Mauritius, with its beautiful sandy beaches, tropical weather and swaying palms, is an excellent destination for lazing on a sun lounger and catching some rays. But, in between bouts of relaxation, the island offers many activities to make your holiday memorable.
We’ve compiled a list of 51 things to do while you’re there – the order in which you do them, is up to you.
1. Swim in the clear, turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.
2. Learn to dance the Sega, a traditional creole dance.
3. Sip a cocktail while sunbathing on a sandy white beach.
4. Visit the Natural History Museum in Port Louis and learn about the extinct dodo.
5. Practise your sport-fishing skills.
6. Explore the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden, which dates back to the 18th century.
7. Play a round of golf at one of the many picturesque courses on the island.
8. Go diving or snorkelling to experience Mauritius’ rich marine life.
9. Hike in the Black River Gorges National Park.
10. Take a tour with the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation.
11. Enjoy a spot of shopping with the locals at the Port Louis market.
12. Visit a sugar plantation.
13. Check out the casuarina-fringed beach at Baie du Jacotet.
14. Go on a catamaran cruise around the island.
15. Snorkel with dolphins off the coast of Le Morne Brabant.
16. Paddle out into a lagoon on a sea kayak.
17. Visit the stark, windswept, dark grey lava cliffs of Gris-Gris, at the southern tip of the island.
18. While checking out the Seven Coloured Earths at Chamarel, take a walk to the amazing waterfall.
19. Visit the shrines at Grand Bassin, Mauritius’ most sacred Hindu place.
20. Learn about slave history at Le Morne Brabant, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
21. Take a self-guided walking tour of Poudre d'Or.
22. Brush up on your knowledge of stamps at the Blue Penny Museum in Port Louis.
23. Browse for souvenirs in the seaside village of Grand Baie.
24. Visit the Rivulet Terre Rouge Estuary Bird Sanctuary, a RAMSAR-listed wetland.
25. Stroll up Signal Mountain in Port Louis for a fabulous view over the city at sunset.
26. Take a trip to Poudre d’Or, where a monument commemorates the famous French East Indiaman Le St Géran, which sank there in 1744.
27. Meet tortoises, crocodiles, fruit bats and iguanas at the Les Vanille Réserve des Mascareignes.
28. Zipline through the ebony and cinnamon trees on the slopes of the Bambous Mountains at Domaine de L’Etoile.
29. Get a feel for the Mauritius of old in Mahébourg, the characterful, ancient capital, built on the site where the Dutch first landed in 1598.
30. Slide down a natural slide during a river trek along the Galets River.
31. Stock up on duty-free items at one of 170 boutiques or craft stalls at the Caudan Waterfront in Port Louis harbour.
32. View the sunset from Flic-en-Flac Beach.
33. Traverse the grassland and indigenous dry forest on a Segway tour of the Casela Nature Park.
34. Take a day trip to Île aux Cerfs Island.
35. Jump out of a plane for a unique view of Mauritius on a tandem skydiving experience.
36. Go horse riding on Belle Mare Beach.
37. Sip champagne under the moonlight during a candlelit beach dinner.
38. Enjoy a relaxing and indulgent spa massage.
39. Discover waterfalls and swim in clear ponds during a canyoning excursion along the Papaya River.
40. Visit the Blue Bay Marine Park aboard a glass-bottomed boat.
41. Ask a local to take you to the little-known geological anomaly of Le Souffleur, to watch the geyser-like spout among the rocks.
42. Sample the product during a tour of a Mauritian rum distillery.
43. Relax and take in the exquisite coastline on a leisurely yacht cruise.
44. Mix with locals on Mont Choisy Beach.
45. Experience the nightlife in Grand Baie’s Royal Road.
46. Follow the tea route and learn about the island’s tea-growing history.
47. Catch feeding time (11am) at the aquarium.
48. Try local creole delicacies at a restaurant in one of the villages.
49. Visit the creole colonial museum Eureka House, near the university town of Moka.
50. Drop in at Le Batelage restaurant in Souillac for a meal in between sightseeing.
51. Learn to cook a local dish.
