SarahWondering about activities in Mauritius that you can’t miss? Here’s your guide to the best places to visit in Mauritius as well as the best Mauritius tourist attractions!
Mauritius was one of the most exotic and fascinating places to visit on our whole trip around the world – so this place deserves special attention!
Markus and I started our nine-months-holiday with ten days in Mauritius and we toured the whole island with scooter, car and boat – and we did a lot of activities in Mauritius that you absolutely shouldn’t miss when visiting this amazing country!
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Cultural Activities in Mauritius
Mauritius has a rich culture and colonial history. Due to the prosperity of the country, a lot of colonial buildings were kept intact and some really good museums were created. Good news, most of the cultural activities in Mauritius are not that expensive and they are among the best things to do in Mauritius!
Taste some tea at Three Bois Cherie
The tea plantation of Three Bois Cheri is one of the places to visit in Mauritius that will show you both nature as well as history. The landscape of the tea plantation alone is worth the visit – but when you are around, should not miss to visit the tea factory and do a tea tasting!
There is also a museum at the factory – however it is rather small and can also be skipped in my opinion.
The tea tasting takes place up in the plantation with beautiful views and you get to try as much of the teas of the factory as you wish. Plus, there is free cookies with it!!! 🙂
Get serious and learn about indentured labor at Port Louis
History lessons aren’t for you? Come on, Mauritius does have such a diverse history! Give it a try! 🙂
Not many tourists know it, but Mauritius was actually an experiment by Britain to replace slavery in their colonies with a system that supplies the necessary workforce, but in exchange teach new skills to the workers.
So the indentured labor system was born. Today, you can find the Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site in Port Louis – the museum is really worth visiting!
Indulge in some local rum at a Rhumerie
Although Mauritius is not (yet) known for its rum, there are some beautiful rhumeries to visit and some delicious rums to sample on Mauritius! So put Rum Tasting on your list of activities in Mauritius!
There is more than one option but I really liked Rhumerie de Chamarel (and it can perfectly be combined with tip #10!)
See some history at Domaine de Labourdonnais
La Domaine de Labourdonnais is a beautifully restored colonial estate in northern Mauritius. There is a lot to learn about the family that once build the estate and about life in the colonial era in general.
Also they have an organic fruit plantation there and started distilling rum a few years ago (both yummy!). You can also taste fruit juice, candied fruits and rum at the estate.
Plus, the tropical gardens are beautiful to stroll around if you have some spare time!
Leisure Activities in Mauritius
Mauritius has rich and varied natural attractions – from beaches, to lush green vegetation, waterfalls and mountains. So of course, there are a lot of leisure activities in Mauritius! Not all of them are necessarily adventurous – but the island definitely offers something to do for everyone!
Take a swim at the Tamarin Falls
There is only one activity in Mauritius that is more fun than chilling on a beach in Mauritius and that is visiting the Tamarin waterfalls! These waterfalls are one of the best natural attractions in Mauritius and should definitely not be missed!
Beside a fun hike to arrive at the waterfalls (a local guide is highly recommend, as the way is not easy to find), you can take a swim in the pools or take a shower in the waterfall itself!
There are also some adventure tours for the adrenaline-lovers , where you can do abseiling at one of the waterfalls!
Admire the wonders of nature at Chamarel seven-colored earth
Near Chamarel you can find the famous seven-colored earth. It is a natural phenomena where the earth is stained in many different colours due to the salts it contains.
Nearby are also some beautiful waterfalls with one of the best viewing points in Mauritius. Please note that drones are forbidden…
I couldnt really figure out seven colours – but it definitly looked cool!
Click below to check out tours with Get your Guide that can take you to Chamarel Seven Colored Earth!
Relax on a Catamaran Cruise
Oh yeah, catamarans! Sailing is for sure one of the top activities in Mauritius!
There are numerous tour operators on Mauritius that offer rather similar catamaran cruises at similar prices – so don’t spend hours to compare the offerings.
Usually you get picked up at your hotel by a minibus in the morning and then be driven to the eastern part of Mauritius. It’ll take around 60-90 minutes until you board the catamaran.
Cruises usually drive along the coastline, visit a small inland waterfall (you change to a smaller boat for a few minutes and then go back on the catamaran) first. Afterwards, you’ll be cruised to Ile au Cerf. The boat stops there for around an hour to give you the opportunity to relax on the beach and take a swim!
Beware that there are sea urchins around (and YES, I stepped on one of them – don’t be as stupid as me!!!)
Almost all cruises include unlimited alcoholic drinks (beer and some rum/vodka with fruit juice) and soft drinks as well as a barbeque lunch prepared on board of the catamaran. The BBQ consistent of grilled chicken, grilled fish and a few salads plus bread – nothing special but satisfying and filling.
What we really liked, was that the crew of the catamaran was very attentive and even walked around on the catamaran and asked if you need a new drink! All-you-can-drink does really mean what they state and that the catamaran is likely not to run out of food or drinks 🙂 (But please be reasonable in the amount you drink 🙂 )
Click below to book one of these tours with Get your Guide!
Cheap or free Activities in Mauritius
Even though Mauritius is a rather expensive country for holiday, there are a free free or very cheap activities in Mauritius that you should absolutely do!
Beach bum at one of the magnificent beaches of the Northwest of Mauritius
Even locals will tell you: Mauritius is all about the beautiful beaches!
And Mauritius definitely has lots of them! Fortunately the government declared all beaches and riverbanks public space. Therefore, there are a lot of beaches to explore and you will also meet many locals along the shore!
Enjoy! And always think about protecting your skin!
Explore like a local and ride the public bus
Let’s be honest… on vacation we are always drawn between having a splurge and staying on a budget!
While some experiences are definitely worth to spend the money, we often also pay a lot for simple comforts, such as using a taxi. Mauritius has a quite decent and cheap public bus system.
So use the chance, hail down one of the buses and travel like a local. And enjoy the grin on your face for saving money AND having a small adventure. You will meet other travelers and locals on it and this is just so much fun!
Rent a scooter and cruise the island on your own
Nothing is better than being able to roam free on the islands streets and explore Mauritius at your own pace!
One option is to rent a car, but I highly recommend to rent a scooter instead! It’s cheap, there is lots of free parking spots and it’s awesome when the wind blows in your face!
But be careful and always wear a helmet!
Looking for a place to stay in Mauritius?
As mentioned earlier already, we stayed for 10 nights at Le Meridien Mauritius (booking link) and we loved it there!
What makes the Le Meridien Mauritius stand out for me, is that they have a separate “adults only” section with another pool, a pool bar and separate rooms. As this was the start of our honeymoon, we simply wanted peace and romance without kids running around.
And then there is a second thing that is both awesome as well as unusual: Watersports are entirely for free! You can rent kajaks or windsurfing equipement without any cost – there is even a daily glass bottom tour and two hours of waterski and wakeboard!
Last but not least there was a beautiful spa as well as yoga classes two times a week (again for free) – that was a deal for me! 🙂
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