The Best Things to Do in Mauritius

Mauritius is small enough to drive across in about two hours, yet it packs in a surprising range of experiences: turquoise lagoons in the east, a wild volcanic south, a buzzing north and an adventurous west. Each coast has its own character, so the trick is matching the island to what you actually enjoy rather than trying to see everything in one trip.

The climate splits into two simple seasons. Summer runs from November to April and is hot and humid, with the best conditions for swimming and snorkelling but an outside chance of a tropical cyclone in January and February. Winter, from May to October, is drier, breezier and cooler in the evenings, which many visitors actually prefer for hiking, sightseeing and the kitesurfing season around Le Morne.

If you would rather not piece an itinerary together from scratch, our free AI trip planner at AI trip planner suggests a day-by-day route based on where you are staying and what you like, and you can browse individual sights first at things to do in Mauritius.

For classic postcard beaches, the east coast is hard to beat. Belle Mare stretches for around six kilometres of soft white sand backed by casuarina trees, with a wide, shallow lagoon that is calm in the mornings before the trade winds pick up. Nearby Trou d'Eau Douce is the launch point for boats to Île aux Cerfs, a small island whose sandbars and warm shallows make it the most popular day trip on this side of the island.

The north is livelier. Grand Baie is the island's social hub, with an emerald bay, restaurants and the departure point for catamaran cruises up to the northern islets. A short drive away, the red-roofed chapel at Cap Malheureux and the long beaches of Mont Choisy and Pereybère are easy to combine into a single day. Public beaches are free and open to all in Mauritius, so you are never far from a spot to swim, even outside the hotel zones.

The reef that rings most of the island creates sheltered lagoons that are ideal for water sports. Snorkelling is excellent at Blue Bay Marine Park in the south-east, where glass-bottom boat and snorkel trips typically run from around 25 to 40 EUR per person. Flic-en-Flac on the west coast is the main scuba diving base, with reef and wreck dives, while Trou aux Biches in the north suits beginners.

If you prefer to stay on the surface, Tamarin Bay and the west coast are known for dolphin-watching boat tours, usually setting off early so you reach the pods before the wind builds; expect to pay roughly 30 to 50 EUR for a morning trip. Around Le Morne in the south-west, the steady winds make this one of the Indian Ocean's premier kitesurfing and windsurfing spots, especially from June to September. You can compare guided cruises, snorkelling and reef trips on our tours & activities page.

Inland and to the south, Mauritius turns green and dramatic. The Black River Gorges National Park protects the island's largest surviving native forest and has well-marked walking trails with viewpoints over deep valleys, where you may spot endemic birds and fruit bats. Entry to the park is free, and the nearby Alexandra Falls and Gorges viewpoints need no more than a short stop.

The headline natural sight is the Seven Coloured Earths at Chamarel, where mineral-rich dunes form bands of red, brown, violet and blue; the same site includes the Chamarel waterfall, one of the tallest single-drop falls on the island. Entry is around 7 to 10 EUR. Further south, the UNESCO-listed Le Morne Brabant peninsula offers a strenuous guided hike with panoramic ocean views, while the central plateau has the Trou aux Cerfs volcanic crater and the cool botanical gardens at Pamplemousses, famous for their giant water lilies.

Mauritius is a genuine cultural crossroads, and its food shows it. Street stalls sell dholl puri, gato pima and fresh roti for a euro or two, while the central market in Port Louis is the best place to taste the island's Indian, Creole, Chinese and French influences in one busy morning. The capital also has the UNESCO-listed Aapravasi Ghat, the immigration depot where indentured labourers first arrived, and the bustling Caudan Waterfront.

Heritage runs deep across the island. The Grand Bassin crater lake, known as Ganga Talao, is the most important Hindu pilgrimage site in Mauritius and is watched over by towering statues of Shiva and Durga. For colonial history, Eureka House near Moka is a restored 19th-century mansion, and a rum distillery tour at Chamarel or Rhumerie de Chamarel rounds out a cultural day nicely. Many of these spots are spread across different regions, so it is worth grouping them by area.

Families are well served because so many activities work for mixed ages. Casela Nature Park on the west coast combines a small safari, walk-through aviaries, a petting farm and zip-lines, with entry tickets around 25 to 35 EUR for adults and less for children. The shallow, warm lagoons at Belle Mare, Pereybère and Blue Bay are reassuring for younger swimmers, and a glass-bottom boat is an easy way to show kids the reef without anyone needing to dive.

Île aux Cerfs is a reliable family favourite for its calm sandbars and shaded picnic spots, and the gentle paths at Pamplemousses gardens suit a slower-paced afternoon. Because distances are short, you can pair a morning beach with an afternoon attraction without long drives wearing everyone out.

There is no train network, and while buses are cheap they are slow and stop running early in the evening. Most visitors get around by private driver, organised excursion or self-drive hire car; bear in mind Mauritius drives on the left. Having a reliable transfer waiting at the airport removes the most stressful part of any trip, especially after a long-haul flight that often lands late at night.

Belle Mare Tours is a licensed local operator based on the east coast, so pickups around Belle Mare, Trou d'Eau Douce and the eastern resorts are quick. You can pre-book a fixed-price meet-and-greet from the airport at airport transfers, browse guided tours and excursions at tours & activities, and read up on individual sights at things to do in Mauritius. Booking ahead also locks in availability for popular trips like Île aux Cerfs and the south-coast tour, which fill up fast in peak season.