7 days in Mauritius
Seven days is enough to see the whole island without rushing if you sleep in one place and drive out each morning. This route assumes a base in the north or west; swap the order if you are on the east coast. Every day ends at a beach.
Day 1: The north coast
Arrive, pick up the car, swim at Pereybere, drive to the church at Cap Malheureux for the fish tables, sunset at Mont Choisy.
Day 2: Botanical garden and the capital
Garden at opening, then Port Louis market and Chinatown for lunch, Aapravasi Ghat after. Out of the city by three.
Day 3: Le Morne and the south-west
Hike Le Morne from 7am, beach at its foot after, then up the hill to Chamarel in the afternoon light.
Day 4: The plateau
Gorges viewpoint and a forest walk from Pétrin, Grand Bassin on the way back, the crater in Curepipe if the cloud lifts.
Day 5: The wild south coast
Souillac by nine, cliffs, then the cane-field tracks to Rochester and Pont Naturel, and swim at Blue Bay at the end.
Day 6: East coast boat day
First boat from Trou d'Eau Douce, walk away from the jetty, catamaran or speedboat to the waterfall in the afternoon.
Day 7: Mahébourg and the lagoon
If it is a Monday, the market. Île aux Aigrettes booked ahead for the afternoon. Twenty minutes to the airport from here.
Questions people ask
- Is 7 days enough for Mauritius?
- Yes. It covers every coast and the centre with one activity a day and a beach every afternoon. Ten days lets you repeat the ones you liked.
- Where should I base myself for this itinerary?
- North or west. Days 1, 2 and 3 are short drives from either; days 5, 6 and 7 are up to ninety minutes but all on the motorway.