With its lush mountain ranges and serene white beaches, Mauritius is a tropical paradise perfect for family adventures, romantic holidays and exotic getaways with your favourite people. The island is full of variety, from technicolour coral reefs, picturesque white sand beaches, amazing wildlife and fauna to Mauritians’ legendary hospitality so there’s plenty to do and discover.
To help you prepare for your island getaway, we’ve created this guide to Mauritius with everything you need to know from weather to everyday tips.
Mauritius enjoys a warm, dry winter from May to December and a hot, humid summer from November to May. Thanks to the tropical climate, there’s not much temperature difference between the two seasons, with temperatures up to 28˚C in summer and 23˚C in winter.
International visitors arrive at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport at Plaisance in the southeast of the island. We advise you to book your transfers with the resort you are staying in otherwise you can get a taxi when you arrive. Rates are not fixed and will depend on the time you spend in the taxi. At Club Med, we can organise your transfer for you.
The currency of Mauritius is the Mauritian Rupee (R) and you’ll get about 49Rs to a Euro. The cost of living is slightly lower than most countries. For example, a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant in Mauritius will cost about 1,200Rs or 25 Euros.
Thanks to the island’s multi-cultural history, Mauritian cuisine is a melting pot of some of the world’s best culinary traditions. French, Indian, Chinese and African influences flavour Mauritian dishes with saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, thyme and basil. Thanks to the extensive coastline, Mauritian cuisine benefits from and abundance of fresh seafood from meaty octopus to tender squid to sweet shrimp. Expect fresh tropical fruit form the familiar pineapples, coconuts and mangoes to the more exotic longan, custard apples and love apples. Tomatoes feature in a lot of Mauritian dishes and are known as pommes d’amour or “the apples of love”.
Rougaille - this popular Creole dish is a spicy tomato-based meat or fish stew flavoured with garlic, onion and thyme and served with pickled vegetables and dhal or rice. You’ll find it made with chicken, beef, dorado, sausages, prawns, or paneer for vegetarians.
Mauritian curry - these curries are different from your typical Indian curries, from tomato-based mild Creole style curries to the island’s special octopus curry, all served with rice or farata, a buttery variety of flatbread sold at street stalls.
Briani- similar to Indian biryani, this spiced rice or potato dish made with beef, chicken, fish, mutton or vegetables is prepared by the island’s Muslim community and is a favourite among the locals.
Vindaye- debatably the Mauritian answer to the vindaloo, this fish or vegetable curry is flavoured with mustard, garlic, ginger, tumeric and onions and comes served with rice, lentils, pickled vegetables and chutney.
The beautiful blue waters around Mauritius are perfect for water sports. Try your hand at windsurfing, water skiing, surfing or stand-up paddle boarding. Dip beneath the surface and you’ll discover a colourful underwater world of coral reefs, manta rays and tropical fish just waiting to be explored.
This beautiful mountain lake is a holy site to the island’s Hindu population. In 1972, a priest brought water from the River Ganges and added it to the Grand Bassin in a special ceremony to tie the lake to the sacred river back in India. Take a stroll around the water and explore the majestic Hindu temples and idols.
This national park is home to verdant rolling hills covered in Mauritian rainforest, perfect for a family picnic or a peaceful walk in paradise. Take a hike through this indigenous wilderness and discover outstanding panoramic views, tropical birds, and maybe even the Mauritian flying fox.
Mauritius was built on sugar. From sugar cane plantations to the multi-cultural heritage of the Mauritian people, you can see the influence of the sugar trade everywhere on the island. At L’Aventure du Sucre you can learn all about Mauritius’ sugar history through fun interactive exhibits, find out how sugar is processed and enjoy a sugar tasting at the end of the tour.
One of Mauritius’ main tourist attractions, the seven coloured sands of Chamarel are a sight to behold. Thanks to the tropical weather, the dunes of Chamarel are coloured red, violet, blue and yellow, creating a dreamy landscape you won’t believe. Visit at sunrise for the best views.
At nearly 300 years old, this lush oasis is the oldest botanical garden in the southern hemisphere. Take a stroll under the shade of 85 different palm trees and discover elegant lotus flowers, spectacular giant lily pads and Monsieur Pierre Poivre’s aromatic spice garden, home to camphor, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.
Step back in time and visit Mauritius’ colonial past with a visit to this stunning 19th century chateau. With its elegant verandas, white columns and louvre shutters, Chateau de Labourdonnais is a gorgeous example of colonial architecture. Wander the immaculate gardens, visit the giant tortoises or go on one of the chateau’s treasure hunts with the kids.
Snorkel alongside tropical fish, laze on a white beach or zipline through the trees on this paradise island just off the east coast of Mauritius. Ile aux Cerfs is home to beautiful unspoilt beaches, a shallow turquoise lagoon, restaurants, a golf course and a tree-top adventure park, making it the perfect stop for a exotic daytrip.
What better way to explore Mauritius’ beaches than on horseback. Kick up some spray from the turquoise sea as you canter along palm-dotted beaches with the wind in your hair and the sun on your shoulders. Perfect for beginners and experienced riders alike.
Rum isn’t the only beverage Mauritius is famous for. take a tour of the Bois Cheri tea fields and discover a different side to the island’s heritage. You’ll get to see how the tea is processed from field to cup before rounding off your trip with a tea tasting overlooking the serene countryside.
Mauritian culture is a melting pot of different traditions from around the world. Thanks to its colourful history of spice traders, pirates and explorers, you’ll find Dutch, French, Asian and African influences throughout the island, from its colourful Hindu statues to its placid sugar plantations.
Mauritius doesn’t have an official language, but the government uses English, the media mostly uses French and the most commonly spoken language is Mauritian Creole. However, the third most common language spoken on the island is English.
It’s illegal to possess or import cigarette papers in Mauritius, so make sure you don’t pack any in your luggage.
