Mauritius: Sun, Sand and the Indian Ocean
Mauritius, one of the world’s most reclusive and beautiful beach destinations, is a small island country located off the east coast of Madagascar. Sharing deep-rooted cultural and economic ties with France and India, Mauritius has emerged as one of the world’s most premier and top-end beach tourist destinations. Officially a parliamentary republic, the Republic of Mauritius comprises the islands of Mauritius, St. Brandon, Rodrigues and Agalega Islands.
Mauritius though considered expensive, the island country offers some of the beach and ocean tourism experiences in the country. Though Mauritius is among the most visited small island nations in the world, the country is home to some of the most beautiful and unspoilt beaches in the in the world largely owing to the conservation and ecological efforts of the islands’ successive governments. A well-developed (though expensive) tourism infrastructure makes any visit to the Mauritius, a rather memorable one. With its lush greenery and postcard-perfect scenery, Mauritius makes for an ideal vacation spot. Many of the beaches are best-suited for long swims and walks; one can also avail of the many water sports options available at some of the beaches.
Places to visit in Mauritius
Almost all of the islands of the Republic of Mauritius are dotted with multiple very beautiful beaches; some of these beaches have been regularly featured in travel magazines as among the most beautiful beaches in the world. Further, most resorts in Mauritius cater to the creamy layer; backpackers and those travelling on shoe string budget might find it very difficult to enjoy Mauritius. The country’s capital—Port Louis—is its economic heart and one of the major commercial centres of the Indian Ocean region. The capital city is beautiful and home to some beautiful colonial era structures including the oldest racecourse in the Southern Hemisphere.
Some of the other important tourist destinations include
- Grand Bay
- Pereybere
- Balaclava Ruins
- Triolet Shivala
- Labourdonnais Orchards
- Flacq Market
- Waterpark Leisure Village
- Ile aux Cerfs
- Dutch ruins
- Ile aux Aigrettes
- Mahebourg
- Domaine du Chasseur
- Souillac
- Blue Bay
- Martello Towers
- Chamarel
- Yemen Reserve
Mauritius- Travel tips, languages spoken, cuisine
English is decently spoken in the Mauritius, and as such communication should not be a problem. Cuisine catering to all tastes and stomachs is readily available in Mauritius; however, the food may be expensive, and as such, local cuisine is a rather better option. The waters surrounding the Mauritius are rich in aquatic life and make for excellent fishing points. In some cases, scuba diving too is a good option. Some of the islands are beyond limits to tourists owing to environmental reasons. Hence, one is advised to take due precautions. Further, Mauritius also is home to rather extensive and beautiful coral reefs.
Best time to visit
Mauritius can be visited any time of the year. Though hurricanes are known to hit the island, these are rare.
Best way to reach
- By Air: The Port Louis Airport is the only international airport. Flight connectivity to important regional destinations (particularly those in South Africa, United Kingdom and India) is excellent.
- By Rail: There are no railways on these islands.
- By Road: The road network within Mauritius is rather excellent and all the important cities and other beach resorts do boast of road connectivity. Local transport largely consists of unregulated and regulated buses and hitch-hiking.
- By Sea: Mauritius is one of the most important cruise ships destinations in the Indian Ocean, and during the peak season many cruise ships make a visit to the region. There is a rather decent intra-city ferry network to hop from one island to another.
Accommodation
Hotels, inspection bungalows, private cottages, etc. are available to suit all budgets. Mauritius abounds in family vacation beach resorts, beach retreats, beach vacation homes, beach hotels and beach houses. One can obtain excellent discounts on accommodation via beach holiday packages, beach tours and beach holidays. A very interesting feature of Mauritius is that there are many beach camps and beach resorts that dot all over the long sandy stretch. Many such beach camps and beach resorts offer private beaches that are out of bounds for outsiders.