In the middle of the southern Indian Ocean, hundreds of kilometers from the nearest mainland - somewhere between Madagascar and Australia - lies the destination of many holidaymakers and globetrotters: the island of Mauritius. The tropical island paradise attracts with fantastic beaches, untouched nature, extreme hospitable locals and a diverse wildlife. In my travel report about Mauritius I give you lots of helpful tips, recommendations and introduce you to the island with its numerous sights, leisure activities and hot spots in more detail. An eventful experience report about a travel destination that is suitable for the best vacation of your life.

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First God created Mauritius - and then paradise in your image. But paradise was only a copy. This is what a saying goes about the island of Mauritius, which is considered the ultimate paradise in the world Indian Ocean applies. The quote is attributed to Mark Twain. However, I remain skeptical when I arrive: I don't think we want to lay it on too thick. Many Destinations claim to be the most beautiful, best and greatest. So Mauritius too, yes?

Mauritius delivers directly

The little skeptic should calm down quickly. Because when I arrive I'm immediately disabused of it. At first glance, the island seems like it comes from another planet: I can't really describe it. Green and tropical, a bit like Hawaii and Ireland, unrealistically familiar and barely 10.000 kilometers from home, the amazing, green mountains and rock formations, at the same time modern buildings, expensive European cars and wherever you look, there is guaranteed to be a shimmer somewhere on the horizon a turquoise blue lagoon. Shortly after arriving, I got a faint idea of ​​what was going on in this little corner of the world. And why perhaps there really is a paradise here.

First God created Mauritius - and then paradise in her image. But paradise was only a copy.

Mark Twain

Video – Mauritius is so beautiful

Below I have picked out a video for you that will give you an impression of how beautiful Mauritius is. As the saying goes: a video is worth 1.000 words.

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Mauritius amazes me

When we arrive at the hotel, there are increasing indications that the island is quite similar to paradise. We just booked an average, rather cheap resort - and still felt like we were reveling in luxury in the tropical garden and on the private beach. The buildings have little straw hats, from the beach you walk straight into crystal clear, turquoise water and there are flying foxes hanging in the huge, tropical trees. Mauritius – the name seems to keep what it promises.

You've noticed that I'm slowly starting to rave about the island. This makes it all the easier for me to be with you in mine Travelogue to give many valuable holiday tips on sights and activities about Mauritius. Most of the Mauritius tips are recommendations and my personal impressions. Visiting all of the island's hot spots in two weeks is almost impossible - at least if you have something in between Vacation want to do, i.e. - swim in this wonderful sea and relax on the beach lounger.

What you should know about Mauritius

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Travel report Mauritius - the most important facts about the island

A quick overview

• Mauritius is a tropical island in the southern Indian Ocean.
• The destination has a unique culture and offers a breathtakingly beautiful landscape of mountains, dense jungle in national parks and beautiful sandy beaches.
• The underwater world of Mauritius invites you to discover: swimming, diving and snorkeling with dolphins and turtles are a must for every visitor.
• Mauritius is shaped by Hinduism - you will have the opportunity on holiday to get to know this unique religion more closely.
• The island has an excellent infrastructure, offers excellent hotels and resorts, restaurants and numerous shopping opportunities in modern shopping centers.
• The best way to explore Mauritius is by rental car.

My Mauritius experience – Welcome to paradise

The beginning of a great love

This isn't meant to be pure adulation, but when it comes to an island like Mauritius it's hard to remain objective. Most holidaymakers who have already been there themselves would probably agree with my Mauritius experiences: the impression I got immediately after landing in Mauritius was fully confirmed in the next few days. The island is simply amazing! She just blew my socks off and I fell head over heels in love with this destination.

Trou aux Biches the perfect vacation spot

Our holiday resort Trou aux Biches near Grand Baie is exactly what we were looking for: quiet, relaxed and lively. It consists largely of upscale hotels, resorts and holiday apartments. From here you can easily reach all the sights in the northern part of the island. And after a longer car journey, of course also those in the southern part.

Lots to see and do on site

As you may have already seen from my drone photo, the area is simply paradise. The region is a maritime gem with palm trees, beaches, sun and sea - Mauritius is just as beautiful as you would imagine a tropical paradise to be. There's also a lot you can do there: endless walks on the beach, snorkeling right on the house reef and good food in small restaurants and food stalls. I feel comfortable there from the first moment - like at home. And this impression was to become even more solid over the course of our almost three-week stay.

In my Mauritius travel report, I will introduce you to the most beautiful sights on the island and give you valuable tips on which leisure activities and activities you should definitely pursue. I discovered Mauritius on my own - and it was really a great adventure, even though the island is quite small and is only about the size of Mallorca.

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Rental car – Exploring Mauritius by car?

The big question I asked myself before the trip: Does it make sense to explore Mauritius by car? I always rent a car, no matter where I am in the world. This has proven to be successful. I've yet to experience a destination where the roads and traffic were so bad that I wouldn't have preferred to drive myself rather than be driven around. This is also the case in Mauritius.

If you have detailed information about one Car rental in Mauritius If you want to find out more, you can read my detailed experience report about it. If you want to travel with a rental car, you should first and foremost be prepared to drive on the left side of the road - left-hand traffic has remained from the British colonial era.

Unfortunately, Mauritius, like many other travel destinations, is in Thailand or Indonesia also known for its dangers in traffic. Overall, the difficulties in driving are limited and experienced drivers should have little trouble driving in Mauritius.

It's more dangerous as a pedestrian - it's better to drive a rental car

It is more dangerous if you want to cross the streets as a pedestrian - if in doubt, you should look three times. The roads in Mauritius are very well developed - for example, they are much better than on Sardinia (travelogue). We explored the island in detail with the rental car during our two-week stay and thanks to the car we were able to flexibly head for many corners of Mauritius that we might not have discovered otherwise.

To be honest, we didn't plan our tours in great detail in advance and, as I like to do, we went off at random and saw what we could discover. Based on the experiences we have gained, we have put together a few routes for you that are suitable if you want to travel in Mauritius by rental car. Of course, the routes can also be combined with each other as desired.

If you would like to book a rental car, you can contact a specialist mietwagen-mauritius.de watch or write about Check24* – we did the latter. I usually book there. You can book the all-round, worry-free package at Check24, which makes it much easier. You also have excellent customer service there.

Mauritius blogs & travel reports

Mauritius sights - temples, nature parks and Co.

You can discover an incredible amount in Mauritius. All over the island there are countless churches and temples, natural national parks with wild ones animals, jungles and waterfalls as well as a marine world that is second to none. We visited the most beautiful places on the island on our tours with a rental car. For this alone it is worth being mobile and having a car.

For you this means: You should therefore allow enough time when planning your trip to take care of everything Attractions in Mauritius to really enjoy it. Especially if you are traveling with a rental car, you should be able to easily reach many of the highlights. I will give you an overview of the most important Mauritius sights.

1. Black River Gorges National Park

The Black River Gorges National Park is located in the southwest of Mauritius and is the largest of the island's three national parks. There are numerous sights in the park alone that you shouldn't miss. These include Ganga Talao, the holy Hindu pilgrimage site, the famous Alexandra Falls, the Chamarel Waterfall, spectacular viewpoints and the Seven Colored Earth. The Black River Gorges National Park is one of Mauritius' top attractions and should be at the top of your to-do list.   

2. La Vanille Natural Park

The La Vanilla Natural Park in the very south of Mauritius is an area of ​​five hectares in which there is a breeding station for giant tortoises and crocodiles. Numerous animal species such as monkeys and flying foxes live in the park. But the main attraction is definitely the Aldabra giant tortoises, which are raised in the park and then taken to Reunion Island and Madagascar for reintroduction there as well. 

3. Rochester Falls

Rochester Falls is in the Savannah district of Mauritius. The fall is not particularly high, but it is very wide. There is also a wide basin in front of which visitors can swim. It is located in the very south of Mauritius between the towns of Soulliac and St Felix. Both visitors and local people jump from the rocks into the upstream pool - of course at your own risk! I would only do this when accompanied by a knowledgeable local.

4. Notre-Dame Auxiliatrice de Cap Malheureux

The Cap Malheureux is the northern tip of the island of Mauritius. The area is famous for the small Catholic church Notre-Dame Auxiliatrice de Cap Malheureux, which is located directly on the beach. Locals love getting married there - the chapel is a popular photo opportunity for holidaymakers.

5. Le Morne Brabant

Le Morne Brabant Mountain is a mountain located directly on the coast in the very southwest of Mauritius. He is 556 tall. The elevation is spectacularly surrounded by lagoons. There are also numerous luxury hotels on the beaches at the foot of the mountain. The mountain has a tragic history: in 1835 a group of slaves took refuge on the mountain.

When a squadron of police went up the mountain to tell the slaves that slavery would be abolished in Mauritius, the people fell from the mountain to their deaths because they misunderstood the policemen's message. Le Morne Brabant mountain is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

6. Ile aux Benitiers

The Ile aux Benitiers is a small island located in the bay in front of the Black River at the foot of Le Morne Brabant. It is uninhabited and at the same time a popular destination for day guests who want to spend a day on the beach there. It is only two kilometers long and 500 meters wide. There are numerous picnic areas on the west side where guests of excursion boats organize barbecues. Much of the island is still completely natural. The Ile aux Benitiers is ideal for snorkeling

7. Port Louis

Port Louis is the capital of Mauritius, which is located in the west of Mauritius and has around 150.000 inhabitants. There is a lot to discover in the city: French colonial architecture, markets, the Champs de Mars racecourse and the harbor invite you to discover. In a city ranking in 2018, Port Louis ranked first among the most livable cities in Africa. 

8. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden

The Sir Seewosagur Ramgolam Botanical Garden (Pamplemousses Botanical Garden) is a natural park covering 37 hectares and located just north of Port Louis. In the park It is the oldest botanical garden in the southern hemisphere. The park is known for water lilies, water lilies, ebony trees and several other plant species.

The park also has an old colonial mansion and an enclosure with giant tortoises. The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden (Pamplemousses Botanical Garden) is one of the most important sights in Mauritius and should definitely be on your bucket list. 

Leisure activities in Mauritius - hiking, diving and snorkeling, boat tours and more

In Mauritius you have an incredible number of options to pass the time. The leisure activities in Mauritius are the usual suspects that you can find in many high-quality holiday destinations around the world. If you don't spend the whole day relaxing on the beach and going swimming, you of course have numerous options. to do something adventurous, do sports or go on excursions.

You can go hiking, diving and snorkeling all over the island. Everywhere in Mauritius there is also the opportunity to take various boat tours, visit the surrounding islands or snorkel with turtles. I'll give you an overview of the most popular Mauritius leisure activities.

1. Snorkeling on coral reefs

A large fringing reef runs almost around the entire island of Mauritius. This also creates the turquoise-green, wonderfully bright lagoon, in which the water is often so shallow that you can stand in it. In many places in the lagoon there are reef blocks where you can go snorkeling and watch lots of fish.

In addition, turtles often stay near the beaches. The animals travel in shallow water and are usually relatively curious, so that they appear once at the snorkeler and then go on their way again. Snorkeling in Mauritius is definitely one of the most important leisure activities you can enjoy on the island.

2. Diving at impressive dive sites

Around Mauritius there are some of the most beautiful dive sites in the Indian Ocean. The reefs are still very intact in many places, there are easy to dive wrecks like the Stella Maru, which are located off the coast. The Diving in Mauritius is definitely a great pleasure for beginners and also for advanced users. With a bit of luck, you can even spot large sea creatures such as manta rays and whale sharks.

Auch Sharks in Mauritius They are not that rare, so exciting encounters can happen while diving. There are numerous high-quality diving schools spread evenly across the island with which you can jump into the water. This means you can also learn to dive in Mauritius and practically switch from snorkeling to scuba diving.

3. Hiking in the jungle

If you want to get around Mauritius on foot, you should pack your hiking boots. Hiking in Mauritius is a great way to explore the dense and untouched jungle in the national parks.

In the Black River Gorges National Park alone there are a number of so-called trails on which you can move around and certainly discover many exotic animals and plants. Although the small island of Mauritius has a relatively high population density, there are still very untouched and natural areas for hikers to discover.

4. Swimming with Dolphins in Mauritius

Swimming or snorkeling is an incredible experience in Mauritius dolphins. Many operators on the island offer boat tours where the animals can be spotted. However, that is a thing. With many tour operators, the animals are quite harassed as soon as they are sighted - often by several boats at the same time. The boats circle the animals and the snorkelers jump into the water without regard for losses.

You should therefore choose a sustainable provider in your area where you can get a sustainable, animal welfare-oriented service Dolphin tour in Mauritius can do. If in doubt, you can ask the local diving school, they are usually aware of the protection of dolphins and will only recommend sustainable providers or perhaps take you on a snorkeling trip with dolphins themselves.

5. Boat trips

Around Mauritius you can book a number of different boat trips in all the larger towns on the island. On the one hand, all offshore islands are accessed by boats. These tours are often combined with the opportunity to go swimming along the way.

In addition, a barbecue is often offered on a deserted island. Here, too, I recommend that you always choose a reputable provider that you have previously found with good reviews on the Internet.

6. Jogging on the beach

I went jogging on the beach every day in Mauritius - on vacation it's a part of my quality of life. The beaches in Mauritius are incredibly long and wonderfully fine sand. Anyone who wants to do some sport on vacation and jog on the beach in Mauritius. go for a walk generally get their money's worth.

The only problem is that there are pieces of dead coral all over the beach that you're bound to step on. At the Jogging on the beach In Mauritius you should actually use sturdy shoes or at least bathing shoes. Otherwise, nothing stands in the way of sporting activity.

7. Go shopping

You can go shopping surprisingly well in Mauritius. There are numerous small and large shopping centers on the island where you can eat relatively well and variedly and shop to your heart's content.

As I have written elsewhere, the only problem is that there are a lot of counterfeit goods in circulation in Mauritius and you may end up paying way too much money for a fake. I always went to the La Croisette Shopping Center in Grand Baie, a huge and relatively new complex. There I was able to buy everything I needed on a daily basis during my trip.

Travel pictures from Mauritius - impressions of the dream island

Hotels and resorts in Mauritius

Selected accommodations for your trip to paradise

During our trip we stayed at Casuarina Resort & Spa used. We booked our trip as a package and chose the hotel because it suited our budget and we thought we would get good value for money. And that's exactly how it was. Mauritius is otherwise a luxury island and if you spend your vacation there you can pay many times more. I mean, the resorts are just incredibly beautiful - like the Lux Grand Baie or the Shangri-La. Then you'll pay a fortune.

A simple hotel

The Casuarina was a simple one Hotel, but definitely upscale. Our room was in need of a bit of renovation, but apart from that it gets full marks. The complex's garden is incredibly beautiful and the food was very tasty and varied during our stay. The complex also has a very pleasant spa, which we used frequently. We were hardly in the room - just to sleep. Otherwise we were on the move the whole time. And the hotel was just right for that.

Would you rather book a flight and apartment?

However, I would no longer go on a package tour or hotel holiday in Mauritius in the future. You can get beautiful, luxurious holiday apartments on site for a fraction of the price. You can eat cheaply every day and take a rental car to the shopping center to buy something there. The shopping center in Grand Baie meets European standards - you can get everything your heart desires there. This way you can experience the island even more authentically and are much closer to the action.

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Travel Report Mauritius - Tips and experiences from the best vacation of my life

My conclusion

Mauritius is incredible – in the truest sense of the word, the island is a force of nature. Months ago I had planned to travel there and see this exotic place in the southern hemisphere. However, I never imagined that Mauritius could exceed my expectations so much.

I really had incredibly good experiences with the island. Which hopefully comes across in my Mauritius tips. Of course, not everything is perfect on the island either. The traffic is hell and sometimes serious traffic accidents occur. The island is also overrun with tourists. If you want something less touristy, you should go to the Seychelles. Overall, Mauritius really is an incredibly beautiful place on the planet. Sometimes the grass is a little greener on the other side.

Our visit to Mauritius was completely self paid. We did not receive anything in return for this service from any of the airlines, hotels, restaurants or local tour operators mentioned in the entry. All the impressions of Mauritius are fully in line with our own experiences on site.

Have you already been to Mauritius or are you planning your first trip to the paradise island? What did you experience there or are you planning to experience there? Share your experiences in the comments.