Mauritius Short & Sweet Guide. Also,14 Activities for First-timers

Mauritius has always been one of the favorite tourists as well as the honeymoon destinations for the most of the people. Being famous for beaches, sugarcane plantation, marine life, wine, and barbecues etc., Mauritius has always been able to attract tourists to itself. Based on my experience, I am going to share the Mauritius traveling guide.

Blue Bay Snorkeling

Page Contents

Know Mauritius

It is important to know this country before you go there. Mauritius is a diverse country with diverse ethnic groups which constitute of mainly Indians and Creole along with Chinese and white people. Some of the major religions practiced in this country are Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam.

How religion flourished in Mauritius?

It is said that French people brought a lot of Hindus (Tamil & Biharis) & Muslim (Now Bangladeshis) from India for the sugarcane plantation here. The generation of these people passed on for years and now this country has a lot of Hindus. Read more about Hinduism in Mauritius.

Mauritian Geography:

You should also know about the geography of this country if you are planning to visit this place. From North to south Mauritius measures around 65 Km and from East to West, it measures around 45 Km with a coastline of around 330 Km. That means in a single day you can cover a lot of tourist places in a car or by a bike. Even you can do cycling trips around the country. Based on what I observed, tourism in Mauritius is mostly named after the direction.

mauritius-attractions-map

source: https://mauritiusattractions.com/

Famous places to see in the East Mauritius:

  • La Vanille Nature Park
  • Mahebourg
  • Blue Bay
  • Ille Aux Cerfs
  • GRSE Waterfalls
  • Belle Mare
  • Palmar Beach

Places to see in West Mauritius (including South-West):

The famous places to see are:

  • Flic en Flac
  • Chamarel (7-Colored Earth)
  • Le Morne
  • Black River Gorges National Park

Places to see in North Mauritius:

Some of the famous places to see in the north Mauritius are:

  • Grand Bay
  • Calodyne beach
  • Trou Aux Biches
  • Pointe Aux Biches
  • Pamplemousses
  • Even Port Louis

Even if you are thinking of hiring a car with driver for a tour around the country, they also talk in the terms of “north tour” or “south tour”.

Snorkeling at Trou Aux Biches

Booking a flight to Mauritius

Here are some of the tips that I would like to share with you for booking a flight to Mauritius:

  • There is only one main airport in the Mauritius called “SSR international airport” where almost all the flights land.
  • Try to book well in advance with some variation in the dates if your dates are not fixed yet.
  • Also, book to-and-fro ticket at the same time they cost cheaper.

The main problem that tourists face is the airport taxi transfer. If you land at the airport and you take a taxi there itself, it might cost you more. So, it is advisable that you book your taxi in advance.

Airport Taxi Transfer, Mauritius

Irrespective of where you go, the airport transfer price is almost fixed unless your area is too close to the airport such as Blue bay or Mahebourg etc. For a private taxi which can accommodate as many as 4 people. I did a lot of research and some of the best prices that I found online was around 30 Euros. Before we proceed any further, I would like to answer some more queries which might help you in planning your tour to Mauritius.

Mauritius Airport

Visa to Mauritius:

Though Mauritius is mostly a visa-free country for many countries, still you need to check their official website for the latest updates. More about visa can be read here.

Stay Length in Mauritius:

For How many days should I stay in Mauritius?

Well, it depends on what you want to do and how many places you want to cover in Mauritius. Based on my last trip, I think a visit of 15 days is sufficient to visit the entire country unless you do not have any other time-consuming plans. Here I am making a table which consists of a number of days, places to visit and what activities can you do in those days. The minimum is 3 days.

Note: There are some of the most places to see in Mauritius where everyone likes to go and see. Irrespective of the number of days you are staying there, you can still do a one-day tour to see those places.

3-4 days staying visiting recommendation in Mauritius

  • Staying options: Blue bay/Mahebourg and Trou de’Douce
  • Important Places to see: Blue Bay Marine Park and Tour to Ille Aux Cerfs
  • If you want to know more about these places, know more about them at places to see in Mauritius.

5-7 days staying & visiting recommendations in Mauritius

  • Staying options: Blue bay/Mahebourg, Trou de’Douce, Grand Bay
  • Places to see: Blue Bay Marine Park, Tour to Ille Aux Cerfs, and Island tour from Grand Bay

8-10 days staying & visiting recommendations in Mauritius

  • Staying options: Blue bay/Mahebourg, Trou de’Douce, Grand Bay, Le Morne
  • Places to see: Blue Bay Marine Park, Tour to Ille Aux Cerfs, and Island tour from Grand Bay, Chamarel, Black river gorges national park

11-14 days staying & visiting recommendations in Mauritius

  • Staying options: Blue bay/Mahebourg, Trou de’Douce, Grand Bay, Le Morne, Trou Aux Biches
  • Places to see: Blue Bay Marine Park, Tour to Ille Aux Cerfs, and Island tour from Grand Bay, Chamarel, Black river gorges national park, Port Louis, Botanical Garden

on Ille Aux Cerf island

Mauritius Hotel Booking Guide

I have stayed in different kinds of accommodations in Mauritius, from a private residence to three-star hotels to five-star hotels. All of them have their advantages and disadvantages. lease go through the points below and see for yourself which suits you.

Staying in a budget hotel / Private residences

  • Staying in the budget hotel or private residences sometimes booked through Airbnb is surely going to save a lot of money for you if you want to utilize them in some different forms on your tour.
  • You might have to look for a nearby supermarket where you can buy food to be cooked or a nearby restaurant where you can eat.
  • Most of the budget hotels or private residences are not located on the beach side. That means if you want to relax on the beach, you might have to go to a nearby beach.
  • You might have to spend extra money on activities such as glass bottom boat or snorkeling.
  • Did you know Ko Tao island in Thailand is also called as the diver’s paradise and here is a complete Koh Tao Travel Guide

Staying in the medium level hotel (~80 euros/night)

  • You do not have to worry about the food anymore.
  • Most of them will have a swimming pool. Most of these hotels will have themed buffet dinner in which they serve different-styled cuisine.
  • These hotels will also have free different activities on daily basis such as glass bottom tour, snorkeling ride, local dance, party night etc. So, if you decide to stay in a budget hotel, you pay for all of these.
  • Most importantly, local dance or party nights are not easily available everywhere. it depends on where you stay.
  • Beaches of these hotels will be a good one is not guaranteed. Also, there will be limited beach chairs to relax.
  • You might also face problems with the wifi which usually is served only in the reception/ common area in most of these kinds of hotels.

Mauritian local dance at a hotelMauritian local dance at a hotel

Staying in high-range hotels: (>150 Euro/night)

  • All the points mentioned above under the “Staying in the medium level hotel” apply here too.
  • Some of the extra things that you get are the luxury, privacy, and hospitality of staying in such hi-range hotels.
  • Besides, their beaches will also be much better compared to mid-range hotels. There won’t be any problem for beach chairs if you want to relax.
  • Also, there won’t be any wi-fi problem.
  • However, their taxi is costlier compared to the mid-range hotels and budget hotels.

But this is not over yet. If you decide to stay in mid to high range hotels, you are still given three choices.

  • Bed & breakfast – you are only eligible for buffet breakfast
  • half-board – you are only eligible for buffet breakfast and dinner
  • full-board – You are eligible for all the three meals

Note:- None of the above options has free drinks. You still need to pay for the drinks including water.

Which one shall I choose from Bed & breakfast, Half board or full board?

Well again, it depends. If you plan to spend your day traveling outside then the best would be half board. Personally, I chose only bed & breakfast. Why?

  • Because of most of the times, I took my lunch while traveling outside.
  • I still wanted the eating option to be with me.
  • If the weather is rough and you do not feel like eating outside, you still have the option to join buffet (lunch or dinner) at an extra cost.
  • At mid-range hotels, the dinner buffet costs around 700-900 MUR per person. That means you pay around 1600 MUR for a meal for two persons. On the other hand, if you eat outside with drinks, you pay around 1200 MUR in a nice restaurant. So, I always chose B&B option just to have a room of personal choice.

barbecue in mauritius`

Other necessities:

Buying a SIM card in Mauritius:

Buying a SIM card is really easy in Mauritius. There are a lot of options to choose from. Just to any “Orange” (Company) showroom, pay Rs. 100 and buy a SIM card which gets activated within 15 minutes. If you are more interested in internet packs, you might have to pay more.

Money Exchange:

Never exchange your money at the airport. If you see some western Union, go to them and exchange your money. Although Euro still works in Mauritius but mostly at high-range hotels and shops.

Booking a tour or hiring a car?

Well, renting a car is surely a good deal if you plan to travel around a lot and see a lot of places. It also saves your cost of going to a local store or nearby supermarket. However, sometimes taking a chauffeur is a better option.

  • You do not get tired of driving if you are traveling.
  • If you are lucky enough to have a nice driver with you, he will keep on telling you some great stories about each of the places you go.
  • If you drive on your own, the chances are still there that you would miss many local places.
  • Renting a car is though much cheaper.

country side mauritius

Shopping Options in Mauritius:

Most of the items including shoes, items of clothing, electronics etc. are all imported to Mauritius. Though they are duty-free they still cost much more. You might be tempted to buy jewelry or water-activities gears but they also cost more.

Mauritius is famous for a lot of activities that you can do on this island nation. Given the plethora of options, it is not so easy to choose what you want to do from a list of options especially if you are a first-timer on this island. I am here to make your task easier.

Activities to do in Mauritius for the first timers

I am going to list out all the activities that an amateur can consider doing it. These activities require no efforts and almost everyone can do the most of these activities.

Ziplining in Mauritius

Though Zip-lining is organized at many places in Mauritius but, Ziplining at Vallée des Couleurs, a nature park in the southern part of Mauritius, is said to be the longest zip line in the Indian Ocean of over 500m in length. It needs no previous experience. Beside Zip lining, you can also go for a small hike around. They also offer mini lunch with soft drinks for those who book this activity.

zipline

Source: Wikimedia

Hiking in Mauritius

Though there are not so many high hills around Mauritius still you can do a few hours of hiking for some of the most beautiful views of the country especially beaches and valleys. Out of many hiking options in Mauritius, three hikes which I would like to recommend are:

  • Le Pouce Hiking
  • Le Morne Brabant hike
  • Black River Gorges Park

Le Morne Brabant hiking trail is often called as the majestic slave trail. At the foothills of the hill, there is a UNESCO world heritage site. It tells the sad story of the slaves who jumped from the hill into the sea to escape. That’s why it is called as the majestic slave trail.

Black River Gorges National Park

From the top of this hiking trail, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the ocean and the bay area. Le Morne hike can be done easily in a half day. You can either start in the morning or in the afternoon depending on the weather.

While the Le Pouce hike is most famous for the amazing view of the valley and the mountains around. The Black River Gorges is the largest national park in Mauritius. Famous for its waterfalls, vistas, and hiking, the gorge is in the central highlands, making it cooler than much of the island.

Catamaran Cruises

Catamaran cruises are one of the most well-known activities to do in Mauritius. They are different variants of these such as private tours, sunset tours, island tours etc. I would recommend going for the island tours. One such trip starts from the Grand Bay to flat island or the Gabriel island. Such trips last entire day. Such trips usually include barbecue, snorkeling, music, fund and unlimited drinks including rum, beers etc and all.

It usually starts around 9 in the morning and finishes at 4 PM in the evening. On such trips, the catamaran stops at an island where you are served lunch before setting out to other spots. You can either relax on the beach, swim or do a sun-bathing.

Catamaran Cruise in Mauritius

Catamaran cruises reminded me of the island tours on the Koh Lanta island in Thailand. On such island tour, a boat is usually hired. It hops from one island to another. You can also go for snorkeling on such tours. Here is a complete Koh Lanta Travel Guide

Most of the tourists heading to Mauritius would have Catamaran cruise in their wish list. And why not? Catamaran cruises in Mauritius are synonyms to sun, sea, sand, sightseeing, beach, beer, drinks, music, relaxation, new friends, and countless more entities.

Mauritius is famous for Catamaran cruises. Whether be it the Southern Mauritius or the Northern Mauritius, Catamaran cruises are listed in almost all the tour booking centers. Henceforth I am going to talk about the highlights of Catamaran trip.

On a catamaran cruise

The Catamaran cruise in Mauritius reminded me of the beautiful Ko Lanta island tour in Thailand. The only difference is that the island tour in Thailand takes place in a boat powered by a diesel engine. Some of the other trips which are also famous in Mauritius is the South West Mauritius tour.

Most of the highlights talked below are almost same throughout the Mauritius irrespective of the part of the country you take the tour.

What is a Catamaran Cruise?

A Catamaran is a two-hulled boat which has two parallel hulls of equal size. The Catamaran is built on the wide beam between the two hulls. This gives it a more stabilized feature while less resistance in the water. Catamaran cruises are famous in Mauritius because of the nature of the unpredictable sea.

A catamaran would usually have rooms on both sides of the boat. On a cruise, one side is reserved for the crew members and tourists are usually not allowed inside. While the other side is open for the tourists. There is no particular reason for not allowing tourists inside the crew members area.

Most of the times, crew members keep their stuff required for a tour designated in their area. By inviting tourists, they just simply do not want to mess it up. The shipping area is usually divided into three parts i.e. front, center, and back. The center area is the covered area. It is the largest area where people sit. At the front, there will be a small area where more people can sit.

Front and center part of a catamaran

Front and center part of a catamaran

At the frontmost, there are resting nets where a single person can lie down. At the back, one can smoke. Also, Barbecue chicken is grilled in the backside only. While the center of the Catamaran from where it is stirred also serve as the temporary bar area.

Booking a catamaran tour:

There are a few things to know before you proceed to book a catamaran tour:

Weather

If the weather is not good, you might not be able to enjoy properly. Every day, Mauritian NCG (National Coastal Guard) monitor the weather. Upon their permission, tour operators are allowed to go to the islands with the Catamarans. Otherwise, Catamarans have to return.

There are many speculations that do tour operators know about it in advance? If they know about it then why do they book it? Well, some of the bookings happen much ahead in advance. If the tour operators try to be honest and refund the amount, they might get a negative review because many tourists keep aside a day just for this trip.

Sea and boat in a calm weather

Sea and boat in a calm weather

Ticket price

As long as you are getting a catamaran tour at the normal market price, its good. Even some discount does not hurt. However, be careful when you are about to get the ticket at dirt cheap price. It happened with me. Just a day before the trip, I got the ticket for a price almost 30% of the regular market price. Next day when the trip was canceled then realized why I got the ticket for so low price.

What’s included in a Catamaran Cruise?

Well, it depends but one of the most confusing things about the Catamaran cruise inclusion is free hotel pick up and drop. Hardly, any of the tour operators offer such service. You might be offered such service, there are always exceptions. But it is advisable that you should reconfirm things.

Drinks, Snacks, and Lunch

Once the catamaran cruise starts, the snacks distribution also starts. The snacks would usually be fruits, mostly Pineapple and watermelon. Once the ship has sailed and left the beach, in some time after the snacks distribution, the free drinks are served.

Catamaran Cruise in Mauritius

Barbecue preparation at the back

On some of the cruises, they offer you beer bottles but on some of the cruises, beer is distributed in the glass. The same applies to cocktails, wine, and other alcoholic drinks. Usual drinks that are served generally throughout the day are:

  • water
  • soft drinks
  • Rum
  • Beer
  • White Wine
  • Red Wine
  • Rose wine

The lunch menu is almost fixed. There might be a little variation on different cruises but more or less, its the same

  • Either fresh Dorade or fresh Marlin or Fresh Tuna
  • Fresh Chicken grilled
  • Sausages (Pork/chicken)
  • Pasta Salad
  • Rice Salad
  • Mixed Salad
  • Fresh Baguettes
  • Banana Flambé (Sweet Dish)

The lunch is a buffet. You can eat as much as you want. But some of the items are served by the crew members such as fish and grilled chicken.

Grilled chicken on catamaran cruise

Grilled chicken on catamaran cruise

Catamaran Cruise: From Morning till Evening

A Catamaran Cruise usually starts around 9 in the morning. People are given a meeting point where everyone should come almost 5 minutes before the given time. The meeting point will usually be a beach. Once everyone is on board, people are asked to remove their footwear and use the premises. This is just to keep the premises clean.

People are also asked to keep their bags downstairs in the underdeck. This is just to keep the luggage dry. Sometimes, when the sea is rough, the water from waves fly on the catamaran and makes things wet.

The ship driver briefing the tourists on a catamaran

The ship driver briefing the tourists on a catamaran

What to carry on a Catamaran Cruise

  • Beach Towel
  • Water Bottle
  • Camera & Waterproof Pouch
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun lotion

Once everybody is onboard, the ship captain or the main person gives a brief about the tour. It lasts for about 5-10 minutes. The brief is given in English as well as French. Once the brief is over, snacks distribution takes places along with the alcohol servings. And from now on, you are allowed to drink as much as you can.

People start introducing each other. Those who come in a group start having their fun together. Some just sit and enjoy the cruise. I liked to sit at the front at the net. You can sit there as well at the front.

Sitting at the front of a catamaran

Sitting at the front of a catamaran

If the sea is rough, the waves which hit the boat wash you completely sometimes but that is pure fun. Maintain caution with your camera. Those who sit at the front or at the side have to mandatorily wear a life jacket. The catamaran cruise has to abide by the NCG, Mauritius rules.

If there is some scenic place, the ship driver slows down the boat so that people can take pictures. When there is a snorkeling spot, the ship will halt in the water and you can go for the snorkeling as well. The gears are also provided y the cruise people. But some of the snorkels are not in good shape. Have caution with those gears. The ship would halt at the island and the barbecue takes place.

waves and rocks

A picture of waves and rocks

Everyone can eat as much as they want. If the weather is not good, the barbecue happens on the ship itself. After the lunch, you are given free time to roam around. In that time, you can either do sunbathing, have a walk on the beach, take pictures, do swimming or just sit and drink. The choice is yours.

Later, everyone is called back on the ship. On the ship, one of the cruise members would either sing or play guitar or dance. If there is another snorkeling point, then the Catamaran will halt and you can again jump into the water and do snorkeling. Around 4’o clock, the cruise comes back to the pickup point and people say bye to each other.

Blue Bay Snorkeling

Snorkeling

Dolphin/ Whale watching

These kinds of activities usually last for around 3-4 hours in where you get a meal and speedboat is used for this kind of activities. The skipper of the speedboat also talks about the kind of whales or dolphins that you can expect to see. They also talk about the guidelines and security measures on the boat.

Safari tours

Although Mauritius has got not much of wildlife like that of Africa. However, you can still enjoy the wildlife safari in Casela national park which is the biggest national park in the Mauritius. In the Casela national park, you can see a variety of animals such as crocodiles, giant tortoises, rhinos, wild cats etc. You can even go close to a lion.

Car Trips

Car trips are also one of the most famous tours in Mauritius. Since Mauritius is almost 65 Kms from North to South and 45 Kms from East to the west, you can take an entire day trip to cover the different places of interests in Mauritius. These trips are also called as day trips.

Mauritius South-West Private Tour Experience

These trips are divided based upon the different regions in Mauritius and areas that have to be covered. More about these day tours or trips can be found in the Mauritius traveling guide. These days trips usually cover the famous places like Chamarel, SSR botanical garden etc.

Ile Aux Cerfs island tour

Ile Aux Cerfs needs no introduction as far as most famous places to see in the Mauritius is concerned. This island tour activity is usually done by the speedboat. It is a whole day activity in where you go to the island by the speedboat.

on Ille Aux Cerf island

The whole package usually consists of buffet lunch, visit GRSE waterfalls. The barbecue lunch is usually done on the Ilot Mangenie which comes before the Ile Aux Cerfs. There are serene lonely beaches on the island is where you can for tens of minutes, swim and relax in the sun.

Snorkeling

There are a lot of snorkeling places in Mauritius such as Mont Choisy, Trou Aux Biches, Blue bay marine park etc. If you are staying in the mid-range hotel, the chances are there that the hotels would organize snorkeling trips as complimentary for their guests every morning depending on the weather.

In that context, if you are going to stay in Mauritius for around or more than a week then you can stay in two different places in such hotels and enjoy snorkeling. One of the best places to snorkel in Mauritius is the Blue Bay marine national park.

Blue Bay Snorkeling

However, if you love snorkeling a lot, you should consider going to the Koh Tao island in the Thailand. Here is a complete Ko Tao Travel Guide. It is also called as the diver’s paradise.

A trip to Mauritius is incomplete without any underwater scooter ride experience. Although there are a lot of activities to do in Mauritius, however, an underwater sub scooter ride, parasailing, blue bay safari or a tour to Ile Aux Cerfs have earned their own reputation.

It was my trip to Ko Tao island in Thailand where I experienced the underwater life first time in my life while snorkeling deep and far into the sea. Since then I have been carrying the penchant for seeing marine life more often given a chance.

In Mauritius, underwater Sub-Scooter ride or the submarine ride, which goes as deep as up to 125 feet inside the sea, were always on my mind. Though I wanted to try scuba diving first, Sub-Scooter seemed a more adventurous activity to me. It was so also because I had someone who was a non-swimmer.

Blue Safari Sub Scooter rideBlue Safari Sub Scooter ride

Before the underwater Scooter trip

Before the sub-scooter ride, you are given a set of instructions on do’s and don’ts, what to bring etc. Once you book the tickets, you would be given a slot.

What to carry on the underwater Sub-Scooter trip

Here is a list of things that you might want to carry along with you on the trip:

  • A small water bottle. Although they will give you water still it is advisable to carry one liter of water with you.
  • Towel – Towel will be really useful for changing the dress when you come out of the water from the trip
  • Little money – You can carry little money like 50-100 MUR in case you want to tip to the diver after finishing your trip

Underwater Pictures & Videos:

  • If you do not own an underwater camera, you should make up your mind before the trip itself, if you want the company to make your underwater pictures or video, or not.
  • I am saying so because even if you say a no but the diver who will go along with you inside the water will anyway shoot your pictures.
  • After you finish the ride and return to the office, they will show you the pictures. That’s the moment when you might make up your mind to taking the pictures.
  • But understand the difference between taking some pictures just to lure you to sell and taking the pictures on a commitment basis. Hope you got my point here.

diver shooting our pictures

Best time for the Sub-Scooter trip

There are different slots available in a day for the ride. If I had to say about the best time for the Sub-Scooter ride then it really depends on a lot of other factors such as weather, visibility inside the water etc. Here are some tips

  • Try to take a morning slot, 10 or 11’o clock ride
  • Look beforehand for the weather on the day of the ride. If the weather is cloudy or rainy or windy, it would make the sea rough. Having said that, you won’t be able to see much of the marine life, also visibility gets restricted to a few feet of the water.
  • Thus, go on a clearer day when the visibility is up to tens of feet inside the water.

a diver inside water

On the day of the Sub-Scooter ride

You will be given a reporting time slot if you book your slot in advance. On the day of your ride, you will be taken to a bigger ship by riding a small boat. This journey takes about 15 minutes.

Note: We had selected 11’o clock slot. Once we reached the office, the staffs insisted that the weather was not so good and visibility looked restricted so we should try the next day slot. That sounded fishy to me. I insisted on doing the same day. Sometimes when you are the only one for the Sub-Scooter ride, their operation cost increases as they are still supposed to operate just for a pair of persons. In order to cut down the cost, they make such fussy reasons.

Once you reach onboard, you are given instructions on the sub-scooter. They explain everything from oxygen inlet to seat adjustment, paddle breaking handle everything. Once the briefing is completed, you are made to sit inside the sub-scooter. There will a preliminary check. You will then slowly lowered into the sea.

a look inside blue safari sub scooter

As now I have taken the ride, I got aware of many things about the sub-scooter. However, before the ride, I had a lot of questions making me apprehensive about the trip. Thus, I have decided to share with you some pointers which might help in clearing your doubts further.

Blue-Safari Underwater Sub-Scooter Ride Review & Tips

  • Always remember the sign language that they teach you on the board. That’s the only way of communication inside the sea.
  • You will be required to change your clothes and wear an underwater suit which helps in keeping you warm inside the water.

Activities to do in Mauritius for the first timers

  • A sub-scooter has adjustable seats one behind another. But when you are lowered into the water, due to buoyancy, we also almost float while standing inside the chamber.
  • There is no extra brake system in the sub-scooter. It has two paddles and a handle for operation. Both of the paddles are needed to be pressed in order to move the sub-scooter forward. Releasing the paddle works as a break.
  • The handle is simple, you turn right to move right and same applies to other directions.
  • There will always be a scuba diver who will be accompanying your Sub-Scooter. Sometimes, he might be swimming just below your scooter. Do not panic if you do not see him. You can trace him with the bubble coming from the beneath.
  • You need to be more careful if you are going for this ride with someone who is a first timer to the water. Having said that, I mean that person has never experienced water before, even neither in form of swimming.
  • You should also learn how to equalize your ears when the Sub-Scooter goes 4-5 meters deep.
  • You can carry your underwater camera such as GoPro with you. Always carry that with a stick, if you want to make videos. You can also request the diver to take your pictures inside.

Hand space on sub-scooter

  • There will always be an open-air connection running to the Sub-scooter Chamber where you sit. This air connection provides sufficient oxygen for breathing and maintains air pressure inside. But it also makes a lot of noise similar to when there is a hole in the tire.
  • If the person sitting behind the person driving the sub-scooter is smaller in height, that person can mostly see nothing ahead. He/she has to look sideways for the marine life. Seeing corals on the sea floor is a little bit tough.
  • Near the waist, there is sufficient gap to take out your hands and shoot your picture using a selfie stick. But be careful inside the water. It is not as easy as it is in the open air.
  • Last but not the least, please do not panic. Keep calm. Knowing no swimming is good but having mental strength is another thing inside the water.
  • My partner panicked too much inside the water. Half of my time was spent in calming down the person sitting behind me and listening to the panicked talks, sometimes shout, and in showing how to equalize the ear pressure inside the water.
  • Sometimes, my partner was too scared not seeing the diver around. So, most of my times were spent in calming my partner down.
  • The cover over your head will be a panoramic dome cover made up of glass. You can simply look around and enjoy the ride.

The glass dome of sub scooter

  • The water level inside the Sub-Scooter will be until your neck-level. You can wear glasses or contact lenses easily.
  • Due to breathing, sometimes the glass gets foggy, so you might clean it sometimes by splashing water on it.
  • The diver will also carry some loafs of bread for the picturization purpose. He will leave the loafs just in front of the sub-scooter and when the fishes gather, he will shoot the pictures.

Blue Safari Underwater Sub-Scooter Ride Experience:

After the brief, when the sub-scooter was lowered into the water, we could gradually feel the chill of the water soaking me up from ankle to knee and slowly until my neck. Moments later, our submarine was completely dipped inside the water. There was a halo of light straight above my head appearing as a gateway to the sky lightened by the sunlight.

hanging rope to sub scooter from top

From light blue to jade and jade to blue to deep blue, the water kept on changing its color as we went deeper. The voice echo inside the glass dome and the gushing sound of the Oxygen were a constant reminder that we had leased our life based on the scientific principles and mortgaged it to the fate.

The scuba diver swimming slowly in front of us seemed like a movie shot or someone from the Discovery channel. His flawless movement and the ease with which he was swimming made everything else look normal inside the water. But the scream of the air inlet constantly reminded that there was still an uproar in the depth of the silence.

Time paused. The window to the sky above us seemed distant. We were gradually floating into the water.  There were schools of fishes around. Look down and there are colorful corals peeping at you from the bottom.

Sometimes, the diver will leave a loaf of bread just in front of the sub-scooter and fifties of fishes will look at you while eating bread. The glass tomb separates the water world. And again, he will start swimming effortless ahead of your scooter.

He would often stop near some coral and point to something interesting. I will also remove my feet from the paddles. Its all blue around. When did half an hour pass, we did not know? When we came back to the surface, the same earth looked different. There was different warmth in the sunlight. It almost felt like our old friend had embraced me once again.

sub scooters underwater

Glass bottom boat tours

Glass bottom boat tours are for those who cannot do swim and do snorkeling. These boats have glass bottoms through which you can see the marine life. Through these boats, you can still see a lot of corals and reefs.

Snorkeling at Trou Aux Biches

Sea Bobbing

A sea bob is like you personal underwater scooter. You just put on the waterproof glasses and drive on the surface of the water or under the water until you can hold the breath.

Undersea walk

If Glass bottom boat still does not satisfy you then, it is the undersea walk which can quench your thirst for the sea life. There is a waterproof cover which covers your head and provides you air to breathe. You can wear glasses. In undersea walk, you walk on the surface floor of the sea for around 10-15 minutes. You feed the fish and walk around.

Underwater scooter adventure

If you want to go another step ahead of being a non-swimmer, you can go for the underwater scooter ride activities in Mauritius. It can accommodate two people with a panoramic glass dome for 360 degrees view. Before going inside, they instruct you about the safety measures and how to drive the underwater scooter.

Underwater scooter adventure

The underwater scooter is very easy to pilot, with a steering wheel, two accelerator pedals and a single button to control the depth level. A diver also accompanies you inside the water for your safety and to also show you marine life. The underwater trip takes about 40 minutes, and the total duration of this activity is about 2 hours. You do this activity for around 35 minutes under 4-5 meters of water guided permanently by a diver.

Submarine underwater trip

If you still want to go another step ahead then the submarine underwater ride is for you. This is a wonderful experience for everyone visiting Mauritius. You will get to experience what you only dream about when going underwater and staring into the crystal clear Indian Ocean water and discovering the rich sea life deep underwater. The total duration of this activity is 2 hours, of which 40 – 50 minutes will be underwater. The submarine can accommodate 10 passengers and the pilot.

Parasailing

The parasailing begins with a short safety briefing. Then you will be taken by boat to the launch pod where you will later take off and start the parasailing. Most of the people who organize it are certified. East coast of Mauritius is famous for parasailing because of being windy.

Little did I know about this garden. SSR botanical garden is not just an ordinary garden. It has tales of motives of colonials hidden behind its silent trees and soil.

Basin, SSR Botanical Garden

SSR botanical garden is situated in the Pamplemousses, near Port Louis, Mauritius, and the oldest botanical garden in the Southern Hemisphere. SSR botanical garden is one of the most famous tourists’ attractions in Mauritius attracting thousands of tourists almost every month. Visiting this garden is one of the most interesting activities for first-timers in Mauritius.

SSR botanical Garden History:

During the French colonization period, this botanical park used to be private garden of the French colonials on this island country of Mauritius. Later when Mauritius became an independent country, it was renamed after its first prime minister Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam. That’s how the name SSR botanical garden came into existence.

SSR botanical Garden

There are a lot of things to see around in the garden.

SSR Botanical Garden Entrance Fee

For Mauritian Citizen:

  • No fee for age under 5 years
  • 25 MUR for between 5 to 59
  • 60 and above & Disables – No fee

For Non-Mauritian Citizen

  • No fee for age under 5 years
  • 200 MUR for between 5 to 59
  • 60 and above & Disables – No fee

SSR Botanical Garden timings

  • Monday to Sunday (including public holidays): 08.30 hrs to 17.30 hrs

After buying the ticket, you will get a free map guide which is marked with the different landmarks of the botanical garden. You can use that map guide to visit the garden. It takes around 2-3 hours to visit the entire garden. However, I would like to suggest you hire a guide at the entrance. There are a lot of interesting facts that you can get to know from the guide. Here are some of the famous places inside the botanical garden.

Early Sugar Mills:

If you already have some idea about Mauritius then you must also be aware that many slaves were brought to this island even from as far as India. The main purpose was sugarcane plantation on this island. When sugar cane plantation grew up, SSR botanical garden was used as the nursery for testing out the new variety of the sugarcanes from different places such as Australia and New Zealand.

Old Sugar Mills

You can still see an early sugar mill the garden. There is also description written there which explains how sugar used to be extracted from the sugarcanes. Besides, the garden has also been used as a nursery to test the potential crops which could be produced on the island.

During the colonization, this garden was the first place where other crops would be tested before spreading them all over the island. This garden has also witnessed the different motives of its rulers and occupants. To make profits and cut down the expenses on slaves, Cassava was also tested in this garden first.

Cassava used to be Africa and South America’s staple food. Because wheat or maize could not be grown on the island, Cassava was also used to make bread for the colonial rulers. With the invention of the gunpowder, a plant named Bois noir was tested here before spreading it acrosss the island. It is said that the charcoal made from the bark of the plant could be used in making gunpowder.

Giant water lilies (Victoria Amazonica)

Giant waterLillyy pond is one of the most famous features of the SSR botanical garden. Also known as the Victoria Amazonica, Giant lilies are native to the Amazon River. One of the most peculiar things about these flowers is that they are white on the first day, Then they are open and turn pink the second night.

Giant Lily Pond Mauritius

After its discovery in the beginning of the 19th century, Giant water lilies became a subject of rivalry between the Victorian gardeners. The positive side of this competition was that giant water lilies were exported to all the other colonial locations and that’s how it also in the SSR garden of Mauritius.

Giant lily leaves in initial stage

Fauna at SSR botanical garden:

Fauna was later introduced to the botanical garden along with the tortoises and deers.

tortoise at SSR botanical garden

There are parks dedicated where you can go and see them. When Mauritius became independent, It’s first prime minister invited many well-known people who planted a tree in this garden. Besides the famous people, a lot of different varieties of plants from different parts of the world were introduced in this garden which can still be seen around.

Tropical Coconuts

Lotus in early stage

Lotus in early stage

a bird plant

mysterious flower of SSR Botanical Garden, Mauritius

mysterious flower of SSR Botanical Garden, Mauritius

white lotus

white lotus

Ile Aux Cerfs has able to hold the imagination of every traveler heading to Mauritius. White sandy beaches, Turquoise water under the azure sky, lonely walk along the never-ending beach, arrival on the island by speedboat, barbecue, a visit to the GRSE waterfalls, sunbathing in the paradise are just some of the termed experience for which this paradise island is famous for.

Ile Aux Cerfs

How to Reach Ile Aux Cerfs? A tour package or just a visit?

Generally speaking, there are a lot of packages that exist for Ile Aux Cerfs tour. If you do not have anything on your mind in particular and you want to have your day well spent, I would suggest taking a wholesome package which covers Ile Aux Cerfs island, BBQ lunch & drinks, speedboat visit to the GRSE waterfalls as well.

There are different options as well which enables you to go to the island in a much cheaper way. For example, you can just pay 500 MUR and take a speedboat from Trou d’Eau Douce which drops you on the island. This option might sound cheaper but on the island, then you have to buy everything unless and until you have the lunch packed with you. The boat leaves the Trou d’Eau Douce jetty every half an hour.

Trou d'Deau Douce

Another option is going from a hotel. Most of the hotels on the eastern beaches of Mauritius offer a free ride to the Ile Aux Cerfs island. There are fixed timing such as dropping on the island at 9:30 and pick up at 14:00. You can also get packed lunch (Around 1000 MUR) from the hotel like a picnic. Just pick up your beach towel and you are on the island.

I had the same option with me when I stayed at the Tropical Attitude hotel (Read Tropical Attitude Hotel review) still I decided to take a tour because I wanted to enjoy BBQ food with free wine/ beer along with a tour to the GRSE waterfalls. If we look at the pricing then the entire tour cost me around 2500 MUR (I got a discount because my car driver knew the boat guy).

Ile Aux Cerfs & GRSE waterfalls Tour

The tour starts at around 9:00 AM. The tour guy offered to pick us up in the morning. The weather was not so good. There were only two people for the trip and both from Tropical Attitude. I was really excited about snorkeling. The boat guy was cool. He stopped the speedboat at a snorkeling spot. Due to the rough sea, I could not snorkel much and had to return to the boat shortly.

If you have not experienced the speedboat ride, try it when you book the tour. There are a lot of options for the Ile Aux Cerfs tour but I would suggest taking the speedboat. The ride would be one of the most memorable rides.

Speedboat ride

The speedboat leaves the shore and zooms into the bay. It jumps over the waves. Sometimes, I would feel that the speedboat was really in the air momentarily. The speedboat ride is a really memorable ride to take.

Gradually the boat enters the mangroves of Ilot Mangenie island. The speedboats are not allowed to go fast here because it might disturb the mangrove life. The mangroves look like mini Sundarbans, the largest mangroves in the world. Read here some interesting facts about Sundarbans.  The waterways are crisscrossed. If you have already been to Andaman, the water path would remind you of it.

salt water lagoons and mangroves near Ile Aux Cerfs

Mangroves

The waterways are crisscrossed. If you have already been to Andaman, the water path would remind you of it. After the mangroves are crossed, the boat stops at the Ile Aux Cerfs island. Once you land on the island, you will be given a brief about the island. As far as I could remember, here are some of the brief points.

Do’s and Don’ts on Ile Aux Cerfs Beach

  • Try not to snorkel on the beaches on the other side of the island. Those beaches are indecisive and snorkeling experience might result in a fatal experience
  • Another side of the beaches is also full of poisonous sea urchins. If stepped on them, it might result in even death.
  • Tourists are also advised not to walk barefoot on the beach because of the sea urchins again which are found under the sand sometimes. Their thorns are really painful too.
  • Once I was watching man vs wild episode.  Bear Grylls was trying to show survival skills on one of the Philippian islands. He found a sea urchin and said that if the sea urchin gets stuck to the bare feet of the local people here, they beat their feet with wood until the thorns are crushed.
  • It was also told that one cannot walk around the island because, at the South-Eastern end, there are mangroves.
  • Also, there is only one toilet on the island. That’s near the jetty. If you want to get fresh, you should.
  • There is also a golf course on the island but tourists are not allowed to venture into that.

Trail made by golf course vehicle

If the boat dropped us, we were asked to meet the same boat guy at around 13:30 PM. Until that time, we were free to whatever we wanted to do. By the way, the island is open from 9:30 to 18:00 every day and then it closes.

On the Ile Aux Cerfs island:

After the brief, I thought of walking along the beach. There is a small interesting creek which divides the Ile Aux Cerfs with Ilot Mangenie island. You can literally wade across the creek during the low tide. During high tide, the water does not rise much but it can get as deep as 6 feet maximum at some points.

Ile Aux Cerfs Creek

The small creek

Anyway, I decided to explore the island first and went to the other side beach. Definitely, that was something beautiful. Though the weather was cloudy the water still had got some color. I was mostly waiting for the sun to peep out of the clouds so that I could see the true shades of greenish water.

Being a protected island, You feel close to Nature on the island. Just along the beach, there are a lot of trees. Birds chirp, waves break off on the beach and a very few people are seen walking on the beach. The longer you walk, the lonelier it gets.

Lonely beaches at Ile Aux CerfsLonely beaches at Ile Aux Cerfs

I wanted to walk until the end of the beach. So I kept on walking. That was a true nature walk. After half an hour, I reached almost to the end of the island beyond which I think there was a private hotel property lined up with beach chairs. Sometimes the sun would show up and the color of the water would suddenly appear green. The game of hide and seek was really beautiful.

I also spent some time taking the pictures and wondering around. I really found of the interesting things on this beach. Some of the things that I saw was fish tails and fins lying on the ground. Sea urchins washed away on the beach along with the vivid colors of the sea.

Sea Urchin on Ile Aux Cerfs

A Sea Urchin

While returning I saw a lot of people lying on the beach. This beach really makes a secluded beach. If you are coming onto Ile Aux Cerfs tour from your hotel, I advise you to take the beach towels with you. Under the sun and on the beach, just lay down the towel and relax.

As mentioned before, I also saw some more couples later from my hotel laying on the beach with a picnic basket. That reminded me of the movies. I also saw new couples enjoying on the beach. Anyway, after having my time, I returned to the jetty.

Barbecue lunch at Ilot Mangenie

The boat guy was waiting for us. At this point, more people joined us. We all sat in the same boat and headed towards the Ilot Mangenie island. Ilot Mangenie island is around 5 minutes from Ile Aux Cerfs Jetty. It goes through the same mangroves.

Through Mangroves on the way to Ilot Mangenie

On the way to Ilot Mangenie

At the island, there is a barbecue facility. This barbecue was better than the catamaran cruise to Gabriel island. On the catamaran cruise, everything was being served in portions but here the barbecue was being served fully. For example, on the catamaran cruise, they were serving beer in a glass and here they gave a full bottle of beer and wine to enjoy.

Also, we did not feel like asking for the food again and again. The portion served by the people was more than sufficient. We just loved it. The hospitality of the staffs was also recommendable.

cooking barbecue on Ile Aux Cerfs Tour

Barbecue time

Visiting GRSE Waterfalls

After the lunch barbecue, we were asked to sit on the speedboat. Now the group size was bigger. Then we headed towards the GRSE waterfalls. GRSE stands for Great River South East. The speedboat passes through the Ile Aux Cerfs bay again but this time further.

Ile Aux Cerfs bay

Ile Aux Cerfs bay

The weather was windy and the wind was flowing against us. Due to the waves against us, most of us got drenched in the water. People sitting at the front were safer because of the height. The speedboat crosses the bay and enters into the sea again.

It leaves the sea and enters the gorges made by the river. Before entering into the river, you can see the murky color of the river and blue color of the sea mixing together. Ride through the gorges is amazing and as beautiful as it could get. The ride reminded me of the Amazon river valley. It was also a miniature version of the Gandikota canyons.

The speedboat gets as close as much possible to the waterfall. You can feel the water spray on your face. After some time, the boat returns to the Ile Aux Cerfs island again.

GRSE waterfalls

GRSE waterfalls

At Ile Aux Cerfs island again

This time we were left on the island for another one hour. The creek that I mentioned earlier due to the high tide had filled up. The water was sufficient to swim and enjoy. I enjoyed in the water a lot. Also, slept under the sun for some time.

A couple at Ile Aux Cerfs

Around four clock, our speedboat left the island. But the speedboat did not drop us at the Jetty at Trou d’Deau Douce but directly at the jetty of your hotel. Overall, Ile Aux Cerfs tour is a must do a tour in Mauritius.

Upon my first encounter with Port Louis, I saw a city which had been recently developed and sky scrappers had kissed the sky within last a few decades. The constant pitch of the string attached to the slaved past of Port Louis was still audible around. This city presented a perfect mix of deep-rooted past overtaken by the modern world.

Aaparvasi Ghat

Standing quietly in the corner and watching the city grow, like a freedom fighter, Aaparvasi Ghat, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has uncountable stories of indentured laborers covered within itself for almost a century. Physically standing in front of the building, my mind had traveled a century ago to the times of indentured servitude.

aaparvasi_ghat

Now that the time has changed, this building still serves the purpose of commemorating the pain that the laborers had gone through for decades. If you have some places to see in Mauritius on your mind then include this place also without failing to remember to take a guide for its history.

If you wonder why almost 70% of the Mauritian population is Indians then no one has the perfect answer to it but Aaparvasi Ghat. Almost half a million indentured laborers had landed and passed through the Aaparvasi Ghat, an immigration depot during colonial times. These Indians at the time formed a substantial part of the Mauritian population.

After the abolition of slavery in early 19th century, the British colonial empire was in need of cheap laborers for running their sugarcane plantation. Because they Africans could not more be slaved, British always looked out for a cheaper alternative.

On the other side in 1857, After the mutiny of 1857, Indians were also going through an economic depression. British capitalized on this situation and made Indians sign bonds and transported them to Mauritius. India’s close proximity to Mauritius was another reason why British chose Indians.

You can also see a clearer view of the Le Pouce hill from this place. Le Pouce is the third highest hill in the Mauritius.

Le Pouce

Le Pouce

Port Louis Waterfront

Port Louis Water Front

Port Louis Water Front

Just a hundred meters away from the Aaparvasi Ghat, you walk into a modern world full of development and modern amenities, leaving behind a sad past. Either there is nothing much to see at the waterfront or you feel like standing in the center of the town.

Otherside of Port louis waterfront

Otherside of Port louis waterfront

Look around, there is a lot to see. Port Louis has walked a distance leaving behind its past. Now, it boasts of having one of the most beautiful waterfronts in the world. Look around, you see large ships, boats, lively restaurants & bar, calm sea waves, chattering people sitting in the shade, tourists taking the pictures and a lot more. Just opposite to the waterfront lies one of the busiest roads, the trunk road, of Mauritius.

To the right trunk road, to the left port louis waterfront

To the right trunk road, to the left port louis waterfront

Caudan Waterfront

Just beside the Port Louis waterfront, Causan waterfront is there. This is the waterfront which houses famous shops, casinos, and restaurants of the Port Louis area. Though this area not much bigger in size, it still has everything that a shopper might need.

Caudan Waterfront

Caudan Waterfront

You can cover the entire area within 20 minutes. But in that 20 minutes, you can see casinos, Museum, paintings on display, the famous umbrella market, A stroll along the waterfront and a lot more. If you want to have a leisure time, you can just sit in any of the restaurants, have the beer and see the life passing by.

Umbrella market, Port Louis

Umbrella market, Port Louis

Caudan waterfront shopping complex is the first waterfront shopping complex in the Mauritius. If you want to see the modernization in Mauritius, just cross the trunk road and you can see a lot. Most of the embassies, commercial banks and bigger companies situated in Mauritius have their head office in the same area.

Paintings at display at Caudan Waterfront, Port Louis

Paintings at display at Caudan Waterfront, Port Louis

Central Market

Since the day I had arrived in Mauritius, I had not had enough in terms of buying a souvenir. Everywhere I enquired, the price was always steep.I really could not find a place from where I could buy souvenirs and gifts for my friends. The answer lied in the central market.

Just across the trunk road opposite to the Port Louis waterfront lies the central market. If you have seen a video or a photo of vegetable market and a lot of clothes market, it’s the central market. If you are someone who is from south-east Asia, you will well be familiar with such marker. There would a lot of vendors selling spices and vegetables really cheap. They are calling out every time for a cheaper deal.

Vegetable market, Port Louis, Mauritius

Vegetable market, Port Louis, Mauritius

You can buy fruits and spices at a dirt cheap price here. Just keep on roaming around and just wait for the wonders to pass you by. If you are someone who loves photography, this place is a paradise for you. Every step that you will take, would present you another opportunity to take another new picture.

Cloths Market, Port Louis Central Market, Mauritius

Cloths Market, Port Louis Central Market, Mauritius

As far as clothing are concerned, you can also find a lot of small stalls and shops where you can buy cheap clothing. However, you still need to be careful and you should know bargaining.

Mauritius is as beautiful as read on the internet, seen in the picture and dreamt of spending a vacation. When the tourists are left with making a choice, there are a lot of things people want to do there. Some of the famous activities to do in Mauritius could be Mauritius South West Tour, visiting the Ile Aux Cerfs island, Snorkeling in the Blue Bay National park and a lot more.

Mauritius road trip

But, A scenic drive along the Northern coastal beaches of Mauritius is something that people either ignore or it has not gained as much hype as it should have gained. I was left amazed by this tour that I decided to write a blog on it.

Sugarcane fields, winding road, scenic drive along with highway running parallel to the seashore, roads filled with the flowers on either side, hills, turquoise water, lonely beaches, winding roads are some amazement to name a few.

Coastal road mauritius

I am going to begin with the places in the West of the Mauritius because that’s the region where most of the tourists start their Mauritian journey. Gradually, the list of places shifts towards the Eastern Coast of the country. Here is a map list of Beaches & Places to See Along Mauritius Coastal Road (North) 

Places and beaches to see along the northern coastal road in Mauritius

Pointe Aux Biches

Here I start my written journey from the Pointe Aux Biches. The area around Pointe Aux Biches has been developed recently. These beaches are still not so popular because there are not so many hotels or settlements around. Another reason could be that these beaches are combed with rocks.

pointe_aux_biches

This lonely beach is a perfect place to park your vehicle and listen to the silence being disturbed by the wind and waves. If you have been to such silent beach before it would surely kick back your memories to hunt a beautiful past and remind you of that. To me, It reminded the beaches in Gokarna.

Trou Aux Biches

Trou Aux Biches needs no introduction. It is one of the most beautiful beaches on the west coast of Mauritius where most of the people throng. Due to its nature of tourism, this natural beach is parched with a modern & lavish life of the famous Beachcomber golf resort along with the beauty of this beach. This beach is very long and a walk never ends. Take a stroll on this beach to relish different facets of life.

Trou Aux Biches beach

On my first day of evening walk on this beach, I saw romantic dinner sets being set on the beach; A grandfather and a grandson looking for something under the rocks; sun setting on the horizon; boats sailing slowly with the wind; couples walking hand in hand; Sunset parasailing in progress and a lot more. This explanation should be enough to turn on the vivid imagination about this beach.

Trou Aux Biches

Mont Choisy Beach

Next to Trou Aux Biches lies the Mont Choisy Beach. By the way, there are a lot of good hotels that lie in between these beaches. One of them is Coral Azure hotel and here my Coral Azur hotel review.

This half moon shaped beach never ends. This famous beach is more popular with the locals. I saw a lot of local families having a weekend picnic on the beach. A small group of friends in a small get-together with wine and music. A father playing with a son on the beach. While some local kids playing football on the beach.

Mont Choisy Beach

This beach is also famous among the Hindu families living in the Mauritius. If you are lucky, you might a Hindu gathering performing some ritual on the beach. There are also beachside chairs. Mostly you would see old friends and couples sitting here.

Grand Baie Public Beach

Grand Bay Beach

The journey from Mont Choisy to Grand Bay mostly passes through the town area. If you are a fan of boats, catamaran, and speedboats, then this place is for you. Though the water at the beach is not bathable you can still see a lot of boats commuting throughout the day just like a small busy harbor.

PereyBere Beach

Pereybere beach, Mauritius

Not so far from Grand Bay public beach, Pereybere beach is the nearest and easiest escape for the people who live near Grand Bay and want to enjoy a serene beach. On a sunny day, this beach is just a paradise.

Cap Malheureux

I would say the real coastal road drive begins after the Pereybere beach as you head east from the western Mauritius. If you are a photography fan or if you love pure Nature, Cap Malheureux can be another ideal location for you. Isolated and not so crowded, though looking like a photography spot, you can easily spend an hour or two just watching the waves come and go by.

Cap Malheureux beach

There is also another very famous church on the beach called Notre-Dame Auxiliatrice de Cap Malheureux. This church is famous for its red roof. From here, you also get a nice view of the big rock also called “Gunner’s Quoin”.

Poudre d’Or Fishing Reserve

Poudre d'Or Fishing Reserve

This fishing reserve is located far into the sea almost 1-2 Km. But you can still see the Fishing reserve from the North Coastal roads. The fishing reserve is a Net house inside the sea in where small fishes are nurtured for a year or two before they are taken out of the sea. This is very interesting to see.

Bras d’Eau Public Beach

Bras d'Eau Public Beach

I am not sure if many people have heard of this beach. Though there is not much to see on this beach. But just park the car and stand there for five minutes. This beach offers one of the best views of the mangroves and backwaters along with sea.

Bras d'Eau Mangroves

Palmar beach

As you head more east, the lonelier it gets. Beaches get more isolated; the weather gets windier; human count also decreased. I think the beauty of the Eastern beaches starts from the Palmar beach.

North Mauritius road tour

Palmar beach is like a secret heaven – long-running lonely beaches with thousands of shades of water shining under the sun. This lonely beach is never ending as you keep driving further. There are two beaches nearby – old beach and Palmar new beach. This beach, unlike any other beach, has no beginning or an end.

Palmar beach

On these beaches, you can people cars parked on the road and people just having a quiet time as if they have come here to talk with the sea. On holidays, you would often see families busy in celebrating picnic.

Trou De Douce Beach

Trou De Douce beach, Mauritius

Trou De Douce beach is even lonelier than Palmar beach. This beach stretches for hundreds of meters or almost a mile or two. Trust me, you will hardly find anyone on the beach. Parched with beach-front hotels, this beach is as lonely as the whisper of the winds. I walked on the beach for almost an hours and the only living thing that I met was a stray dog.

A stray puppy on Trou De Douce Beach

The beaches have a lot of life. You see a lot of things brought on the beach by sea waves. The waves are mightier; the weather is windier. Beaches are also more interesting because of things that are brought from the sea. I saw a lot of things lying on the beach which I could not have seen otherwise.

sea grapes

sea grapes

sea weed

seaweed

Pointe Du Diable

Pointe Du diable is the battleground where English and French people fought. You can still see the cast iron cannon at this place. The view is nice from here.

Pointe Du Diable

Dutch first Landing

Dutch first landing a location where the Dutch people landed first on the island of Mauritius. You can still see the 19th-century houses that were built by the Dutch people here.

Mahebourg

I would see in terms of curiosity, the drive just before entering the town of Mahebourg is the best drive. The coastal road runs almost parallel to the shore. In the far, you can see the old Mahebourg lighthouse standing in the middle of the sea. As the car inches closer, the curiosity keeps on multiplying.

Coastal road of North Mauritius - Mahebourg in the background

Mahebourg in the background

Mahebourg light house

Mahebourg lighthouse

Mahebourg is one of the oldest towns of Mauritius. You will see a lot of Hindus in Mahebourg. The look and feel of old Mauritius are still preserved in this town. There is a lot to see in Mahebourg. There is a promenade area where a lot of people would be sitting and enjoying the view. This promenade reminded me of the Pondicherry beaches in India.

Mahebourg view point

There is a mountain in the background. You can see a lot of people practicing windsurfing on the sea. Ask me not and look at their speed. They just fly on the surface of the waves like a shooting star.

Wind surfing

Blue Bay Beach

Blue Bay has the real deal for you. If you have a penchant for the marine life, just take a glass bottom boat tour and get lost in the world of the corals and reef. Even more, you can do snorkeling and see the marine life in a different way. Blue Bay beach is a part of the blue bay marine park which is a protected area.

Blue Bay Beach

Ask the boat guy to take you nearer to the big waves. The big waves get broken by the corals and reefs before entering the bay area. The waves are as high as 20 feet.

Blue Bay Snorkeling

Blue Bay Snorkeling

Pointe Jerome

Pointe Jerome is an embarkation point from where you can board a boat to the Ile Aux Aigrettes. From the embarkation point, you get a view of the Ile Aux Aigrettes island. This island is another protected island. Though there is not much to see the view is another thing which you cannot afford to lose.

Ile Aux Aigrettes island view from Pointe Jerome

Ile Aux Aigrettes island view from Pointe Jerome

Ile Aux Cerfs

Ile Aux Cerfs is one of the coveted islands in the Mauritius where everyone wants to go and you should also go. The Ile Aux Cerfs island is a little heaven in its own.

Ile Aux Cerfs Beach

The journey to Ile Aux Cerfs starts from Trou De Douce by a speedboat. The speedboat literally flies on the water. If the waves are rough then you can also feel the jerk. Still, that is fun. Later, the speedboat enters a lagoon and there, speedboats are not allowed to drive in speed.

salt water lagoons and mangroves near Ile Aux Cerfs

Saltwater lagoon

The lagoon reminded me of the Sundarbans full of mangrove trees. Once the lagoon the crossed, the speedboat catches the speed again until you reach the island. The island looks more like Atlantis – a secret place where speedboat drops off the tourists.

A boat parked at Ile Aux Cerfs

You can see a small creek originating from the sea and joining the lagoon feeding the sea water. During low tide, you can walk across the creek which is around 100 meters. During high tide, usually in the afternoon, the creek gets filled with the water. It seems as if the creek is sucking some color from the sea water and feeding into the main lagoon. The dry creek becomes a natural swimming pool filled with water up to three to four feet.

Ile Aux Cerfs Creek

Later, you will be taken to the Ilot Mangenie island for the barbecue just like you have on a regular Catamaran cruise in Mauritius. The journey from Ile Aux Cerfs to this island is completely through Mangroves but you would love it.

Speed boat through the mangroves to Ilot Mangenie island

Speed boat through the mangroves to Ilot Mangenie island

GRSE Waterfalls

GRSE waterfalls stand for the Great River South East Waterfalls. This is one of the biggest sweet water waterfalls in the Mauritius. GRSE waterfalls trip is usually included in the Ile Aux Cerfs trip. From the Ile Aux Cerfs when you head ahead towards the waterfalls, you can literally see the changing color of the sea from dark blue to the muddy red color of the waterfalls.

The speedboat takes you almost under the falls which are as close as possible. On both sides of the river, there are trees and while the boat runs in the valley on the water. The view is nice.

GRSE waterfalls mangroves

The journey beyond GRSE waterfalls is full of amazement if you are going towards the airport. We saw autumn coming on the mountains, then sugarcane plantation on the hills. This side of the sea is murky but it gives more seafood than any other part of the Mauritius. GRSE waterfalls look almost like Hogenakkal falls near Bangalore.

Mauritius road trip near GRSE waterfalls

Autumn in Mauritius

Our driver told us that during the construction people took out a lot of sand from the sea to build their house. Now, the government has imposed a ban on the digging out the sand from the sea now.

I hope you enjoyed the list of the Beaches & Places to See Along Mauritius Coastal Road (North). If you think this list helped you somehow or even if I missed some pointers, please feel free to comment below. Read the complete Mauritius Travel Guide here.

South-West tour of Mauritius is one of the most-taken Mauritian trips. This is tour is famous because, within a day, one can cover most of the sightseeing places situated in the southern and western part of the country.

Mauritius South-West Private Tour Experience

Here are some of the tips for the south-west tour of Mauritius:

  • Try not to book this trip form your hotel. Most probably, you will end up paying more money to the hotel than you should pay.
  • Do some bit of research before you book this tour. There is a lot to cover. The car driver might not show you all the places. Being aware of the places should help you in cover the most of the places.
  • It is better to hire a car for this trip than doing on your own. It will help you give more time to traveling without getting tired.
  • It is better to book online or talk to a taxi guy and negotiate with him.
  • Carry enough water, beach towels and an extra pair of dry clothes. In case you want to take a dip at any of the beaches.
  • Do not try to cover too many places. It will not only make your South-West tour hectic but also, you won’t be able to spend an adequate amount of time at different places of attractions.

Mauritius South-West Tour

I was residing at the Coral Azure hotel near Mont Choisy beach. We started our tour around 9’o clock in the morning. Our driver was also an Indian-origin guy. So, it was not a problem to communicate with him in our mother tongue.

Know that Port Louis or Pamplemousses are not a part of this tour. These places are covered separately as a part of the North tour of Mauritius. Also, these two places need a lot of time. So even if your driver agrees to show you these places, it is better to visit these two places, Port Louis and Pamplemousse, separately. Here is the list of places that we covered as a part of our Mauritius South-West trip:

Model Ship Factory near Curepipe

Our first stop was at a model ship factory in Curepipe. We also saw a lot of tourists over there. You get a free tour of the model ship factory. You are also allowed to take pictures and make videos of the ship making. However, once you are inside the main shop, photography or videography is not allowed.

small model ships

small model ships

The free guided tour explains everything from wood cutting to ship-modeling to drying of woods. Also, There are a lot of things to buy at the model ship factory in form of a souvenir. For example, you can buy small ship models for close ones; you can also buy bigger ships; pieces of jewelry etc.

It is advisable that you do not buy pieces of jewelry in Mauritius. They are a bit expensive there. Also, I think all the drivers get their fixed commission from the model ship factory because they bring in the new tourists. But anyway, it is a nice place to visit.

Trou Aux Cerfs: The volcanic crater

Our next stop was at the Trou Aux Cerfs. It is a dormant volcano at the top of a hill. It is located in Curepipe, Mauritius. It is 350 meters in diameter and 80 meters in depth. The crater and volcano area is now completely inhabited. At the top, there is a viewpoint from where you can see the crater.

Trou Aux Cerfs- The volcanic crater

Trou Aux Cerfs- The volcanic crater

The crater is covered with water and grass but you can still see from there. There is also a nice and very beautiful view from the crater top. You get a beautiful view of the town of Vacoas-Phoenix and Quatre Bornes situated in the valley with beautiful hills in the background.

Mare Aux Vacoas lake

Mare Aux Vacoas was on the way from Trou Aux Cerfs to the Alexandra falls. There are a total of seven big lakes of fresh waters in Mauritius. Mare Aux Vacoas is the biggest lake of all. You can just park your car roadside and enjoy the calm environment of this biggest lake and Nature around. You can also do fishing there. But I think swimming is not allowed in the lakes as lakes are treated as sacred in the Mauritian culture.

Mare Aux Vacoas lake

Alexandra falls

Next destination to Mare Aux Vacoas was the Alexandra falls towards the deeper south. Alexandra falls is a part of the Black River gorges national park. The journey from Mare Aux Vacoas is really beautiful. Along the way, you can see small guava trees which are native to Mauritius.

Our driver told us that in the right season, people make jam, pickle, and chutney out of these guavas. To reach Alexandra falls, we had to leave the main road and cross a small but very beautiful papyrus forest. It is really beautiful. You also get a very nice view of the falls from the viewpoint.

view from Alexandra falls

There is also a hiking trail to the falls. But you should practice caution when it has rained recently if you are planning to hike. From the viewpoint, you can also see the sea, remote towns, and forests.

Black River Gorges national park viewpoint

Black River Gorges national park viewpoint is one of the most mesmerizing places in the Mauritius. Its name starts with “Black” because the river is situated so deep in the valley that from the top it looks dark or you can see black.

Black River Gorges National Park

The view from the viewpoint lets you see the far stretches of the black river gorges spread across miles. There is also a waterfall which you can see from a distance. There are also hiking trails. If you love hiking, you should also try that.

Chamarel Waterfalls

This was the next waterfall after we left Black River Gorges national park viewpoint. This lies on the way from Black River Gorges national park viewpoint to Chamarel, Just before the Chamarel – Seven colored earth. Situated on Riviere du cap, this is one of the highest waterfalls in Mauritius. There are two viewpoints to this waterfall. Both of them are worth viewing. These cascades fall from around 300 feet in height.

Chamarel Waterfall

Chamarel Seven Colored Earth

Chamarel Seven Colored earth is situated just ahead of the Chamarel waterfalls. This was the first place where we had to pay entry tickets. Rest of the places are accessible without any entry fee. Chamarel seven colored earth is as mesmerizing as seeing the marine life for the first time in life.

It is said that the earth which is formed here is made out of the volcanic eruptions. After the volcanic eruptions, the different part of the earth got cooled down at a different temperature. On top of that, because of different metallic composition, it is said to show a different color.

Chamarel Seven Colored Earth

There is also a tortoise park in the corner. Do not miss that. If you want to buy something as a souvenir from Chamarel, buy rum or sample of seven colored earth from there for your friends. There is a souvenir shop and there is a lot to choose from there.

Chamarel viewpoint

Chamarel viewpoint lies next to the Chamarel on the way to Le Morne. This viewpoint is situated at a height and from there you get a clear view of the Le Morne beach and Île aux Benitiers island. Just behind the island, there is something crystal rock. You can also go there as a part of the catamaran tour in the south.

Chamarel viewpoint

Le Morne Beach

Le Morne was one of the most beautiful beaches that I ever saw in Mauritius. On the south-west tour of Mauritius, I still regret carrying no spare clothes on this trip. The water is crystal clear on this beach as the south of Mauritius sees fewer tourists than the North. It is a long beach. You can just relax on the beach; have lunch; watch people and also take a nap.

Le Morne Beach

Tamarin Salt fields

We just saw and passed by Tamarin salt fields. The salt field is still operational. It looks more like a network of small rectangular fields where water is stored in open and dried under the sun. While we were crossing, there was not much water but I can imagine how would had it been looked.

Tamarin public beach

Le Morne was the southernmost point of our Mauritius south-west tour. From there, we started heading back to North while covering any places of interest lying on the way. And, the first such place was Tamarin salt fields, followed by Tamarin public beach.

On the Tamarin public beach, river Tamarin meets the sea. The width of the river there is almost 100 meters. During low tide, you can just wade across the river. We also saw a lot of kite surfers learning on the beach. The Southern part of Mauritius is famous for that.

Tamarina Golf Estate

Tamarina Golf estate as really a curious place for us. It was situated near flic n flac. According to our driver, many of the celebrities, including Shahrukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan, have their own houses in Tamarina Golf estate which is around 1 km wide and 2 km in length. I don’t know if he was telling true but looking at the grandeur of the place, it was surely majestic.

For covering these many places as a part of our one-day south-west tour of Mauritius, we paid our driver 2300 MUR for the entire day. Some of the other points of attractions which we could have covered but we decided to skip are given below. You can decide to see these places if you have time.

  • La Vallee Des Couleurs Nature Park – But it will almost an entire day
  • Rochester Falls – Lies little opposite to the route so decided to skip
  • The Tamarind falls

That’s all marks the end of our Mauritius one-day south-west private car tour. If you some comments or if you want to share something, you are welcome.

More pictures from the Mauritius south-west one day tour:

a random view point on Mauritius south west trip A view from Trou Aux Cerfs Found it at Chamarel Papyrus forest near Alexandra Falls tortoise at chamarel

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