30 Best Things to Do in Mauritius: Places to Visit and Activities
Mauritius is only about 60 kilometres long, yet it has beaches, mountains, forests, temples, markets and heritage sites packed into every corner. Here are the 30 best things to do in Mauritius, starting with the 12 places every first-time visitor should see, followed by the best activities on land, at sea and in the air.
1. Le Morne Brabant
The island’s most dramatic landmark, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a lagoon below that is famous for kitesurfing. See our full Le Morne guide.
2. Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth
Multicoloured sand dunes, a 100-metre waterfall and a rum distillery in one stop. Read the Chamarel guide.
3. Black River Gorges National Park
Native forest, rare birds and spectacular viewpoints. Our park guide covers trails and tips.
4. Ile aux Cerfs
A beautiful island with soft sand and shallow, clear water off the east coast. Go early to beat the crowds. See the Ile aux Cerfs guide.
5. Port Louis
The capital has the Central Market, Caudan Waterfront, Aapravasi Ghat and the Blue Penny Museum. Read our Port Louis guide.
6. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden
Often called the Pamplemousses Garden, this is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the southern hemisphere. Look for the giant water lilies, the tall palms and the giant tortoises. It is lovely in the morning, when it is cool.
7. Ganga Talao (Grand Bassin)
A sacred crater lake in the mountains, guarded by tall statues of Shiva and Durga. It is the most important Hindu pilgrimage site on the island, especially during the Maha Shivaratri festival. Dress respectfully and be mindful of the monkeys.
8. Trou aux Cerfs
A dormant volcanic crater above Curepipe, now covered in greenery, with panoramic views from the rim. It is a quick, easy stop, and a good place to see the cooler central plateau.
9. Cap Malheureux
A small village in the far north known for its red-roofed church by the sea and views across to Coin de Mire island. It is a good sunset stop.
10. La Vanille Nature Park
A family-friendly park in the south with giant tortoises, crocodiles and tropical gardens. A good rainy-day option and loved by children.
11. A catamaran cruise or dolphin trip
Seeing Mauritius from the water is a must. Catamaran cruises combine snorkelling, a barbecue lunch and island stops, while early-morning dolphin trips on the west coast are unforgettable. See our dolphin guide and excursions.
12. Rochester Falls and the south coast
Rochester Falls, the Gris Gris cliffs and Souillac make a pretty, quiet day away from the busier resorts. More in our waterfall guide.
13. Swim with wild dolphins
Early in the morning, spinner and bottlenose dolphins rest in the bays of the west coast near Tamarin. Small boats take swimmers out to slip into the water quietly beside them. Choose an operator that keeps its distance and limits time with each pod. Book a dolphin trip.
14. Watch humpback whales
From around June to October, humpback whales pass the west coast on their migration, and sperm whales can be seen all year further offshore. Trips leave from the Black River area. See our whale watching trip.
15. Snorkel in Blue Bay Marine Park
The protected lagoon at Blue Bay, in the south-east, has some of the best coral close to shore. If you prefer to stay dry, a glass-bottom boat shows the reef through the hull.
16. Sail to the northern islands
A catamaran from Grand Baie heads past Coin de Mire to Ilot Gabriel and Ile Plate, with snorkelling and a BBQ lunch on board. Book the northern islands cruise.
17. Dive in a real submarine
The Blue Safari submarine at Trou aux Biches takes non-divers, including young children, down to the reef behind large windows. Book the submarine.
18. Walk on the seabed
At Ile aux Cerfs and Grand Baie you can walk along the lagoon floor wearing a helmet supplied with air. No swimming needed. Book an undersea walk.
19. Go scuba diving
Mauritius has warm water, walls, wrecks and caves. Beginners can try a first dive with an instructor; certified divers can explore sites such as the Cathedral near Flic en Flac. Diving with Ocean Spirit.
20. Kitesurf or learn at Le Morne
Le Morne is one of the best-known kite spots in the Indian Ocean, with schools for beginners in the lagoon and famous waves for experts outside the reef. The best wind is from roughly May to October.
21. Fly over the island in a helicopter
A helicopter flight is the only way to see the underwater waterfall illusion off Le Morne, and the lagoons look unreal from above. Helicopter flights from Chamarel.
22. Skydive from 3,000 metres
Tandem jumps over the north-east give around 30 seconds of freefall and a slow parachute ride above the lagoon. Book a tandem skydive.
23. Quad, zipline and luge at Vallé
Vallé Adventure Park in the south has quad trails, ziplines up to 5.5 km long, a Nepalese bridge and a mountain luge, all in one place. Quad biking at Vallé or ziplines.
24. Go canyoning at Tamarind Falls
Abseil down waterfalls and jump into natural pools with an instructor on the 7 Cascades. Book canyoning.
25. Meet big cats at Casela
Casela Nature Parks on the west coast offers lion walks, cheetah encounters, giraffe feeding and safari rides. Walk with lions or feed the giraffes.
26. Taste rum and learn about sugar
Sugar shaped the island’s history. Visit L’Aventure du Sucre in the north, or the Rhumerie de Chamarel in the south-west for a distillery tour and tasting.
27. Follow the tea route
Bois Cheri tea estate, Domaine des Aubineaux and Saint Aubin together form the Mauritius tea route, with factory tours, colonial houses and tastings.
28. Eat street food in Port Louis
Try dholl puri, gateaux piments, farata and alouda at the Central Market. Food here is a delicious mix of Indian, Creole, Chinese and French flavours.
29. Watch a sega show
Sega, the music and dance of Mauritius, is on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage. Most resorts hold a weekly sega evening, and you will be invited to dance.
30. Watch the sunset on the west coast
End the day at Flic en Flac, Tamarin or Le Morne beach, or on a sunset catamaran from Grand Baie.
Free things to do in Mauritius
- Swim and picnic on the public beaches, such as Mont Choisy, Flic en Flac and Belle Mare.
- Walk the rim of Trou aux Cerfs crater.
- Visit Grand Bassin and its temples.
- See the Black River Gorges and Alexandra Falls viewpoints.
- Watch the waves at Gris Gris.
- Photograph the red-roofed church at Cap Malheureux.
Best things to do by type of traveller
- Couples and honeymooners: sunset cruise, private speedboat, helicopter flight, spa day.
- Families: Casela, La Vanille, the submarine, glass-bottom boats, Ile aux Cerfs.
- Adventure seekers: canyoning, quad biking, ziplines, skydiving, kitesurfing, Le Morne hike.
- Culture lovers: Port Louis, Aapravasi Ghat, Grand Bassin, the tea route, festivals.
How many days do you need?
With 5 days you can see the south-west (Chamarel, Black River Gorges, Le Morne), have a day on Ile aux Cerfs and a day in Port Louis. With 7 to 10 days you can add a catamaran cruise, a dolphin or whale trip, the north and plenty of beach time. Our 7-day itinerary is a good starting plan.
Group them by area
| Area | Places |
|---|---|
| South-west | Le Morne, Chamarel, Black River Gorges |
| South | La Vanille, Rochester Falls, Gris Gris |
| Centre | Trou aux Cerfs, Ganga Talao |
| North | Port Louis, Botanical Garden, Cap Malheureux |
| East | Ile aux Cerfs |
Do not try to fit everything into one day. Plan one area per day, start early and keep afternoons free for the beach. That is the secret to a relaxed trip.
Book it with Plan Mauritius
These experiences can be booked through us, with transfers added if you need them:
- Le Morne Brabant
- Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark
- Black River Gorges National Park
- Ile aux Cerfs
- SSR Botanical Garden – Pamplemousses
- Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao)
- Trou aux Cerfs
- La Vanille Nature Park
- Catamaran Cruise to Ile aux Cerfs – catamaran to Ile aux Cerfs
- Rochester Falls
Frequently asked questions
What is Mauritius best known for?
Its turquoise lagoons, white beaches, Le Morne Brabant, the Seven Coloured Earth in Chamarel, the dodo and its mix of Indian, African, Chinese and European cultures.
What can you do in Mauritius for free?
Beaches, Trou aux Cerfs, Grand Bassin, the Black River Gorges viewpoints, Gris Gris and Cap Malheureux are all free.
What is there to do in Mauritius for families?
Casela Nature Parks, La Vanille, the Blue Safari submarine, glass-bottom boats and Ile aux Cerfs are all great with children.
How many days do I need to see the highlights?
Seven days is comfortable, and you can see most of this list in five if you plan well. See our seven-day itinerary.
Should I rent a car or take tours?
A car gives freedom, but a driver or tour means no stress with directions or parking. We can arrange either. See our car rental page.
Where should I stay to reach these places?
The west coast is the most central for the south-west highlights, while the north suits shorter trips with easy access to Port Louis. See where to stay in Mauritius.
Want this planned around your dates?
Tell us when you are travelling and who is coming. We will build a day-by-day plan with hotels, transfers and activities, and send you a clear price.
Plan my tripTalk to our team