Mauritius is an incredible country with a lot of culture, history, and natural places to visit. Undoubtedly, to tour the Island the best option is to do it with a rental car. Driving through the country is easy (they drive on the left) but getting the hang of it won't take you more than 5 minutes. The roads around the island are very quiet. The only busiest area is Port Louis. If you prefer to tour the Island with a company and a guide, there are many options and it is a very good alternative. We chose 2 tours to visit some areas of the island, in order to have a guide who would explain to us about its culture, its history and anecdotal details about its life. You won't be short of things to see and do in Mauritius.
In this post I talk about the 10 essential things to see and do in Mauritius.
10 ESSENTIAL THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN MAURITIUS
1. Trou aux Cerfs
Trou aux cerfs is a dormant volcano with a well-defined cone and crater. It has a height of 605m and is located in Curepipe. The crater is between 300 and 350 meters in diameter and 80 meters deep. According to experts, the volcano is in a dormant state, and it may activate at any time within the next thousand years. From the top of the volcano you can see the crater full of vegetation and water, but it is so thick that you can hardly see it well. The best way is to elevate a drone to take some snapshots. Also from there you can appreciate spectacular views of the mountains and the area.
2. Gargantas Del Río Negro National Park
The Black River Gorges National Park is a national park in the foothills of southwestern Mauritius. It was created on June 15, 1994, becoming an interesting alternative to not only enjoy the turquoise water beaches, but also the nature of this place.
The park has an area of 67.54 square kilometers. It includes moist forests, dryland forests, and swampy scrublands. There are 60 kilometers of trails for visitors. Along the trails you can find beautiful rivers and waterfalls, picnic areas and spaces for bathing. There are several trail options to choose from and of different difficulties and lengths.
3. Black River
Along the Negro River and at its mouth you will find an incredible landscape. In addition to being able to carry out several hiking routes through the Gargantas del Río Negro National Park, you have the opportunity to carry out different activities:
4. Visit Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius
Founded in 1735 by French colonists, Port Louis is the capital and the largest city of Mauritius. It is the main point of the entire country where you will find more traffic and more bustle of people.
You cannot miss the Cauden Waterfront, the Blue Penny Museum, Aapravasi Ghat, the local market, the natural history museum, the Pamplemousses garden, Fort Adelaide... among many more places.
5. Cap Malheureux
The church of Cap Malheureux is a symbol of Mauritius and is the most photographed church. Without a doubt, it is a beautiful Catholic church and very painters. It is a white building with a red roof, with a bell tower in the garden, surrounded by grass and with beautiful views of the coast.
Mass on Sunday mornings attracts a large congregation. However, regardless of when you visit, do not miss seeing the interior that hides a simple interior with its white walls, its exposed structure and a carved stone altar. The name of Cap Malheureux means the cape of misfortune.
6. Grand Bassin - Ganga Talao Lake
Located in a crater in the mountain area of the Black River Gorges, the Grand Bassin Ganga Talao is the holiest Hindu site and therefore a reason for pilgrimage for thousands of faithful throughout the Mauritius Islands. In an idyllic environment, different sacred representations of the Hindu religion such as Shiva, Hanuman or Lakshmi are located around it so that the devotees pray to them and place offerings at their feet.
The Ganga Talao Lake is formed in a crater at a height of 550 meters above sea level.
Legend has it that the sacred lake was created because God Shiva, moved by the beauty of Mauritius, dropped drops of water from the Ganges River on it.
That is why once a year, there is a huge pilgrimage of more than 30,000 believers to Brand Bassin to celebrate Shiva's festival.
As soon as you arrive you will find the enormous statue of more than 30 meters of the great Hindu God Shiva that shows his faithful the way to the most sacred place in the country.
7. The Tamil Temples - Kaylasson Tamil Temple
Throughout your trip to the country you will see many Tamil temples on your journey, and it is that in Mauritius Island 3 religions coexist in full harmony, and the Hindu is perhaps the most visible and it is not for less since its temples are amazing.
I could not detail all the temples that we visited because we saw many, in each town there is one. So I tell you about the one I liked the most:
Tamil Kaylasson Temple was built in 1854 according to the architectural rules of Tamil sacred buildings based on Dravidian pyramidal architecture. It is located in the Abercrombie neighborhood north of Port Louis and is the largest Tamil temple in Mauritius.
It opens every day and it is always possible to access it. Entry is only prohibited during religious acts. Admission is free, which does not mean that there are guides that try to teach you about it in exchange for a tip. To walk through the temple, it is necessary to remove your shoes at its entrance.
8. Chamarel - Waterfall and mountain of 7 colors
The land of 7 colors is one of the essential wonders to visit in Mauritius. Rarely natural and spontaneous dunes, immersed in a beautiful paradise known as Chamarel, forming a range of intense colors, reddish and purple tones. I explain everything in detail in the following article:
9. La vanilla Nature Park
This park is located in the south of the island, and you can visit the park the same day you go to Chamarel, since it is not far away. It is worth going to the park.
This park was an old crocodile farm called Crocodile Park and was later converted into a place of protection for the giant Aldabra tortoise. This park houses an insectarium, a museum of gigantic fossils and a farm for children.
The Aldabra Tortoise is native to the Seychelles archipelago. It has the title of second largest tortoise in the world after the Galapagos, weighing up to 250 kilos and living more than 165 years. Their mating season is usually between February and May.
10. Deer Island, a paradise to see in Mauritius
Every Mauritius island is a paradise, but you also have the opportunity to visit small nearby islets. One of the most beautiful is the Isla de los Ciervos. Barely inhabited by a bar/restaurant and a few small activity businesses. The sand is fine and white, with crystalline turquoise blue waters.
It is a good area for sunbathing, enjoying the beach eating a barbecue and snorkeling along the shore.
PLAN YOUR TRIP STEP BY STEP
I hope you enjoy your trip to Mauritius and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue reading many more related articles on the blog.
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A hug and see you soon!