The island of Mauritius can be found on the globe 900 km east of Madagascar. The Republic of Mauritius is famous for its white sand beaches, palm groves and rare bird species, many of which live only on these islands. There are not too many attractions in the resort, but if you are interested in what to see in Mauritius, you can be sure that you will not be bored and your vacation will be varied and eventful.
TOP 15 attractions of Mauritius
Black River Gorges
The purpose of the creation of the national park is to preserve the unique flora and fauna of the island. A quarter of the local inhabitants and plants are endemic not found anywhere else on the planet.
There are about 60 km of hiking trails in Black River Gorges National Park. During the hikes, you will see dozens of species of rare animals and birds: the pink dove and necklace parrot, the Javanese deer and the kestrel falcon.
The Tourist Information Center is located in the village of Le Petrin. Here you will receive a map of the park and go hiking.
Botanical Garden in Pompleous
A few kilometers north of the capital is the famous Mauritius Botanical Garden. It was founded in the middle of the 18th century, when the French scientist Pierre Poivre began to grow spices in these places. The popularity of the garden named after Sir Sivosagur Ramgoolam is evidenced by the fact that some of the trees in it were planted by people known throughout the world. At one time, Indira Gandhi and François Mitterrand worked here with a shovel.
In the garden, you can watch how nutmeg and carnation, magnolia and camphor, lotuses and coffee, giant water lilies and ebony grow in Mauritius.
Grand Basin
Locals tell many beautiful legends about the Grand Bassen Lake. Some say that Shiva shed a little Ganges in this place, others say that fairies swim in the lake at night. But scientists declare that there is no magic, and the lake was formed in the crater of an extinct volcano. Its height above sea level is about 550 m, and on the shore next to the Hindu temple there is a statue of that very Shiva. Pilgrims admire the 33-meter sculpture and wash their feet in the sacred waters after a long journey.
Location: Sawan County.
To get there: bus. N162 from Victoria Square in Port Louis (Forest Side stop) continue by bus. N168.
Blue Mauritius Museum
The romantic name of the Museum of Postage Stamps was given by one special exhibit. In a small mansion on the Kodan embankment in the capital, you can look at the first postage stamps issued in the republic in 1847. These are the famous "Blue Mauritius" and "Pink Mauritius", with the first being the only surviving uncanceled copy, and the second being one of three. The total value of the stamps is about 1.5 million euros. The honor of founding an interesting exposition belongs to the Commercial Bank of the Republic.
In addition to particularly valuable items, the Blue Penny Museum collection includes:
- Ancient nautical charts used during the colonization of the island.
- Engravings and sculptures, including the sculpture of the heroes of Saint-Pierre's story "Paul and Virginia", created in 1881 by Prosper d'Epinay.
- Documentary evidence of the rich history of the island.
Indian Immigration Museum
An interesting exposition at the Institute of Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore in the Moka district was opened on the island in 1991. The Museum of Indian Immigration is dedicated to the history of Indian immigration, which dates back to 1834. At this time, slavery was abolished, and Indian settlers began to flock to the plantations of Mauritius.
The collection of the museum includes national clothes and jewelry, musical instruments from India and household items. The exhibits are housed in a recreated typical farm workers' dwelling of the era.
Tamaren waterfalls
The magnificent cascade of seven waterfalls in the valley between Curepipe and Black River Gorges looks very impressive. Tamaren Falls are located amidst pristine rainforest. This is one of the most peaceful and beautiful places in Mauritius. A full day excursion will allow you not only to enjoy the contemplation of a natural miracle, but also to swim in the purest pools formed by falling streams. Part of the walking route will have to be crossed by water. So tourists descend from ledge to ledge to pass all seven levels of Tamaren.
The price of a group tour in local travel agencies: from 70 euros.
Port louis
In the 17th century, the capital of Mauritius was a major port where ships sailing to the shores of South Africa stopped for rest. The city was named after the French monarch Louis XV.
Tourists will be interested in the old quarters of the capital of Mauritius, where you can look at the Government House on Arms Square, stroll through the gardens decorated with marble sculptures, take a photo against the backdrop of giant pipal trees, look into the Jummah Mosque and St. Louis Cathedral, buy spices at the city market and taste the local rum.
Port Louis is a very vibrant and multifaceted city. In the capital of Mauritius, you'll find prim English quarters and streets lined with traditional Chinese restaurants, French colonial-style mansions and modern nightclubs.
La Vanilla
In 1985, in Mauritius, they decided to increase the crocodile population, for which they created the La Vanille Nature Reserve in the south of the island. Soon, the protected area turned into a large zoo, where you can not only look at huge reptiles, but also get acquainted with monkeys, geckos, chameleons and giant turtles in their natural habitat. The collection of butterflies in La Vanille numbers over 23 thousand species. All inhabitants of the zoo are kept in open enclosures in the midst of banana and palm thickets.
Ticket price: 9 euros.
Castle Labourdonna
In the north of the island, in the village of Mapu, a museum has been opened, the exposition of which tells about the colonial past of the republic. The museum is located in an old mansion built in the 18th century. It is called here the castle of Labourdonna.
In addition to the collection of the Colonial Museum in the village of Mapu, you may be interested in the Rhumerie des Mascareignes winery. The distillery has been producing the famous brands of rum "La Bourdonnais" and "Rhumeur" for many decades. Fruits and berries grown in the Mapu gardens are used to make jams and marmalades, which, like rum, can be bought here as delicious souvenirs from Mauritius.
Seven-colored sands
Tourists who have visited the island call the village of Chamarel a real miracle of nature. Its main attraction is colored sands. Large sand dunes form an almost unearthly landscape. They range in color from yellow to red and purple to green. Sand of different colors miraculously does not mix even during heavy showers and squall winds. They say that even sand of different shades placed in glass vessels in a chaotic manner will sooner or later again separate into separate colored components.
Nearest town: Shemin-Grenier.
To get there: by car along the B9 and B104 highways.
Le Morne-Braban
The southwestern tip of the island of Mauritius, the Le Morne-Braban peninsula became famous in the 19th century, when escaped slaves began to settle here in secluded mountain caves. A basalt rock with a height of 556 meters hangs over the cape, protruding into the ocean. The hill offers beautiful views of the Indian Ocean, and the local landscape is rightfully included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The tourist center in Le Morne-Braban is equipped for the needs of active tourists. The waves around the peninsula allow for kiting, windsurfing and other water sports. The rental of the necessary equipment is open at the tourist center.
Museum "Eureka"
To the south of the capital of Mauritius, in the village of Moka, the Eureka Museum has been opened, the exhibits of which take the visitor to the past of the island and acquaint with the life of the indigenous population. Creole traditions are highlighted by authentic rural items. The collection of the museum contains old maps and dishes, clothing and agricultural implements, furniture and paintings.
The mansion is surrounded by a small garden with flower beds and waterfalls, and lunch at the restaurant, whose menu is made up of Creole cuisine, will help to end the excursion.
Natural History Museum
The Mauritius Museum of Natural History presents collections of renowned naturalists who have studied the island's nature. The exhibits are housed in four halls: galleries of fauna, insects, meteorology and giant turtles. The latter is of particular interest to visitors. It introduces the world to the Dodo bird, which lived only in Mauritius and irrevocably disappeared as a result of uncontrolled extermination by man. Dodo, or Mauritian dodo, reached a meter in height and weighed up to 18 kg. The image of the disappeared bird now adorns only the coat of arms of Mauritius.
Curepipe
The coolest place on the island is the city of Curpipe, located on the central plateau at an altitude of about half a kilometer above sea level.
In the city itself, the building of the old town hall, the Basilica of St. Helena and two colleges, included in the lists of national treasures, are of undoubted interest for tourists.
An excursion to the Curpipe region will also appeal to lovers of natural beauty. Near the city there is a botanical garden with a rich collection of rare and exotic plants, the Monvert Natural Park with eucalyptus forests and the Murra volcano, the view of the crater of which is especially impressive for photographers.
Flic-en-Flac
The best beach in Mauritius is on the west coast. The resort will especially appeal to fans of the underwater world. There are several centers for divers on the beach where you can rent equipment, get an international certificate and organize underwater walks at world-famous underwater sites.
