Mauritius is sold as a beach. It is also a volcano with a rainforest in the middle, a Hindu pilgrimage lake, two national parks, a UNESCO mountain, a capital with the best street food in the Indian Ocean and a coastline that changes character every twenty kilometres.
This is everything on the island we think is worth your time, with an honest line on each about why, how, and when. Filter by what you are in the mood for, or read the region guides if you already know which coast you are sleeping on.
North
The red-roofed church at the island's northern tip, with Coin de Mire across the water. Walk past the church to the fishermen's slipway and eat the catch at the picnic tables.
Culture & historyViewpointsFoodFreeSunsets
North
The wedge-shaped islet off the north coast, a nature reserve you circle by boat. Diving and snorkelling in its lee, tropicbirds on the cliffs, and the view that fills every north-coast photo.
NatureSnorkellingWildlifeViewpoints
North
A small, deep, sheltered cove between Grand Baie and Cap Malheureux: the best swimming beach in the north, good snorkelling off the rocks, and food vans on the road.
BeachesSnorkellingWith childrenFoodFree
North
The north's resort town: the base for boat trips, the bazaar, the bars and most of the island's nightlife. Not a beach you come for, but the place everything leaves from.
FoodMarketsSunsetsWith children
North
The longest beach in the north, a crescent of white sand under casuarina trees between Trou aux Biches and Grand Baie. Calm, shaded, and best in the late afternoon.
BeachesSunsetsFreeWith children
North
The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden, founded in 1770: giant Victoria water lilies, a palm that flowers once and dies, and 300 years of the island's plant history.
NatureCulture & historyWith childrenRainy days
East
The best snorkelling reachable from the shore: a protected lagoon near the airport with corals metres from the beach and a public beach behind it.
SnorkellingBeachesWith childrenFree
East
The old Dutch and French port in the south-east: a Monday market on the waterfront, the Naval Museum, street food and a lagoon with Lion Mountain behind it.
Culture & historyMarketsFoodFreeHidden gems
East
A coral islet off Mahébourg where the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation has rebuilt the island's ebony forest and returned pink pigeons, giant tortoises and skinks to it.
WildlifeNatureHidden gems
East
A wide waterfall where the island's longest river meets the sea, visited by boat from the river mouth and included in most Île aux Cerfs day trips.
WaterfallsWith children
East
The east coast's island day trip: sandbars, a shallow lagoon, parasailing and a lot of other people. Go early, go on a weekday, walk away from the jetty.
BeachesSnorkellingWith children
East
Ten kilometres of public beach on the east coast, with the old sugar-mill ruins behind it. Windier and emptier than the north; the sunrise side of the island.
BeachesFreeSunsets
East
The north-east coast as it was before resorts: a wind-blown public beach under casuarina trees, a fishing village, and a coast road with almost no traffic.
BeachesHidden gemsFree
East
A flat, quiet forest on the north-east coast with easy trails, the ruins of a sugar mill, and the endemic paradise flycatcher. You will likely have it to yourself.
HikesNatureWildlifeFreeHidden gems
South
A crater lake at 550 metres that is the holiest Hindu site outside India, with a 33-metre Shiva at the gate and temples around the water.
Culture & historyNatureFreeRainy days
South
The island's oldest tea plantation, with a factory tour, a small museum and a tasting room on a hill above the south coast.
Culture & historyFoodViewpointsRainy days
South
The one stretch of coast with no reef, so the Indian Ocean hits the cliffs at full strength. A cliff walk, a wild beach and the 'weeping rock' outside Souillac.
ViewpointsBeachesFreeHidden gems
South
A wide, low waterfall over columns of basalt near Souillac, reached through the cane fields. Swimmable at the bottom, and usually empty on weekdays.
WaterfallsHidden gemsFree
South
A natural basalt arch over the open sea on the south coast, reached by a cane-field track from Le Bouchon. No railings, no shop, almost no one there.
ViewpointsHidden gemsFree
South
Giant Aldabra tortoises by the hundred, Nile crocodiles, an insectarium and a rainforest walk under the canopy at Rivière des Anguilles.
With childrenWildlifeRainy days
West
The UNESCO-listed mountain at the island's south-west tip: a three-hour hike, a maroon-slavery memorial and the best beach on the west coast at its foot.
HikesViewpointsBeachesCulture & historyFreeSunsets
West
Dunes of volcanic sand in seven distinct colours that never mix, inside a geopark with a waterfall viewpoint and giant tortoises on the same ticket.
NatureWith childrenRainy days
West
The tallest single-drop waterfall on the island, around 100 metres, seen from a viewing platform inside the Seven Coloured Earth geopark.
WaterfallsViewpointsWith children
West
The island's last big native forest: 60 km of free trails, a gorge viewpoint from the road, and the best chance of seeing a Mauritius kestrel or echo parakeet.
HikesNatureViewpointsWildlifeFreeHidden gems
West
Seven waterfalls stepping down a gorge near Henrietta, with natural pools you can swim in. The island's best half-day canyon walk, and best done with a local guide.
WaterfallsHikesNatureHidden gems
West
The long public beach of the west coast: calm lagoon, filao shade, food stalls at weekends and the island's most reliable sunsets.
BeachesSnorkellingSunsetsWith childrenFree
West
A river-mouth bay below Rempart mountain: dolphins most mornings offshore, the island's only surf, and salt pans and a dark-sand beach that few visitors bother with.
WildlifeBeachesSunsetsHidden gems
West
A large safari-style park under Rempart mountain: zebras, giraffes and rhinos on a drive, ziplines over the gorge, and a good rainy-day option for families.
With childrenWildlifeRainy days
Centre
The capital: the Central Market, Chinatown, the Caudan waterfront, the racecourse and a working port. Half a day, on foot, then leave before the traffic.
Culture & historyMarketsFoodRainy days
Centre
The immigration depot in Port Louis where half a million indentured labourers from India landed after slavery ended. A UNESCO World Heritage Site with a small, serious museum.
Culture & historyFreeRainy days
Centre
The thumb-shaped peak above Moka: a two-hour walk up a clear path to a summit with Port Louis, the north coast and Pieter Both in one turn of the head.
HikesViewpointsFreeHidden gems
Centre
A dormant volcano crater in the middle of Curepipe, with a road around the rim. Drive up, walk the rim, look down into the crater lake and out across the whole plateau.
ViewpointsFreeWith childrenRainy days