Mauritius is a typical tropical paradise, Mauritius’ reputation for beach bliss is indisputable. Sun worshipers and water sports enthusiasts can make the most of the golden palm fringed beaches, the turquoise sea and the coral reef that surrounds almost the entire island through a wide variety of activities. These include catamaran cruises, windsurfing, water skiing, scuba diving, parasailing, deep sea fishing, golf, and adventure sports. Far from the beach, mountains; with forests, unique flora and birds, as well as cultural, historical and natural sights such as craters and giant lilies, they captivate visitors. With all this to do, Mauricio will allow you to discover a different rhythm of life, the rhythm of Sega…
CAPITAL:
port louis
CLIMATIZED:
Tropical. All months are rainy, but December to May are the rainiest months. Cyclones occur from November to May. There is a well-structured system of phased warnings. During the cyclone, visitors are unable to leave their accommodation and car insurance policies often become invalid.
BADGE:
1 Mauritian rupee = 100 cents. Travel with rupees or EURO traveller’s checks. There is no restriction on the entry of local or foreign currency into the country. The export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on arrival. The airport bank will exchange rupees for foreign currency on departure. Accepted credit cards are American Express, Diners Club, Visa and Mastercard. Major hotels will exchange traveler’s checks and bank notes.
ELECTRICITY:
230 volts, 50 Hz. Continental 2-pin plugs are most common, but round and flat 3-pin plugs have been noted. Take a travel plug.
HEALTH:
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travelers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas. Visitors are advised to take precautions before arrival against malaria (exists in certain rural areas, no risk on Rodrigues Island), hepatitis A, polio and typhoid. Other health concerns include constant high humidity (can affect people with arthritic conditions); sinusitis and hay fever (July-August); influenza (year-round risk); and diarrhea.
IDIOM:
English is the official language and is understood throughout the island. French is also a main language and all the locals speak Creole. Oriental and Indian languages are also spoken.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:
New Year’s Day (January 1); Day after New Year’s Day (January 2); Chinese New Year (January 22); Abolition of Slavery / Thaipoosam Cavadee (February 1); Maha Srivatri (February 18); Good Friday (April 9); Labor Day (May 1); Asuncion (August 15); Ganesh Chaturthi (September 18); All Saints’ Day (November 1); Arrival of contract workers (November 2); Deepavali (November 12); End of Ramadan (November 14); Christmas Day (December 25)
SHOPPING:
saree; silk shirts; Indian fabrics; basketball; knitwear; hand embroidered tablecloths; macrame work; Wood carvings; ceramics; model ships, diamonds, jewelry; casual clothes. Low price limit negotiation.
SOCIAL AGREEMENTS:
More than half of the population is Hindu, so respect their traditions and religion. Please dress appropriately when visiting religious shrines (no shorts, miniskirts, etc.) and remove your shoes when entering mosques and temples. The clothing is beachwear for the day and casual wear for the evening.
TIME DIFFERENCE:
GMT+4
TIPS:
A 10 percent government tax is added to all hotel and restaurant bills. Tipping is not mandatory and is still a gesture of thanks left to the discretion of the guest. It is not customary to tip taxi drivers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TOP TEN ATTRACTIONS:
Port Louis:
Capital and main port of Mauritius; French colonial buildings, for example, the Government House and the Municipal Theater from the 18th century; Museum of Natural History; market; Eduardo VII Avenue; Fort Adelaide; The World Museum of Masks; the sea fronts of Caudan and Port-Louis.
grapefruits
The gardens are known to naturalists around the world for their large collection of native and exotic plants, incl. the giant water lilies Victoria Amazonica and many species of palm trees; Of particular interest is the talipot palm, which is said to bloom once every sixty years and then die.
Big pool:
One of the two natural lakes on the island, which rests in the crater of an extinct volcano and is the place of pilgrimage for Hindus, especially on the occasion of Maha Shivaratree.
Chamarel:
A mound of undulating earth that spreads out in contrasting layers of color; Blue, green, red, and yellow soil patches are thought to be the result of weathering; the nearby waterfall emerges from the moors and primeval vegetation and is strikingly beautiful.
Stag hole:
An extinct crater 85m deep and over 200m wide; enjoy a wide view of the island from the edge.
Souillac and Grey-Grey:
Small seaside resort with beautiful landscapes of cliffs and no bathroom; in the south is the popular Gris-Gris viewpoint, from where you can see the waves crashing against the dark, hollowed-out rocks.
Hunter Domain:
Near Mahebourg, a forest park with lush vegetation including wild orchids and animals such as deer, deer, wild boar and monkeys, covering 2000 acres.
Black River Gorges National Park:
It protects much of the remaining native forest and provides spectacular natural scenery and some of the unique endemic plants and birds; number of trails and viewpoints.
Big beaches:
Baie has many beaches and places to swim, sail, windsurf and ski safely; Blue Bay is one of the best places to bathe in the islands, it is close to Mahebourg and has a natural swimming pool; Le Morne & Tamarin are known for their surf breaks; Iles aux Cerfs is an island resort with 2 restaurants, a boathouse and beautiful beaches.
Rodrigues Island:
About 560 km east of Mauritius, where you can be seduced by the simple lifestyle of the locals; the nature lover will find various species of endemic tropical fauna and flora and will be able to enjoy hiking, bird watching, angling and mountain biking; Visits to Caverne Patate and the surrounding islets can be arranged, for example Ile aux Cocos (a refuge for some rare species of sea birds).
