Top things to do to make your holiday to Mauritius the best one yet!
Mauritius is a tropical haven, offering a stunning island experience filled with captivating activities and attractions to discover. From befriending giant tortoises and soaring over breath taking waterfalls to savouring the flavours of locally crafted rum, this enchanting destination truly has something for everyone.
- How long to spend on the Island
- How to get there and where to stay
- Underwater waterfall and seaplane
- Port Louis and the botanical gardens
- Rum distillery, waterfall and geological park
- Boat trip
How long to spend in Mauritius?
We spent 7 days in Mauritius, and while we could have extended it to 10, as active travelers who enjoy exploring, we found that a week was just about perfect. However, if you’re someone who enjoys unwinding by the pool or lounging on the beach, you could easily stretch your stay to two weeks. Regardless of your travel style, I would absolutely recommend Mauritius as a fantastic holiday destination!
How to get there and where to stay
I always thought Mauritius was one of those really expensive place that only rich people or celebrities visited, but that is not the case. You can find some really good deals and a holiday to suit most budgets.
We booked our holiday with BA and got a fab deal on a lovely hotel and great (direct) flights. We stayed at Ambre, an adults only resort, right on the beautiful beach Belle Mare. With lovely rooms, great food, plenty of restaurants to choose from and helpful staff, I would definitely recommend it.
Hiring a car is the best way to get around the island, you can join bus tours or book a taxi for the day but i recommend a car. The island is relatively small and the roads are good and easy to navigate. If you’re a Brit or Australian then you’re in luck, in Mauritius they drive on the left hand side of the road – a home away from home.
Underwater waterfall
The top thing I have to recommend is a sea plane flight over the underwater waterfall. The waterfall is of course a formation of sand and not an actual waterfall, however it is a spectacle to help and is truly not a site to miss. Plus a sea plane flight is not something you get to do every day.
Lagoonflight, were great, I booked the flight from the UK and they were easy to deal with and very helpful. The team when we arrived were very friendly and the pilots put you straight at ease. We were in separate planes but could talk to each other while in the air. We even spotted a whale while we were in the air. You have the option to buy a video of the flight, which is a great keepsake of the experience.
Port Louis
Take a trip out to the capital, Port Louis. It’s about one hours drive from Belle Mare. It has a lovely water front and a vibrant market, a perfect place to wonder. After grabbing lunch, we headed to the Botanical gardens. We love a garden and these were no exceptions. A calming walk exploring the area and seeing all the interesting, trees and plant. There is even a small section of the gardens with deer and giant tortoises, so really something for everyone.
Rum distillery and geological park
If you are a fan of rum, then you need to visit Rhumerie de Chamarel, and you can tie this in to visiting the Chamarel Severn colours geological park and Chamarel waterfall, as they are all close together and non take more then an hour or so to visit. The drive there and back also takes you through the Black river Gorges national park, so is a lovely route.
The geological park is a site to behold the gorgeous colours, unlike anywhere else. It is also home to some giant tortoises – entertaining to watch even if they are just eating. The Waterfall is on the way to/from the geological park, so I’d recommend stopping off on the way out. It is only a short walk up the steps from the road and is breathtaking view to see the water cascading down into the luscious green trees below.
From the park to can make your way back to the rhumerie to take part in a tour of the distillery. They take you through the full process from sugar can to rum. At the end of course you get to try all of their lovely rums – be careful if you have driven one of you will have to forgo your tasting. I was designated driver for this trip so my fiancé got double the shots. There is also the option to pay and taste some of their premium rums afterwards, and of course there’s the gift shop!
Boat trip
Finally, it wouldn’t be a holiday by the sea without a boat trip! We booked ours through our hotel but there are loads of operators that offer similar tours. A trip (via speed boat) to the Grand river south waterfall, snorkelling amount the exotic fish in the crystal blue waters, bbq lunch, and finally a relaxing stop on Ile aux cerfs, where you can either relax for a couple of hours or take part in some of the various activists on offer.
Things we missed…
There are a couple of things we didn’t do on our trip, climbing le Morne(the road was shut so we couldn’t get to the trail), visit the numerous other amazing beaches on the island or explore more of the national parks, walks and view points.
Mauritius was an unforgettable holiday for us and will forever hold a special place in our hearts. Beyond that, it’s an absolutely stunning island with so much to explore and enjoy.
A serene escape to paradise. 🌴
