A trip to the Blue waters & white beaches of Mauritius

Hello friends, today for the first time i will take you Abroad to a beautiful & magnificent place called 'Mauritius'. If you want the company of lively and warm people, want to enjoy relaxed vibes and the music of everyday life, lovely beaches, luxurious hotels and crystal-clear waters this is the right place to visit. Mauritius is the most accessible island in the Indian Ocean - a tropical paradise akin to Maui or Martinique but more budget-traveller friendly.If you are looking for a very special place to spend your honeymoon, Mauritius is definitely the place for you. Every hotel on the island offers extensive wedding and honeymoon packages.

Located Where? Mauritius is located approximately 2000 kilometres to the south eastern coast of Africa and lies east of Madagascar on 20°5, 57.5E. The country covers an area of 1865km with 330 kilometres of coastline. Mauritius is 45km in width and 65km in length.

How do we Reach There? Air Mauritius operates over 30 weekly flights to and from all the European major cities including 15 combined flights with Air France to and from Paris. British Airways operates four weekly flights, Emirates Airlines three and Condor one.

Best time to visit : The temperature on the coastal areas varies between 22°C in winter and 34°C in summer. The sea temperature varies between 22°C and 27°C. In the central part of the island, the maximum daytime temperature varies from about 19°C in August to about 26°C in February. The western and northern regions are warmer and relatively drier than the East and the South.

What to Wear? Take your best beach and casual wear. In the winter months (June -September), carry some light woollen clothing for the cool evenings.

Major Attractions :

Grand Bay: was the first area of the island to fully experience the tourist boom. A shopping and leisure paradise, people also come here for a fun-filled night out (restaurants, bars and discos). It is one of the best areas for sailing, windsurfing and water skiing.Recently renovated, La Cuvette beach is well worth a visit.

Pereybère : This remarkable small cove half-way between Grand Bay and Cap Malheureux is one of the finest bathing spots on the island. It is a public beach popular because of its shopping facilities, restaurants and pubs.

Balaclava Ruins: many tortoises in the area, can be found the ruins of the old Balaclava estate.

The Triolet Shivala: is the longest village on the island, Triolet offers an opportunity to visit the biggest Hindu temple, the Maheswarnath, first built in 1819 in honour of the Gods Shiva, Krishna, Vishnu, Muruga, Brahma and Ganesha.

The Labourdonnais Orchards: Here you can discover a large variety of tropical fruit trees, colourful and perfumed exotic flowers. Trips on mountain bikes or hiking are possible.

Dutch Ruins: At Vieux Grand Port, the oldest settlements in Mauritius, you can see the ruins of the first Dutch fortifications.

Ile aux Aigrettes: This island has become an international standard for the protection of natural resources and endangered species. A few of the world’s rarest birds, including the kestrel, can be seen there. You can also discover the extremely rare Pink Pigeon, the Green Gecko Phelsuma and the Aldabra giant tortoise.

Mahebourg: is one of the main fishing villages on the island. Built on the magnificent Grand Port Bay. The Martello Towers represent the scene of the ancient rivalry between old colonial powers and the ingenuity of mankind.

Domaine du Chasseur: has splendid hunting grounds covering an area of 900 hectares. Stags, monkeys and boars live amidst the luxuriant vegetation of the hillside.One can watch a few species of endangered birds, including the kestrel. The Domaine contains four thatched-roof bungalows and a restaurant with a panoramic sea view.

Souillac: A small seaside resort alongThe Waterpark Leisure Village the rugged coast of the Savanne district A popular viewpoint is found at the southern end of the village, right on the cliff top

Flacq Market: the most important villages in Mauritius, the country’s largest open air market.

The Waterpark Leisure Village (Coastal road, Belle Mare): You can enjoy with family & friends sliding on the giant chutes, a good time to relax & have fun.

Ile aux Cerfsis: is a paradise for water sports and has the most beautiful beach in Mauritius.

Martello Towers: The Martello Towers represent the scene of the ancient rivalry between old colonial powers and the ingenuity of mankind.

Chamarel: You can find coloured earths of Chamarel an undulating landscape of different and contrasting shades of colours. The different shades of blue, green, red and yellow are apparently the result of the erosion of the volcanic ash. The neighbouring waterfalls of Chamarel rise from the moors and the native plant life. The site possesses a rare beauty.

Salt Pans: Owing to the exceptional high level of sunshine the district receives, Tamarin is naturally the heart of salt production in Mauritius.

Casela: Here, the bird park stretches over 25 hectares and contains more than 140 bird species from all five continents. Other attractions include fish ponds, tigers, tortoises, monkeys, deer and orchids.

Yemen: You will be able to get close to the herds of deer here in the Yemen Reserve, as well as admire some splendid species of Mauritian fauna.

L’Aventure du Sucre: You can visit an interactive and ultra modern exhibition situated at the heart of an ancient sugarmill and discover the fascinating history of Mauritius and its sugarcane adventure. You can then purchase some unique gifts, souvenirs and tasting of special unrefined sugars as well as local rum.

Ganga Talao - Grand Bassin: Beyond La Marie and Mare-aux-Vacoas is found one of the two natural lakes of Mauritius. It rests within the crater of an extinct volcano. Ganga Talao is an important pilgrimage site and many Mauritians of the Hindu faith walk there during the Maha Shivaratri festival or the night fasting dedicated to Shiva.

Black River Gorges: This national park of 6,574 hectares was created in 1994 for the protection of Mauritius’ remaining native forests. You can enjoy magnificent landscapes, with endemic plants and rare bird species.

Beaches:

Mauritius is a real paradise for those who want to enjoy the sea or just to soak up the sun. Here is a list of the island’s finest public beaches:

Belle Mare: You can find miles and miles of white and spotless beaches from Belle Mare to Trou-d’Eau Douce.
Blue Bay: is one of the most popular bathing spots in the South-East of the island. An ideal spot for windsurfing and sailing.
Le Morne & Tamarin: Offer kilometres of beaches for bathing and are very popular for surfing.
Flic en Flac: You can discover the magic of white beaches fringed with filaos or Casuarina trees here.
Other beaches worth visiting are Grand Bay and Pereybere mentioned above.

Marine Life:
The Mauritian sea has the multi-coloured fish, moray eels, magnificent coral beds.You can enjoy with experiences of Skin-diving masks, flippers and scuba diving.
One of the most spectacular ways to explore the ocean beds is to go on board the Blue Safari submarine.

Le Nessee, a semi-submersible, will provide you a one hour trip under the sea in complete safety. A unique experience with optimal viewing for passengers of all ages. And for those who want to experience the feelingof walking on the sea bed, Undersea Walk Ltd will help you enjoy the thrill in complete safety.

Other Attractions:

Central Market: In the Port-Louis central market you will find all the ingredients that help to create the charm of Mauritius- local crafts, vegetables, herbal tea sellers.

China Town: is an area where you can find almost anything at an affordable price. You can find sellers of boiled chow mein and fish balls in the affordable market of Port Louis China Town.

Caudan Waterfront: Offering more than just rows of shops and restaurants Caudan Waterfront also enables you to discover Fast food or gourmet cooking, jewellery and local crafts, everything to suit all tastes.

SSR Botanical Garden: The gardens are known to naturalists throughout the world for their large collection of indigenous and exotic plants, including the giant Victoria Amazonica water lilies and many species of palm trees, a spice garden and the Talipot Palms, said to flower every 60 years after which they die.The deers and tortoises are sure to delight the youngsters here.

Shopping: What can one buy in Mauritius?
Models of old ships, textiles production, pull-overs, knitwear, leading brands of shirts, trousers, suits, dresses, suits for women, shorts or swimwear are sold at unbeatable prices. Basketwork, embroidery, pottery, cut stones and recycled glass are very much in demand. Those who love cooking will be able to take back fruit jellies, chillies, and other types of spices and pickles - delicious bits of raw vegetables soaked in oil, spices and chilly. Do not forget to buy some vanilla tea or rum. Only accredited shops are allowed to sell duty-free goods to tourists.

Precautions : Keep an eye on all personal belongings at all times.
Be careful when withdrawing money from a cash point.
Avoid wearing expensive jewellery.

Do not leave anything inside your car.
(For trips or purchases) use only recognised operators or suppliers.
Keep your passports, plane tickets, jewellery of value and large sums of money in safe custody.
For sea excursions, do not rent boats with inadequate security standards.
During individual sea trips, always notify the person responsible for the boat house.
Do not go swimming in areas where it is forbidden.

General Info / Tips:

Visa & entry requirements: A visitor must be in possession of a valid passport and a return or onward ticket. A visitor’s visa is normally granted for a period of two weeks to one month upon arrival, to almost all holders of a valid passport, with one or two exceptions. Visitors are strongly recommended to contact the Passport and Immigration Office in Mauritius or the nearest Mauritian Embassy or Consulate.

Health: No vaccinations are required. However a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers over 1 year of age who arrive from areas where yellow fever cases are reported.

Time Zone: Mauritius is four hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and three hours ahead (2 hours in summer) of mid-European Time.

Currency: The monetary unit is the Mauritian Rupee (Rs.) which is divided into 100 cents (cs). At the latest exchange rate, one Euro is worth around Rs. 30.

Languages Spoken: Most people in Mauritius are bilingual and are equally fluent in English and French. Creole and French are the main languages in the everyday environment.

Driving: People in Mauritius drive on the left-hand side of the road and give way to the right.

BON VOYAGE