17 Best Places in Mauritius You Must Visit
Are you planning your first trip to Mauritius? There are so many of the best places in Mauritius to explore! Simply put, this gorgeous tropical getaway offers stunning places to visit, and here we bring you the list of the 17 must-visit places in Mauritius.
Wherever you travel around Mauritius, fantastic beaches, surreal landscapes, and exquisite hotel resorts are practically guaranteed.
With great temperatures year-round, Mauritius is a perfect getaway any time of the year, but for us Europeans, it's best to visit this destination, when the cold winter months hit us.
Mauritius is excellent mostly for a relaxing and laidback vacation, though visitors can also enjoy the ever-popular water sports such as scuba diving, snorkeling, kitesurfing, or parasailing.
The native forest and beautiful waterfalls are great for hiking, or if you are looking for something more adventurous, you can even try one of the adrenaline activities.
Whether it's a romantic couples' holiday, long-awaited honeymoon trip, or a family vacation, you will find Mauritius exceptionally wonderful.
Here is the list of our favorite and best places in Mauritius. We hope it will help you to plan your Mauritius itinerary better.
BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN MAURITIUS
Mauritius is one of the most diverse and beautiful islands we've ever visited, so this is going to be a pretty long list of must-visit places and top attractions.
Also, this list only includes places we have personally visited, so we share also some thoughts about those places and a few travel tips.
What is the best thing about this personally created list?
If you have ten days to two weeks, you will be able to visit them all!
GRIS GRIS
The vast majority of Mauritius is encircled by a coral reef, and the calm waters are perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
Said that the south coast is the exact opposite.
With a missing protective barrier that shields the shores of this tropical island, the south coast is left wide open to a fierce power of the Indian Ocean.
Gris Gris lookout offers a dramatic coastal view, stunning golden sand beach, strong winds, and epic waves. You can walk along the beach to La Roche Qui Pleure alias the Weeping Rock, which has a human head shape, and when hit by a big wave it looks like it's weeping.
Swimming is not allowed at Gris Gris as the conditions are dangerous, but you will have many opportunities to swim elsewhere.
To explore South Coast more thoroughly, read our guide South Mauritius Road Trip Itinerary: Must-Visit Places.
LE SOUFFLEUR
Although Gris Gris is way more famous (and accessible), we enjoyed the visit to Le Souffleur even more. Its black cliffs above the surf of the Indian Ocean are definitely a special place to visit.
Watching the huge thundering waves crashing into the cliffside is a pretty spectacular experience that represents the wild South at its full grandeur.
Le Souffleur is one of those places where some visitors spend only a short time before setting off to another point, but for others, this is a spot where they could stay forever.
For us, it was the latter.
You still do not have enough of raw nature? Drive a little bit north to Pont Naturel, which is another incredible place on the south coast.
TAMARIN FALLS
A stunning cascade set in the lush forests in the west of Mauritius, Tamarin Falls is just another place on the list that you undoubtedly must visit.
The area offers one of the best half-day hikes in Mauritius, and the trail along the waterfalls is pretty epic.
In other words, Tamarin Falls, also known as 7 Cascades, is a perfect place to visit for adventurous and outdoorsy travelers who want to stay active and have some fun.
And with activities such as hiking, swimming, canyoning, cliff jumping, or bird watching, everyone will enjoy their time thoroughly.
The trailhead starts near a small village called Henrietta about a 30 minutes drive from Flic en Flac.
You can hike along the waterfalls independently, hire a local guide at the spot, or book Tamarin Falls hike in advance.
And a little bit of advice, leave your flip flops in the hotel room and wear proper shoes here.
RED CHURCH
Cap Malheureux, the northernmost point of Mauritius, is full of surprises, and Notre Dame Auxiliatrice Chapel, also known as Red Church, is one of them.
With its striking red roof and white walls sharply contrasting with the navy blue color of the Indian Ocean, this is a famous attraction in Mauritius and a place not to be missed.
Although there is not much to do, you should definitely put this place on your itinerary, as this is one of the best photo spots in Mauritius.
The northernmost tip of the island is only a short drive from here, so take a rest and stretch your legs before you hit the road again.
FLIC EN FLAC BEACH
One of the longest beaches in Mauritius, Flic en Flac Beach is safe to swim at, it is easily accessible, and very relaxing during the day. You will find it in the same name town on the West Coast of Mauritius.
The beach gets crowded at times (especially on the weekends when the locals arrive), but it's very long (several kilometers long), so you always have a chance to walk a little bit further away from the busy parts.
Even though hotels and resorts line the beach (in what has become a very touristy destination), the beach is public and open, which means that you can walk the whole stretch from the town to the southernmost tip.
Staying the whole time in the west allowed us to experience one of the most incredible sunsets we've ever seen.
Every evening we went out on the beach to enjoy the spectacular show that Mother Nature puts on over the Indian Ocean every single day.
ILE AUX CERFS
With superb sandy beaches, turquoise lagoons, and shallow waters, Ile Aux Cerfs is a must-visit place in Mauritius.
This island, which is often regarded as a tropical paradise, is located on the east coast of Mauritius, only a short boat ride from Trou d'Eau Douce, a small seaside village from where you can catch the ferry to the island.
It's privately owned, and there is a golf course, where you can play golf to satisfaction in a very unique environment.
However, most of the visitors come to visit the island for a very different reason, to see the breathtaking shallow channel between Ile Aux Cerfs and Ilot Mangenie (yeah, it's actually two islands).
You can cross the channel on foot as it's usually knee or waist-deep, and there you will find more beautiful white sand beaches just waiting for you to be explored.
We visited Ile Aux Cerfs independently, and you can read more about our adventure here in this article - Ile Aux Cerfs: Day Trip to a Tropical Paradise.
Looking for a more adventurous and fun way to get to Ile Aux Cerfs? Here you can book the super popular Catamaran Tour from Pointe Jerome Embarkation Point, which is at Pointe d'Esny, a little bit south of the island.
Although you won't find any hotels on the island (yet), we can't fail to mention one of the best resorts in Ile Aux Cerfs' vicinity. Four Seasons Resort Mauritius and Shangri-La's Le Touessrok Resort & Spa are both incredibly luxurious resorts near Ile Aux Cerfs offering a top service for the guests.
Packing Tip: Watch out for sea urchins and dead coral reef that may cut your feet. Wear water shoes to protect your feet.
SIR SEEWOOSAGUR RAMGOOLAM BOTANICAL GARDEN
Even though the north of Mauritius is all about beaches, then more beaches, and later on, a few drinks of local rum, you shouldn't miss out on the exceptional botanical garden near the capital Port Louis.
The Pamplemousses Botanical Garden (that’s the alternative name) has a long history (one of the oldest in the southern hemisphere) and features many incredible plants, trees, and even animals. That's right, you may see the fruit bats!
But the main highlight and the reason why to come and visit is the pond with Victoria Amazonica, also known as giant water lilies.
Those incredible plants are not like anything we've seen before, they have a beautiful crystal white flowers, that bloom only at night, and according to the botanist, the leaves can hold a child or a small person.
But who knows, and they might be just pulling our leg because they won't allow us to try it. And I believe Lucie would make an excellent test subject.
On a more serious note, we had a great time in the botanical garden and saw other exotic plants such as Baobab trees, palm trees, Geiger trees, and wild plants and spices.
Knowledgeable guides are waiting at the entrance to take you on an informative tour around the botanical garden (the tour itself is very cheap), and after the tour, you can spend several hours walking around the grounds.
CAUDAN WATERFRONT
Port Louis has enough sights and things to do to keep you entertained for a day or so, therefore it's one of the best places in Mauritius for a day trip.
You can start your day in Mauritius capital on the lovely waterfront, named after Jean Dominique Michel de Caudan, who was a famous local figure.
This is a modern waterfront lined with shops, restaurants, and cafes.
You will also find there a craft market and the famous Blue Penny Museum.
If you are arriving by car, there are quite many parking lots in the area where you can safely leave your car.
BLUEPENNY MUSEUM
For most of us, the Blue Penny Museum that features a collection of stamps would normally not be the first choice of must-visit places in Port Louis.
However, the museum is home to the famous The Two Pence Blue, and Red One-Penny stamp, which even for someone like us, was a good reason to visit it.
The Two Pence Blue stamp is the symbol of the island, and probably the only stamp in the world we knew something about. Like it's super famous and ultra-valuable, and for stamp enthusiasts, this must be like a visit to heaven.
The rest of us will learn more about Port Louis and Mauritius’ (maritime) history, enjoy the displays, and see impressive old charts and books.
CENTRAL MARKET
Central Market in Port Louis is full of colors and smells, local products and handicrafts and has a great variety of fresh food such as fruit, vegetables, meat, and fish.
That's the smelly area.
The upper floor has vendors selling clothes and textiles, and it is not that exciting, but you can take some great pictures from the gallery of the bustling market, so it's also worth a visit.
And one more thing, before you buy anything, haggle the price down.
A street food tour with a local guide may be a perfect activity to do while exploring the city.
7-COLORED EARTH IN CHAMAREL
Many beautiful places in Mauritius will take your breath away however, there is only one that will make your jaw drop.
Chamarel 7 Colored Earth is a place like no other, and you won't find many places like this one around the world.
It reminded us of Rainbow Mountain, though this place is unlike the Peruvian mountain - it is very small but no less impressive.
It won't take you long to explore this place, but it's totally worth it.
Chamarel 7 Colored Earth is basically a soil consisting of seven different layers of sand dunes created by a volcanic activity million years ago, though it's still not very clear, how exactly the dunes were so perfectly formed.
When in the area, don’t forget to visit the Chamarel Waterfall too!
BOIS CHERI
Bois Cheri Tea Factory and Tea Museum allow you to look under the hood of tea production in Mauritius.
The tour through the factory was a bit rushed, so the highlight of our visit was definitely the tea tasting in the charming tea house that has a lovely setting with wonderful views of tea plantation and the south of the island. You can try a lot of different varieties (8-10) of tea though we were given only regular tea bags.
Mind you that the factory and tea tasting house are not located in the same place, and you need to drive a little bit between them.
If tea is not your 'cup of tea', swap the visit of the tea plantation with a (for some people) much more exciting trip to a local rum distillery.
ROCHESTER FALLS
The wild south hides many secrets, and Rochester Falls is one of them.
Drive only a few minutes northwest from a small village of Souillac, and soon you will arrive in Rochester Falls.
Thousands of years ago, the volcanic activity shaped these waterfalls into a piece of artwork, and it would be a real shame if you didn't visit this beautiful place.
We love waterfalls, a small fact, that may have to do something with the reality, that we don't have these spectacular falls here in Czechia, so we always get really excited when we have an opportunity to make a trip to one of them.
You can take a refreshing dip into a pool at the base of the waterfall, or watch locals diving from the top into the darkness beneath them.
The access road is unpaved, so make sure you don't damage your rental car, in a worst-case scenario, leave your car on the side (if possible), and walk the rest.
LE MORNE
Le Morne, the iconic mountain rising from the sea surrounded by a shallow lagoon, coral reef, and superb beaches, is one of the most beautiful places in Mauritius, and the aerial pictures of the area are utterly breathtaking.
However, there is a way how to enjoy this incredible landscape even without a scenic flight or a drone. Sure, it's going to take some effort, but it's well worth it.
Hike to the top either independently or with a guided tour, and in just a couple of hours, the bay around Le Morne will reveal its secrets (it's the views, sorry, couldn't help it).
The lagoon around Le Morne has one of the best conditions for water sports such as kitesurfing or windsurfing, and there are a few schools and centers where you can take some lessons to try this activity (or improve your skills and get better at it).
Le Morne area is one of those exquisite areas where you will find luxury resorts such as LUX Le Morne which are perfect for honeymooners and romantic getaways for couples.
Those are not the most budget-friendly hotels on the island, though.
BLACK RIVER GORGES NATIONAL PARK
With stunning views, great hikes, lush forests, waterfalls, and diverse fauna and flora, Black River Gorges National Park attracts visitors from all around the island.
Though the national park is very accessible and the scenic road that cuts through the park offers one of the best lookouts in the area, you might want to take a tour and explore the native forest on a day hike with one of the local guides.
They will help you to learn more about Mauritius plants, trees, and wildlife, and they will pinpoint things that you may overlook.
The visitors center is located in the northwest and is accessible from Grande Riviere Noire.
GRAND BASSIN - GANGA TALAO
On the way from Bois Cheri to Black River Gorges NP lies an impressive volcanic crater lake that's worth a visit.
During the colonial era, many people were brought to the island from India and promised a better life in Mauritius, so when a couple of centuries passed by, more than 48 percent of people living on Mauritius are Hindu.
The Ganga Talao lake is sacred for them, and they built over the years many temples, shrines, and statues along the sides. The real highlight for us was the two same-sized statues of Shiva The Destroyer and Durga Maa, though.
Both statues are more than 33 meters high and pretty epic.
During the important Hindu days and holidays, this place gets incredibly crowded, but most of the time it's rather quiet.
MONT CHOISY BEACH
The northwest is one of the most popular areas in Mauritius, and with a selection of stunning beaches such as Mont Choisy Beach, Pereybere Beach, Trou Aux Biches Beach, Balaclava Beach, Ponte Aux Piments, and plenty of other places, it's not that difficult to see why.
So in this list, Mont Choisy Beach represents all the great beaches north has to offer.
Mont Choisy lies between Trou Aux Biches and Ponte Aux Cannoniers, and it's a lovely spot to spend a few hours in the afternoon.
Most of the beaches in the north are pretty good, and if you have a car, you can drive along the coast and visit some of them to tell for yourself which one you like the most.
Always pack and use a strong sunscreen while sunbathing.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
WHERE TO STAY
First, you need to ask yourself how do you want to spend your vacation, and how are you going to get around Mauritius.
Do you like vibrant beach towns or luxury retreats? Are you going to rent a car, use public transport or take organized tours?
We stayed in the busy seaside town Flic en Flac on the West Coast, rented a car for the length of our stay, and every day took a trip to one of the places on the list, (sometimes we visited multiple places in one day or explored places that didn't make it to the list at all).
As we do our best to help you plan your Mauritius vacation, we've created this blog post Where to Stay in Mauritius & Tips on Best Hotels to help you decide which place is the right fit for you.
Just make sure you know what to expect from the accommodation and the area before you book your hotel.
In a nutshell, the northwest and the west is well developed, with many hotels, bars, and perfect beaches; south is wild, and the Le Morne area is very exquisite (and expensive); the east is more laidback and less developed, though this might be exactly what you are looking for.
Mauritius is famous for luxury hotels and resorts that have great service and reviews, but on the other hand, the budget travelers will have a harder time to find an affordable place to stay, as the accommodation in this price range is usually a compromise between comfort and price.
Being budget travelers ourselves, we are pretty used to this fact by now.
So don't forget to check the article we've mentioned above, and down below you will find a few tips on the best hotel in Mauritius.
North Toparadis Guest House - Located in Pereybere, this is a lovely quiet guest house near the same name beach and Cap Malheureux with an outdoor pool, private parking, clean and aircondiotned rooms.
West | L'Oiseau de L'Ocean Tourist Residence - Flic en Flac offers a wide range of hotels in each category, and the L'Oiseau de L'Ocean Tourist Residence offers nice rooms, good service, and outdoor pool for a very affordable prices. The only downside (which is reflected in the price) is the distance from the beach. Yes, the room on the beach will cost a lot more for a night.
South | LUX Le Morne - When staying in South, Le Morne peninsula is the place to sleep. This part of the island is famous for Le Morne Mountain that dominates the landscape, great conditions for kitesurfing, and splendid beaches. If you want your slice of heaven, book the room in LUX Le Morne.
East | Constance Prince Maurice - We've already mentioned two exclusive resorts in the text about Ile Aux Cerfs, and Constance Prince Maurice is the third hotel to this party. An exclusive retreat with a private beach, free shuttle to a golf course, two restaurants, marvelous sunrises, and much more means only one thing - you will probably never want to leave this hotel.
WHEN TO VISIT MAURITIUS
You are dreaming to visit Mauritius, but there is still one question waiting to be answered.
When is the best time to visit Mauritius?
Mauritius is an all-year-round destination, and the best time to visit Mauritius depends on your preferences.
In short, November to April is the high season, and the weather is hot and humid. May to September is the low season, the weather is very pleasant, and you will see fewer tourists on the island.
We visited Mauritius in early September, and although we missed out on that 'winter sun escape' sort of feel, we really enjoyed the weather and climate at this time of the year in Mauritius.
The next thing you should do is to read our more detailed article Best Time to Visit Mauritius, where we talk about the weather and areas in Mauritius more thoroughly.
And that's it!
We hope you've enjoyed yet another post about this fabulous island, you can leave a comment in the comments section down below if you have a question, and as usual, safe travels!
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
