 to process a Mauritius visa application and an extra GBP70 if the authorities in Mauritius require the visa application to be referred to them. The authorities in Mauritius can also decide to charge an additional fee if they correspond with you directly.

By plane.

— Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) (at Plaisance in the southeast of the island), +230 603 6000, is the major gateway for international travellers.

— Air Mauritius is the home carrier and operates a network of routes to the local islands and international destinations in Africa, Australia, Europe and Asia.

— Regional airlines: Air Austral, Air Madagascar and Air Seychelles connect Mauritius with the surrounding islands.

— International airlines such as Air France, Emirates, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Condor, South African Airways, Air India, Meridiana, Kenya Airways, Egypt Air, Malaysia Airlines, and Corsairfly serve Mauritius from their home bases.

The arrivals hall can get congested in the morning when most of the flights from Europe arrive. Immigration officers tend to be quite slow and the whole immigration process can be a frustrating experience. Visitors are required to provide accommodation details to the immigration service on arrival.

If you arrive in Mauritius from a country where malaria is endemic, you may receive a visit from the government health service and be required to give a blood sample for malaria screening.

By sea.

Vessels that arrive at the port are mainly cargo ships. The Mauritius Pride and the Trochetia are the Mauritian vessels that usually sail to and from Reunion Island, Rodrigues Island and Madagascar. Costa Cruises ships have started an Indian Ocean cruise including a visit to Mauritius.

As of April 2008, one-way passage prices from Tamatave in Madagascar to Mauritius by boat were €275 first class or €255 second class, compared to €212 to fly from Antananarivo on Air Madagascar. The journey takes at least four days, more if transiting through Reunion. A boat leaves every other Wednesday.

If you are going directly to the port in Tamatave you can negotiate with a boat captain for a non-cabin berth. Visiting the Nautical Club in Tamatave to enquire about yachts that might be heading to Mauritius rarely yields positive results.

Get around

Bus and taxi services are best used in urban areas. Bicycles and motorbikes are also available for hire.

• By plane. Air Mauritius operates daily flights connecting Plaisance Airport and Rodrigues (flight time - 1 hour 15 minutes).

• By helicopter. Helicopters are available for transfers and sightseeing tours. Air Mauritius Helicopter, +230 603 3754, e-mail: helicopter@airmauritius.com.

• By car. One major highway runs north to south, otherwise a good network of paved, if sometimes narrow, roads cover the island. Traffic drives on the left.

Numerous car hire firms include major international and independent firms. Prices vary widely starting from Rs800 per day. To be on the safe side, with full insurance, visitors should rent cars from companies holding a tourism enterprise licence. These cars are identifiable by their yellow number plates, while private cars have black plates. If you hire a car at the airport keep in mind that you will need to pay a Rs20 charge when you are leaving the car park, and this has to be paid in cash.

Regulations: drivers are required to be over 18 years old. Speed limits are 110 km/h (68 mph) on the motorway and 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up areas. Seatbelts are compulsory. Foreign licences are accepted.

Approximate travel times from Port Louis to other major cities, towns, and resorts in Mauritius: Curepipe 20 min, Grand Baie, North 30 min, Mahebourg, Southeast 45 min, Flic-en-Flac, West 30 min.

• By bus. Several fairly good bus services ply the island. Taking the bus is the most economical way of travelling. Air-conditioned buses have been introduced on some routes. The major bus companies are:

— National Transport Corporation (NTC), +230 426 2938.

— United Bus Service (UBS), +230 212 2026.

— Mauritius Bus Transport (MTB), Long mountain, +230 245 2539.

— Triolet Bus Service (TBS), +230 261 6725.

— Other smaller companies have amusing names such as Apollo and Turbo. In late 2014 local buses were available in the parking area of SSR airport. They are cheap and follow more interesting routes than the luxury ones, but are slower.

Buses are manned by a driver and a conductor who walks around collecting fares and issuing tickets after passengers have boarded. Most conductors are helpful in providing directions to tourists. In the local Creole dialect, the conductors are called con-tro-lair (literally controller).

Bus routes and schedules are available from the Ministry of Land Transport and Mauritius Buses who list all the main operators and their schedules. Try to pay with small denominations or the conductor may not have enough change. Intentional over-charging of tourists is not common.

• By taxi. Taxis are the best way to visit the island. Various tours are available as from Rs2,500: The holy lake, Chamarel 7 coloured earth, Le Morne, dolphin tours in Tamarin and Ile aux cerfs are among the most appreciated by visitors.

Taxis in Mauritius do not use meters. Negotiate the price of your trip before you enter a taxi; otherwise, you may be overcharged.

• By boat. Coraline, +230 208 5900, fax: +230 210 5176, e-mail: sureka.toolooa@coraline.intnet.mu. Sails once a week to Rodrigues Island and to Reunion island from Port Louis Harbour. Mauritius Pride, launched in 1991, and Mauritius Trochetia, in service since 2001, are the two ships operating on the Reunion route, and also have Madagascar as a destination. Both vessels are used as passenger and container ships.

Talk

Although the official language of Mauritius is English, in practice French is by far the most commonly spoken language, and is widely used in professional and formal settings. English language television programmes are usually dubbed into French. Most subjects are taught in and examined in the Commonwealth variety of English in the education system, meaning that you will be able to communicate with locals in English with varying levels of difficulty.

Mauritian Creole is a French-based creole which has incorporated some words from diverse sources including but not limited to English, Dutch and Portuguese, and has slight pronunciation differences from French. Although locals generally converse with each other in Creole, standard French is also universally spoken and understood.

Virtually everyone working in the tourism industry will be able to speak fairly decent, albeit heavily accented English, and all government departments will have English-speaking staff on duty. Other languages spoken by much smaller numbers include: Hindi, Urdu, Hakka, Bhojpuri and Mandarin. Tamils constitute around 10% of the population and speak Tamil.

What to See in Mauritius

Northern tourist zone

• Grand Bay was the first area of the island to fully experience the tourist boom. A shopping and leisure paradise, Grand Bay is also where Mauritians go when they want a fun-filled night out (restaurants, bars and discos). La Cuvette beach is well worth a visit as well as the wonderful Pereybere public beach is popular because of its shopping facilities, restaurants and pubs.

• The SSR botanical garden, Pamplemousses, is the oldest botanical garden in the Southern Hemisphere. It was founded by Pierre Poivre (1719 – 1786) in 1770, contains some flora unique to Mauritius and covers an area of around 37 ha. It also has several animals, being especially famous for its fish, deer and tortoises, as well as an old replica of a sugar mill.

East

The eastern part of the island is known for its long sand bank beaches and famous hotels such as "The Coco Beach Hotel" and the 5-star "Le Touessrok".

• Centre de Flacq is one of the most important villages in Mauritius. This meeting point for inhabitants of the East boasts the country’s largest open air market. This extremely colourful market attracts a large number of people.

• Ile aux Cerfs is a paradise for water sports and has one of the most beautiful beaches in Mauritius. You cannot afford to miss this tiny island, delicately poised on the ocean, a real pearl in the Mauritian landscape. Price conscious visitors would be well advised to take ample food and drink, as the only bar and restaurant on the island primarily targets well-heeled tourists. Boats depart regularly from Trou d'Eau Douce village in the East (which has some of the best seafood restaurants on the island).

There is a variety of vessels that serve the route including catamarans, yachts and "pirate-ships". Some serve food (usually barbecue, especially seafood) on board included in the price and tend to take a detour to the Grand River South East waterfalls for a visit. The island also has a 5-star hotel (Le Touessrok) and a golf course.

South east

• Mahebourg is one of the main fishing villages on the island. Built on the magnificent Grand Port Bay, it was founded in 1804 by the French Governor Charles Decaën. The Monday markets are among the biggest and best on the island and are held right next to the main bus station.

Just of the coast, as a result of the remarkable work accomplished by the Mauritius Wildlife Fund, Ile aux Aigrettes has become an international standard for the protection of natural resources and endangered species. A few of the world’s rarest birds, including the kestrel, can be seen there. You can also see the extremely rare Pink Pigeon, the Green Gecko Phelsuma and the Aldabra giant tortoise. Also nearby at Vieux Grand Port, the oldest settlement in Mauritius, you can see the ruins of the first Dutch fortifications.

• Souillac, a small seaside resort along the rugged coast of the Savanne district. A notable feature is the garden overlooking the sea and named after Dr Charles Telfair. A popular viewpoint at the southern end of the village, right on the cliff top: Gris Gris.

• Blue Bay, bluest water and most amazing white sand beaches you will ever see. Take the trip across the island from Port Louis and see what this quiet place has to offer. Very busy with the locals on weekends. Try to go during the week. Glass bottom boats are an excellent outing. Part of Blue Bay has been designated a Marine Park, and the snorkelling trips by boat to this area, offered for sale on the main public beach, are well worth trying.

West

The west coast has some of the best and longest white sandy beaches on the island. These include Trou aux Biches and Le Morne Beach which is shared by a number of 5-star resorts including Paradis Hotel & Golf Club, the all-suite Dinarobin Golf & Spa, and Lux Le Morne. There is also a dedicated public beach between Dinarobin and Lux Le Morne. (All beaches in Mauritius are public.)

• Flic en Flac, a local fishing village that has expanded to become a popular destination for tourists and expats. Flic en Flac has a very long white sandy beach stretching down the west coast to Tamarin which is enjoyed by locals and tourists. Scuba Diving is the main attraction with excellent diving just a few minutes from the beach. There is a reasonable supermarket and a variety of accommodations and restaurants to suit all budgets.

• At Tamarin's beach of white sands and crystal clear waters both novice and expert surfers visit for some of the best waves on the island. The bay also has its own dolphin pod and dramatic views across to the Montage du Rempart, an extinct volcano. Owing to the exceptional high level of sunshine the district receives, Tamarin is the heart of salt production in Mauritius. Just south in La Preneuse are the Martello Towers, a milestone in the island’s history symbolising the end of slavery and the beginning of Indian immigration.

• A winding road leads from Case Noyale village to the Seven Coloured Earths of Chamarel, an undulating landscape of different and contrasting shades of colours. The different shades of blue, green, red and yellow are apparently the result of the erosion of the volcanic ash. The neighbouring waterfalls of Chamarel rise from the moors and the native plant life. The site possesses a rare beauty. An adventure park has also been opened at Chamarel.

• Casela, +230 452-2828. Situated in the Rivière Noire district, the Casela Nature & Leisure Park stretches over 25 ha. It contains more than 140 bird species from five continents and is home to many other animals including giant tortoises, zebras, a tiger and ostriches. Activities include walking with lions, Rando Fun (ziplines & hanging bridges), quad, buggy & Segway and a petting farm.

• Yemen. Yemen Reserve may not be the largest game reserve on the island, but there is still lots to see. You will be able to get close to the herds of deer, and admire some splendid species of Mauritian fauna. A few rustic kiosks available in the reserve provide an unobstructed view of the sea. There you can sip a local punch while watching the sun going down.

• Le Morne is a peninsula and an eponymous mountain in the southwest of Mauritius. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The interior

• Eureka, +230 326-4775, fax: +230 326-9732. Is an old Creole residence built in 1830, Eureka is an essential place to visit during your stay in Mauritius if you wish to immerse yourself in tropical sweetness. Includes a tour of the colonial house with the opportunity to purchase overpriced textile products, and a tour of the gardens and a visit to the waterfalls below.

• Ganga Talao - Grand Bassin. Beyond La Marie and Mare-aux-Vacoas is found one of the two natural lakes of Mauritius. It rests within the crater of an extinct volcano. Ganga Talao is an important pilgrimage site and many Mauritians of the Hindu faith walk there during the Maha Shivaratri festival or the night fasting dedicated to Shiva. Gigantic eels live in the lake and are fed by the pilgrims. A walk to the top of the mount beside the lake is recommended for beautiful views over the area known as "Plaine Champagne".

What to Do in Mauritius

• Views — For a spectacular 360⁰ view of Port Louis and the north, climb Le Pouce or ‘the thumb', at 812 m (2,664 ft). It is an easy 2-hour climb from the village of Petit Verger (near St. Pierre), and takes another 2 hour to walk into Port Louis (map). The top of Signal Mountain also offers a spectacular view of Port Louis and the North. It is much easier to climb Signal Mountain from Labourdonnais Street as there is a tarred jogging track and it takes around 45 minutes to walk to the top. Starting from Saint Louis is also possible.

• Tour the Moka mountains — by quad bike, horse or 4-wheel drive at the accessible 1,500-hectare (3,700-acre) nature park of Domaine Les Pailles. Travel to the sugar mill and rum distillery by train or horse-drawn carriage before dining in one of four restaurants.

• Deep sea fishing — Mauritius is ideally positioned for game-fishing. Depending on the time of year it is possible to catch blue or black marlin, sailfish, wahoo, yellow fin tuna, giant trevally, dogtooth tuna, bonito, dolphinfish, sharks and many more. The majority of the big game fishing boats are well equipped with VHF radio, mobile telephone, GPS navigation system, radar, radio telephone, safety equipment, Penn International reels, life jackets, medical kits, fire extinguishers, flares, and all related fishing equipment such as fighting chairs and rods (usually 9).

You can choose between half day and full day fishing trips. Big game fishing is best on the west coast of Mauritius because the currents swirl around the foot of Le Morne, creating a marine environment attractive to bait fish, which in turn attracts the larger fish. Boats usually accommodate up to 5 anglers and full day trips typically include breakfast and lunch in the price.

• Head to Grand Baie — For watersports such as parasailing, an underwater walk, submarine and semi-submersible scooters, or to La Cuvette, a long beach with clear water between Grand Baie and Cap Malheureux, for sailing, windsurfing and waterskiing.

• Safari jeep trips — The Safari Jeep trip takes place in Yemen natural reserve park on the West Coast of Mauritius. It hosts two of the longest rivers on the island – Rivière Rempart and Tamarin River – and is a haven for all sorts of native and exotic wildlife. The actual size of this natural reserve is of around 4,500 hectares.

The Yemen Park is the setting for Safari trips where you will have a thrilling ride and will be able to see many beautiful animals such as Zebras, ostriches, African antelopes, Java deer, monkeys, ducks and geese, and will see extraordinary panoramic views of this breathtaking part of the island.

• Safari quad biking trips — Experience an adventurous Quad biking activity in the most amazing natural setting quad-biking activity in the 4,500 ha of Yemen natural reserve park. More than a quad bike outing as it includes a safari. During the trip it is possible to see deers, zebras, ostriches, African antelopes and wild boars.

• Swim — At the northern beaches such as Trou aux Biches, shaded by casuarinas, Mont Choisy, a 2-km (1.2 mi) narrow white stretch of sand curving north from there, and Péreybère, a little cove between Grand Baie and Cap Malheureux.

• Scuba diving — When you dive in Mauritius you can explore coral reefs, multi-coloured marine life, ship wrecks dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, or some ships sunk more recently which create beautiful artificial reefs. There are numerous dive sites strewn all around the island, as well as some near the offshore island of Rodrigues.

One of the well-known and popular dive sites in Mauritius is the Cathedral, which is located off the Flic en Flac on the western coast of Mauritius. Other dive sites in Mauritius include the Whale Rock and Roche Zozo that is an underwater rock pinnacle, and the submerged crater near Ile Ronde. M

auritius is almost completely encircled by a barrier coral reef which is home to many sponges, sea anemones and a variety of brightly coloured fish such as Damselfish, Trumpet fish, Boxfish and clown fish, as well as the orange Mauritian scorpionfish. Most of the dive sites are located on the west coast around Flic-en-Flac or in the north, at Trou aux Biches or at the Northern Islands. The best time to go diving is from November to April with very good visibility underwater. The Mauritius Scuba Diving Association (MSDA) can provide further information.

• Speedboat — Rides are available from Trou d'eau Douce to the popular island playground of Ile aux Cerfs for beaches, golf and watersports. Or, for a quieter day, a catamaran to the Northern Islands - Gabriel Island, Flat Island and Gunner's Quoin.

• Hiking and trekking — In Mauritius with breathtaking views of mountains, rivers, and forests. Enjoy a hiking trip through the fields, trekking on a zip line or on a bike, and discover this magnificent nature paradise Mauritius being a volcanic island has several breathtaking summits and valleys to explore on foot. You can visit the Black River Gorges National Park, a 6,794-ha (16,788-acre) forest, to see indigenous plants, birds and wildlife. Black River Peak trail goes to Mauritius' highest mountain, while the Maccabee Trail starts nearby and plunges into the gorge to Black River.

• Tandem skydiving — Experience a 10,000 ft (3,000 m) skydive in Mauritius. Enjoy a spectacular scenic flight and a tandem skydive. Tandem skydiving refers to a type of skydiving where a student skydiver is connected via a harness to a tandem instructor. The instructor guides the student through the whole jump from exit through freefall, piloting the canopy, and landing. The student needs only minimal instruction before making a tandem jump.

• Horse racing — The Mauritius horse racing club commonly called the Champ de Mars was founded in 1812, making it the oldest horse-racing club in the Southern Hemisphere. Horse racing is the most popular sport in Mauritius, and attracts about 30,000 visitors on each race day. The horse racing season usually starts in April and ends in late November. There are an average of 9 and a maximum of 12 horses per race. On average some 60 horses participate on each racing day. It is highly recommended to go and experience the electric atmosphere of horse racing in Mauritius.

• Parasailing — For those looking for a fun sea-air activity, you can try parasailing. You will be rewarded with a breathtaking bird's eye view of the beautiful lagoon and beaches. The parasailing begins with a short safety briefing. Then you will be taken by boat to the launch pod where you will take off and start the parasailing. No steering is necessary as the sail follows the course of the boat.

• Water ski — Water-skiing is one of the most popular water sports in Mauritius. You can enjoy water skiing along several of Mauritius’ coasts or in a few of the lakes. The best area for water skiing is considered to be the north area of the island, along the coasts, where the lagoon provides full protection from the big waves of the open sea and offers ideal water skiing conditions of very calm sea.

• Watch dolphins — Go on a speed boat trip and watch dolphins in the open sea. You can choose between 2-hr trip, half-day and full-day trips where you will get to watch with the bottlenose dolphin and the spinner dolphin, which have made of the West Coast of Mauritius a place for them to rest before going to the deep sea for their fishing.

• Walk with lions & cheetahs — Experience a one-on-one encounter with lions and cheetahs. Viewing the lions from very close, see them playing and hopping on the rocks of the river banks and scaling the trees. The lions roam freely amongst the participants giving visitors a rare opportunity of being in close contact with them.

• Blue safari submarine — See the wonderful underwater tropical fish without even getting your feet wet. Going underwater to 35 m depth on board of a real submarine. You will get to visit a shipwreck, explore the rich coral reefs, and observe and encounter various species of fish. The submarine is air-conditioned with transparent-glassed cabin so you will enjoy exceptionally clear panoramic views of the extraordinary underwater world.

• Underwater submarine scooter adventure — Pilot your own underwater scooter, or as a couple, to 3-4 m depth. Comfortably seated one behind the other, you breath freely and naturally in a transparent and panoramic cupola which allow you to enjoy the view of the reef and marine life. In advance you will receive a briefing about the control of the underwater scooter, and will be equipped with a diving suit.

• Sea kayaking — A great way to explore the fine greenery of the lagoons, or the open waters of the Indian Ocean. It is possible to find wide range of sea kayaking trips and packages from breezy, calmer routes, to a few days trip surrounding the island in the deep ocean waters. This is also possible to have a kayak trip to any of the small islets surrounding the main island such as Ile D'Ambre Island.

• Rock climbing — Rock climbing on the South West coast of Mauritius. You will get to experience rock climbing in a beautiful setting Of the Belle Vue Cliffs, where the caves of "La Pointe aux Caves" are nestled and in close proximity from the famous lighthouse of Albion. This is a great outdoor sport where you will learn the basic techniques of knots, safe climbing and rock progression from Mauritius’ top professional guides.

• Canyoning — For those seeking more of an adrenalin rush and thrill, canyoning is abseiling down the steep walls of the canyons using nature watercourses and canyoning gear. The canyoning is offered in few locations in Mauritius. The canyoning (known also as canyoneering) in Mauritius consists of travelling in canyons using a variety of techniques that may include walking, climbing, jumping, abseiling, and/or swimming.

• Rodrigues island — Tiny, rugged, volcanic it lies 550 km (340 mi) northeast of Mauritius and is known as the ‘anti-stress' island. The capital, Port Mathurin, is only seven streets wide, with a Creole population. Rodrigues offers walking, diving, kitesurfing and deep sea fishing.

Buy

The Mauritian rupee (French: roupie mauricienne) is denoted by the symbol "Rs" or "₨" with or without a full stop and placed before or after the amount (ISO international currency: MUR). Banknotes come in Rs25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 denominations and you may find Rs1, 5 and 10 coins in circulation.

Shop. Mauritius is not at all like Bali or Thailand. Don't expect the local merchants to be interested in prolonged bargaining. Many shops will not reduce prices, and even at the markets don't expect more than a 10-20% reduction. There are some bargains however as many large brand names clothing companies manufacture in Mauritius, and you can often find over runs or slightly flawed items at a fraction of the European prices.

It is also a good place to find unusual jewellery and handicrafts such as artificial flowers, model boats and wooden art. It is possible to reach the main shopping centres by public transport, or to take a full day shopping tour which includes a driver to take you to the main centres and handicraft workshops.

The Caudan Waterfront in Port Louis offers an variety of shops (including designer shops) and is an ideal place for shopping by tourists. For traditional crafts, a good place is Port Louis Central Market (Bazaar Port Louis).

Eat

Although many of the various restaurants around the island advertise a specific ethnic cuisine, like everywhere around the world they have their own mix of traditional and local.

Gastronomes will find a variety of flavours and aromas inherited from the different migrations through its history. Culinary traditions from France, India, China and Eastern Africa have been passed on through generations.

Depending on the region, rice or a variety of flat bread called chapattis or roti, called farata (paratha) by the local people, is eaten with curries. The extensive use of spices like saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves and herbs such as thyme, basil, and curry leaves are the common ingredients that provide some powerful, yet subtle, flavour.

Dal, a variety of lentil soup, are many and varied according to the type of lentil used; vegetables, beans, and pickles accompany the dishes. Dholl puri, originally an Indian delicacy, has become the fish and chips for Mauritians.

Biryani from Mughal origins is a dish prepared by the Muslim community, where meat is mixed with spiced rice and potatoes.

You can buy many snacks on the streets of Mauritius including the famous gateaux piments (a variant of the Indian vadai; literally, chilli cakes), and vegetable or meat samosas (puffs), along with octopus curry in bread. The tomato and onion based dish called Rougaille (pronounced rooh-guy) is a variation of the French ragoût. The dish usually consists of meat or seafood (corned beef and salted snoek fish rougaille are very popular with the locals). Mauritians eat this dish often if not daily.

Mauritians have a sweet tooth and make many types of 'gateaux', as they are called. The cakes vary and you can find cakes very much like those in France and others similar to Indian sweets like Gulab Jamun and Rasgulla among many others.

When leaving Mauritius, don't wait until you go through passport control if you want to have a snack. The coffee shop after passport control is not value for money. You would be better off visiting the snack bar before check-in and taking your purchases through with you. However, remember that due to the liquids, aerosols and gels rules, you are limited to the amount of liquids you can take through the passport control.

Drink

Mauritius produces a wide range of cane rum. It is very cheap and is a nice drink when mixed with cola and ice. A popular drink is coconut water with a dash of lime and a splash of local rum over ice.

The local beer, Phoenix, costs around Rs30 for a pint. Usually served very cold. The local Black Eagle beer, brewed in Nouvelle France is also good.

The Medine Estate Refinery shop at Bambous (4 km from Flic en Flac), on the west of the Island, has a wide variety of locally produced rums and liquors.

Sleep

There are many international brand hotels in Mauritius but there are some luxurious hotels which are owned by Mauritian companies. An increasing trend is for tourists to choose self catered bungalows and apartments, many of them located directly on the beach.

Foreigners can buy villas, many of them in compounds located on the beach, through the IRS or RES Scheme.

Stay safe

The crime rate has decreased in recent years and Mauritius is a much safer country for visitors than most other destinations. The Tourism Police and Coast Guards patrol regularly in areas frequented by tourists, and most cities, beaches and other major attractions are under camera surveillance. Nevertheless, you should exercise common sense and look out for suspicious behaviour, as you would anywhere in the world.

Telephone numbers

— Police, 999, 112.
— Tourism Police, +230 213 1740, +230 210 3894.
— Coast guards, +230 280 8317, +230 212 2747.
— Anti Drug Unit (ADSU), +230 208 1212.
— Traffic Police, +230 211 8434, +230 211 8478.
— Environment Police, +230 210 5151, +230 210 5252.
— Fire, 115, 995.
— SAMU Ambulance, 114.
— National Directory, 150.
— Airport of Mauritius, +230 603 6000.
— Air Mauritius, +230 207 7575.

Stay healthy

Mauritius is a risk area for infection with dengue fever, also known as "breakbone fever" from the muscular paroxysms sometimes induced. No vaccine is available. However no cases of dengue fever have been recorded in the country for several years now.

Since 2005 during the high season a certain type of mosquito called the Aedes albopictus causes the viral illness Chikungunya and the insect is more likely to be around in the daytime.

It is important to use anti-mosquito protection at all times. Mosquitoes are more prevalent in rural areas but they can also inhabit the beach in the tourist zone and may lead to swollen joints and/or rashes. Symptoms last from one week up to several months depending how seriously you are affected. Some people recover quickly but it can take several months to recover completely.

In 1991 86% of the population had antibodies indicating that they had been exposed to the hepatitis A virus, following an epidemic of the disease in 1989. Hepatitis A vaccination is generally recommended for travel in East Africa (and most other places).

Depending on the time of the year, many of the beaches are infested with sea urchins, and it is not uncommon to see broken glass on the beach or in the water. It is a very good idea to either buy or bring plastic/wet shoes when venturing into the water. This is generally not a problem at the big hotels as the designated swimming areas on the beaches are regularly cleaned of urchins and debris. Use wet shoes nonetheless.

Reef fish in Mauritius have been found to contain a neurotoxin similar, but not identical, to that found in Caribbean reef fish.

It is important not to eat peanuts or take alcohol if you eat coral or reef fish like sea bass, snapper, mullet, and grouper. The fish eat the toxic algae that grows on the coral reefs. Don't eat intestines or testes of the fish as higher concentrations of the toxin collect here. The symptoms include gastrointestinal upset, vomiting and diarrhoea and sometimes numb feelings of the arms and legs. (Wikivoyage)

The Seven Coloured Earths at Chamarel.

Beach in Mauritius - Trou-aux-Biches.

Sugar cane near Long Mountain.