Things to do in Mauritius

Things to do in Mauritius

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marcosgt

Original Poster:

11,033 posts

178 months

Monday 20th May 2013
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We're off to Mauritius for a week in early July.

Anyone got any recommendations for things to do and see, as we're not really spend 7 days on the beach people.

I'm planning to spend 3 days underwater, but the wife will want some trips out and I'd be interested in seeing something of the place too.

We're staying on the East coast.

M.

Puggit

48,535 posts

250 months

Monday 20th May 2013
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Mauritius really isn't a place to do too much stuff. First of all getting anywhere (unless between the airport and Port Louis on the main road) is a nightmare. The road system is very British in that it's all ribbon developments and no thought to alleviating traffic in the towns. Pot holes a-plenty.

Don't bother renting a big expensive car, you just need a motor and wheels!

We didn't visit 'Deer Island' (Ile aux cerfs) as we heard it was over commercialised and really not worth the trip.

We did visit the Botanical Gardens, I'd really suggest getting a guided tour as they don't cost much and enrich the visit.

The Coloured Earths were something of a disappointment. However, not far to the East is Ganga Talao which is quite a sight, but if there's no festival on is quite desolate! Just further East again are the tea plantations.

I think the market in Port Louis is supposed to be good, but we didn't visit.

Blue Bay at the end of the runway was very nice. Picturesque beach and bay.

I do really recommend eating from local shacks. You can eat for pennies and it tastes brilliant.

norfolkmadman

80 posts

175 months

Monday 20th May 2013
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Sit outside a cafe in port louis and drink plenty of ice cold phoenix smile

PugwasHDJ80

7,541 posts

223 months

Monday 20th May 2013
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Had a two week honeymoon there last year and did loads of stuff

Absolutely unforgettably life changing experience was wailking with lions at casela nature park. Almost worth the trip to Mauritius by itself. Not cheap but incredible http://www.caselayemen.mu/index-eng.php . After you've done the lions them go find the tortoises- it's a good place for lunch too.

We took ourselves to the black gorges national park and had a beautiful days walk and saw no one else- there is also a very beautiful temple and lake complex nearby

Pamplemousse gardens also worth a trip, as someone else said take one of the cheap guides as well worth it- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Seewoosagur_Ramgo...

Grand Baie is a great trip out fir a town, some shopping and ay places (not in the centre), and some amazing fishing trips.

Diving can be a bit hit and miss and isn't cheap, but is of a high quality with good service.

There are a couple of quad biking routes that are a lot of fun- one at casela and one at domaine etoiles (sp?) but we heard really good things from other guys staying at our hotel at this place http://domainedes7vallees.com/

If yo happen to go diving can you keep an we out for my wedding ring please- lost it three days after

We fund driving really exceptionally easy- just like the uk really and we enjoyed seeing the rest if the island.

Depending on your hotel prepare for some serious food costs unless you are full y inclusive








tuffer

8,850 posts

269 months

Monday 20th May 2013
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Play golf until your back explodes and then spend 3 days in Hospital in Port Louis, off your tits on Morphine, ace.

cptsideways

13,573 posts

254 months

Monday 20th May 2013
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We hired some mopeds & had a great time touring the backcountry & beaches

a311

5,839 posts

179 months

Tuesday 21st May 2013
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We tagged on a week at the end of our honeymoon in Mauritius to get some warm beach weather.

I don't want to put any dampener on your trip but as we had a car we went out to explore and wish we hadn't. When you visit these tropical paridise type places and you scratch the surface you can sometimes reveal their seedy underbelly. In this case we found Mauritius has a huge problem with stray animals namely dogs to and see a few being mis-treated pretty much ruined our time there. All of the towns we came across looked like they were built 50 years ago and not maintained since and was very westernised, McDonalds and KFC's all over the place.

My brother by comparrison went for 2 weeks for his honeymoon and only did escorted trips and loved every minute of it. Having a cra was useful though as we could nip out for supplies.