
Mauritius is an island gem in the middle of the Indian Ocean, a
genuine palm-fringed and coral reef tropical paradise, surrounded with golden, powder-soft
coral beaches and clear, inviting lagoons that are perfect for sailing, windsurfing or
diving. It is also the home of a cosmopolitican culture, created over centuries by the
blending of the island's Indian, Chinese, French and Creole populations. Mauritian cuisine
is of great variety: French cookery, Indian and Creole curries and Chinese delicacies.
Besides from the beaches, you can also visit the racecourse or casinos in historic Port
Loui, and you can also explore beautiful islands anywhere.
Airport Information
- Name of airport: Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport
- Airport Tax: MUR 300
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Visa
- For Hong Kong BNO/BDTC passport holders, visa is not required for a
stay less than 3 months
- For Hong Kong Certificate of Identity( CI ) holders, Visa is required
- Click here for
more details
Customs
- Customs allowance
- Tobacco: 250g cigars and cigarettes
- Liquor: 2L malt liquor or 1L wine spirit
Currency
- Mauritian Rupee (MUR)
- 100 MUR / 5.188 USD
- Click
here for restrictions
Transportation
- Bus
- Taxi
- Rental car
- Rented moped
Time Zone
- GMT: + 4
- Difference from Hong Kong: - 4
Accommodation
- Please click here
Activities
Water Activities
Big Game Fishing
- Mauritian warm waters are the happy the happy hunting grounds of
marlin, sailfish, tuna, dorado, bonito, wahoos and other pelagic fishes. One of the
world's top fishing spots is the Black River. Launches for big-game fishing are available
for half-day or full-day fishing from hotels and private fishing centres. These launches
are rented fully equipped and include the services of an experienced skipper whose
knowledge of the sea will delight and enthuse the visitor.
Scuba diving
- In some regions myriads of multicoloured fishes home in huge coral
plates. In other regions just outside the reef you can discover a mystifying world of
plunging coral ledges honeycombed with caverns and grottoes sheltering a rich fauna with
marine species unique to the island. They are all ideal sites for photographers and
amateurs of underwater video sho can shoot scenes in conditions of exceptional visibility.
l'Ilot Flamants is an ideal place.
Diving excursions are regularly organised to a number of exciting sites. You can easily
find all the equipment you need for diving in anyone of the diving centres which also
reserve a special welcome to beginners. The latter will be initiated in a swimming pool
before their first dive in the open sea under the close supervision of qualified
instructors.
Snorkelling
- For those who are non-swimmers, snorkelling can be a most relaxing
and enjoyable way to discover our underwater world.
Water-skiing
- The lagoons are the theatre of many exciting and stimulaiting
activities. Water-skiing, for example can be practised throughout the year by skilled
skiers as well as by beginners. Facilities for water-skiing are available at all
boat-houses including the services of experienced coaches. One of the hot spots is at
Tamarin. From time to time the boat-house staff put on interesting demonstrations to
gratify their clients.
Yatching
- You may prefer sailing in and outside the lagoon, the conditions are
ideal for sailing wind-surfing. Small boats available at most of the hotels. Many yachting
organisations offer excursions in the open sea to coastal islands around Mauritius. Grand
Baie is also a favourite with yachters.
Parasailing
- Those who fancy stronger thrills can always try parsailing and enjoy
the breathtakin gview of the lagoon and its kaleidoscopic underwater sea-scapes from a
parachute trailed by a launch. The manager of the boar-house will be only too pleased to
keep you posted on the currents and the winds.
Fauna and Flora
Fauna
- All Mauritian endemic birds, are confined to native forests for
conservation, such as the Dodo bird, Picpic, Kestrel, Pink Pigeon, Echo Parakeet. Other
introduced species are the red cardinal bird, the pink-billed bengali or the yellow billed
mynah. May of our original land animals have gone the way of the dodo and the majority
ones are mostly foreign, but most of them are in wild forms, such as the Java Deers,
maracaque monkeys, and the favourites of hunters are the hare and the feral pigs. Marine
creatures which arrtact more exclamations of delight are the moray eel, seahorse, reef
fish; and octopi, sharks, dolphins, turtles are common. Harp shells, cowries, olives, cone
shells will also make a good collection of your souvenir.
Leisure
Lagoon
- Mauritian is a small island bathing in the warm tub of the tropical
Capricorn Sea. Located in the coral reef belt of the Indian Ocean, the island is renowned
for its garden of coral reef, lagoon and beaches. The lagoons provide its unusual panorama
of underwater life in all its natural profusion. The water ranges from pale turquoise to
indigo blue depending on the depth. The corals have grown and developed into flats and
platforms ranging from 15-25m in width and exhibiting a natural profusion of pillars,
pinnacles, plates and needles providing a whole array of undersea experiences. Sand banks
in lagoon provide good and safe swimming for all age groups. They can be found at Blue
Bay, Grand Baie, Pereybere, and along the North-East coast.
Beaches
- The North-West is the most famous sandy beach sector of the island
which can be justly named the 'Mauritian Riveria'. From Baie du Tombeau to Cap Malheureux,
you can find the highest number of holiday resorts in the island to suit all tastes. At
'Le Goulet', near Tombeau Bay, and at Balaclava in the famous Baie aux Tortues, corals
belonging to the Ice Age have emerged as small islets and mushrooms. Other popular beaches
are located within Trou aux Biches to Mon Choisy and Pointe aux Canonniers, and the most
popular are the Grand Baie and Pereybere. Other beauty spots located along the east coast
are the Ile aux Cerfs (Stag Islet), Le Gris Gris; Along the south coast, there are Ilot de
Deux Cocos, sandy and boulder beaches from Pointe d'Esny to Blue Bay, especially the
Riambel lagoon; and the Ile aux Benitiers along the West coast.
Other Activities
- Other activities include cycling, horse racing, soccer, golf, tennis,
hiking.
Tourist Attraction
- Black River Gorges - The forest-clad slopes of the Gorges and
the Machabe Forest nearby, contain some interesting specimens of indigenous timber as well
as fine plants perculiar to the island.
- Casela Bird Sanctuary - Almost 2500 birds are now housed in
some 90 aviaries, where extremely rare species inhabited . It was enlarged in 1982 to
house other animals such as tigers, monkeys, lemurs, deer and giant tortoise.
- Chamarel Coloured Earth - in the district of Black River are
coloured dunes of volcanic ash which are naturally displyed in orderly pattern.
- Charmarel Falls - fairy-like ambience waterfall, next to the
Coloured Earths
- Domaine du Chasseur - a spectacular mountain park, and
contains 2000 acres of tropical rainforest and a diverse variety of animal life - wild
boar, Java deer, Javanese stags, white-tailed tropical birds and even the extinct
Mauritian Kestrel. Now, its Paragliding Club is a new attracition.
- Domaine Les Pailles - You can trek in specially built
Landrovers or on horseback, and admire Mauritian wild life. You can also visit the
traditional sugar mill producing sugar cane, and rum-making disillery. Having fun in
rambling in the spice garden, the art gallery and the lodge. There are facilities like
three restaurants, riding club, play area for children, etc.
- Eureka - a beautiful restored colonial house with antiques
used by early European settlers
- Grand Bassin - a crater lake of an extinct volcano. An area of
pilgrimage for Hindus.
- La Nef - the former home of the Mauritian poet Robert Edward
Hart, is now a historic museum containing some of his belongings.
- La Vanille Crocodile Farm - Located in the heart of an
unspoiled forest where Nile crocodiles imported from Madagascar are bred. There is also a
small zoo of Mauritius animals which are found in the wild.
- Le Val Nature Park - is a natural reserve where giant prawns
are bred in ponds and varieties of anthuriums.
- Mask Museum - an interesting exhibition in Trou-aux-Biches,
there is also an aquarium downstairs which displays a colourful variety of Mauritian fish,
invertebrates, live coral and sponges.
- Natural History Museum - founded in 1880, known as the
Mauritian Institute, houses the famous dodo and numbers of other stuffed animals which
represent the fauna of Mauritius. The institute also functions as a library with a
collectio of over 50 000 books and contains a special section for researchers of the
Mascarene archipelago.
- Naval Museum - contains various objects found in the numerous
wreckages surrounding the island. This house also has an historical balue as it was here
that, in 1810, the English and French naval commanders (Willoughby and Duperre) were given
medical aid after being wounded in the Battle of the Vieux Grand Port.
- Pamplemouses Botanical Gardens - established in 1735, the
gardens boast 500 different species of plants: palms, the giant water lillies, spice
garden and the Talipot palms. There are beautiful gardens in Curepipe and one in
Beau-Bassin, which keeps giant tortoises.
- Plaine Champagne - from Plaine Champagne, the highest part of
thecentral plateau, there is a superb view of the Black Gorges and the sea lining the
horizon.
- Rochester Falls - waterfalls formed by funny columns of
contracted lava
- Vieux Grand Port
Tours and Activities
- Colonial Mauritius - You can trace back to its colonial
history by the fine houses built by the French and English, the history of the sugar cane
industry. You can also visit the sugar mill, distillery and spice gardens, and mountain
reserve area where you can spot rare endemic animals
- Shoppers Extravaganza
- Naturally Cruising
Shopping Guide
- Adamas Duty-Free Diamond Boutique
- Floreal and Curepipe
- Happy World Shpping Centre
- La Serenissima
- Orchard Centre
- Super Centre
Le Continent
Weather
- Jan - May: over 30C
- Jun - Sep: 14C - 22C
- Oct - Dec: 24C
- Humid Season: Apr - Jun
- Best time to visit: Apr - Jun, Sep - Nov
Language
- Official Languages: English
- Language of Business and Administration: French and Creole
Electricity
- 220 volts / 50 Hz
- Useful Tel. No.
- Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority : 2101545
- Airport information counter : 637-3635
Email : mtpa@intnet.mu
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