Mauritius

Landscape from the Exotic tropical island of Mauritius

Mauritius is one of the most premier tourist destinations in the whole world. It is popularly referred to as a tropical paradise and it is the most accessible island in the Indian Ocean. As soon as you step inside the fascinating country of Mauritius, you are bound to remember the famous comments of Mark Twain in which he says that God created Mauritius and then Heaven. Mauritius is comprised of two islands and the bigger one is known as Mauritius. The capital city of Port Louis is situated here. The other island is Rodrigues which is located at a distance of 500 km from the bigger island.

Travelers from all over the world are keen on making Mauritius their next dream destination and want to spend some idyllic time with their friends and family.

Mauritius offers loads of exciting activities to entertain the visitors and the months from December to March will be perfectly suitable to enjoy the numerous outdoor activities and explore the numerous attractions of Mauritius. Though there is the option of arriving in Mauritius by cruise ships, but the most popular option is to fly down directly to Mauritius.

The premier tourist destinations of Mauritius are Rose-Hill, Rodrigues, Curepipe, Grand Baie, Port Louis, Mont Choisi, Black river gorges national park, Flacq, Mahebourg, Chamarel, Casela, and Riviere du rempart.

Where is Mauritius?

Mauritius is an island nation, located in the south-western Indian Ocean. Mauritius Location Map

Mauritius Map

Getting In

You may reach Mauritius via different transportation options:

Plane
The country of Mauritius has only two airports namely, the Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport and the Rodrigues Island Airport. The Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport is located at a distance of 26 miles from the capital city of Mauritius, Port Louis. The national airlines of the country, Air Maldives, operates flights to Mauritius from international destinations in Europe, Asia, and Africa. It also operates flights from Australia to Mauritius. The major foreign airlines operating flights to Mauritius are Austrian Airlines, Air France, Air Europe, British Airways, Condor, South African Airways, Emirates, and Air India. Virgin Atlantic operates flights to Mauritius from the city of London.

Boat
A less preferred way to reach Mauritius is by boat. The ships, Mauritius Pride, and the Mauritius Trochetia, sail to the islands of Reunion and Rodriguez. The ships also sail to Madagascar.

The tourists, upon their arrival to Mauritius, have to provide the immigration officials the full details of the place where they are supposed to accommodate themselves in the country. Otherwise, instead of getting to Mauritius, you stand the risk of being packed back to the country you have come from. Further, if you are coming from a region which is highly affected by the disease malaria, you may be required to submit blood samples to the authorities.[/stab]

Transport

There are several options to travel around Mauritius:

Planes
You may use the services of the Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport and the Rodrigues Island Airport to get around the country. It will take you about a one-and-a-half hour to reach from one airport to another by national airlines, Air Maldives.

Bus
Another mode of travel in Mauritius is the bus. The bus services located in Mauritius are the National Transport Corporation, the Mauritius Bus Transport, and the United Bus Service. The roads in the country being well maintained, getting around the country by bus should not, ordinarily, pose any sort of discomfort.

Cars
Cars are good options of transportation in Mauritius. A highway exists from the north of the country to the south. You could get a car for yourself on a rental basis. The prices of the cars vary, depending on the model required and the car rental company you choose. The cars are driven on the left side of the road. You need to be at least 23 years of age to be able to drive in Mauritius. Do not forget to wear your seatbelt while driving. Also, remember to bring your driving licence to the country.

Boat
The ferries operated by the company Coraline provide services from Port Louis Harbour to the Rodriguez Island and also to the Reunion Island. The company owns two ships, namely the Mauritius Pride and the Mauritius Trochetia. You could also travel to Madagascar by these ships. But, the ships sail on a weekly basis.

Taxis
Taxis are another mode of travel in Mauritius. The metered taxis would take you to your destination, including the hotel you could be staying in. You may, if you feel like, pay an additional tip to the taxi driver.

Leisure

Mauritius being the land of fantastic beaches, offres several water sports like diving, sailing, surfing, snorkeling, etc. Those who are not into water sports of any kind, do not have to worry. They can try out other adventure sports like horse-riding, trekking, golfing, biking, etc. In fact, you could travel to almost any part of the country by cycling and even race with others.

Those who do not want try out sporting activities may visit the numerous bars, restaurants, discos, and nightclubs located in the country. If you do not want to ride horses, then how about just watching racing horse-riders? Yes, horse races are held during the winter months in Mauritius, between May to December. Champ de Mars, Port Louis, is the place in Mauritius where these horse races are held.

The tourists can go on cruising trips or travel by air in helicopters. The cruise boats usually provide services and facilities like lunch, music on board, etc. Diving, swimming, or simply sunbathing are some of the activities that you could try out while on a cruise trip. Grand Bay and Caudan Waterfront are the two places where the cruise trips are offered. The helicopters, on the other hand, provide some of the best visuals that a tourist could expect to see in Mauritius.

The hotels in Mauritius also provide ample facilities for your entertainment and leisure in Mauritius. The facilities include golf courses, restaurants, bars, discos, football grounds, tennis courts, etc. The hotels would also arrange for excursions of the visitors. A large number of the hotels have arrangements with the company MTTB-Mautourco, which arranges adventure sporting activities of the guests. Some of the adventure sports that the company facilitates are kayaking, hiking, safaris, and mountain biking.

You could also pay a visit to some of the famous tourist destinations in Mauritius. Some of them are listed below:

•   The Grand Bay
•   Port Louis
•   The Chamarel
•   The Black River George Park
•   The Pamplemonsses Garden
•   The Ile Aux Cerfs

Related : Facts about Mauritius | Cities in Mauritius | Mauritius Airports