Worth getting out of bed for
Highlights the best Mauritius has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we’ve even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.
- Viewpoint
- Climb to the top of the Trou aux Cerfs volcano, and survey great swathes of the island from the edge of its enormous crater – don’t worry, it’s extinct.
- Arts and culture
- Domaine les Pailles (+230 286 4225), just off the M2 motorway between Port Louis and Moka, is a heritage centre that celebrates the country’s unique make-up. This is also reflected in the island’s rich literary heritage, and contemporary writers such as Khal Torabully and Loys Masson bring the vibrancy of a society made up of many cultures into their work. Sega, a rhythmic form of music driven by repetitive drum beats, came to Mauritius with African slaves, and has become incorporated into the island’s traditions.
- Something for nothing
- You may have to put your hand into your pocket for a couple of drinks, but if you have even a passing interest in football, then head to a Mauritian bar when a match between two big English teams is televised, for the bizarre experience of being surrounded by some of the most passionate and knowledgeable fans in the world. British football is hugely popular on the island, and Manchester United and Liverpool, the two best-supported teams, are as big here as they are in Salford and Toxteth.
- Shopping
- With pagodas on the streets, and aromatic steam issuing from the doorways of its many restaurants, Chinatown in Port Louis is worth a visit for the atmosphere alone. It’s great for cheap clothes and, if you’re feeling peaky, Chinese medicine. The central market, known locally as Bazaar Port Louis, is a bustling hubbub at which you can pick up everything from spices and wonderful fabrics to delicious Indian street food. Jewellery and gems are relatively cheap on the island, so it’s worth having a look in places such as Adamas Diamond Boutique in Floreal (+230 686 5246) or Caunhye Bijoux in Port Louis (+230 211 5160). Making miniature reconstructions of famous ships – the Cutty Sark and HMS Bounty are favourites – is also a Mauritian speciality. The best place from which to buy these scarily realistic models is Historic Marine (+230 283 9304) near Goodlands.
- Best beach
- Belle Mare beach, on the east coast of Mauritius, is a beautiful combination of crushed-coral white sand, shallow water that’s so blue it looks as though you’re viewing it through a filter and gently bowing coconut palms. It’s understandably popular with locals and tourists, and can get busy at weekends. Arrive early to claim a good spot.
- Activities
- Home to nine species of bird that are unique to the island, including the on-the-verge-of-extinction pink pigeon, the Black River Gorges National Park (+230 507 0128) is where to go if you want to go walking. There’s a good selection of hiking trails, which allow you to take in the various landscapes – from marshy heath to dense forest – within the park’s 65sq km. If you want something a bit edgier than birdlife, then spend a day at La Vanille Crocodile Park (+230 626 2503) in the south of the island. More than 1,000 Nile crocodiles, bred by an Australian zoologist, skulk in waters shaded by giant bamboo, palms and banana trees. The park is also home to several other rare species, including giant tortoises, luminous lizards and fruit bats. Sealife is equally well served and glass-bottomed boat trips out to see life on the reefs that encircle Mauritius can be found almost everywhere on the coast. Horse-racing is very popular on the island, so make like an indigenous hummingbird and have a flutter at Champs de Mars (www.mauritiusturfclub.com), on the outskirts of Port Louis. Races take place every Saturday between late April and early December.
Diary
14 January Spectacular Thai Pongal is both a celebration of the end of the Mauritian harvest and the beginning of the Tamil new year, in which cattle are painted in bright colours and then fed bowls of rice. May The winner of the Le Prince Maurice literary prize, a competition that aims to recognise ‘writers of the heart, is announced at the eponymous Poste de Flacq hotel. The award switches annually between books written in French and English to reflect Mauritius’ two principal languages. 9 September Pere Laval Day is when thousands of Mauritians of all faiths come to Sainte Croix to celebrate at the tomb of the Christian missionary who devoted his life to the abolition of slavery. Even though he has never been canonised, Laval is considered to be the island’s patron saint. October/November Hindus all over the island celebrate Diwali, the festival of light, which sees Mauritius’ towns and villages illuminated by rows of twinkling lanterns and candles.
