Mauritius Holidays, Mauritius Travel, Rodrigues Island, Mauritius Hotel, Resort, Villas, Beaches, Mauritius Honeymoon

Known as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” Mauritius is an idyllic volcanic island mostly surrounded by white sandy beaches and crystal clear turquoise waters. This exotic island is located about 900 km east of Madagascar and is approximately 2040 sq kilometres.

With a population of just over 1.2 million Mauritius is a melting pot of many cultures where past and present are smoothly blended together. The cosmopolitan mix of French, British, Indian, Chinese and Creole cultures creates an island of rich diversity in culture. Its unique reputation has been built upon the welcoming nature of its friendly people.

Mauritius is a dream holiday destination. A beautiful coastline of white sandy beaches, a tropical climate, excellent diving and fascinating flora and fauna combine to make this paradise island idyllic. Mauritius is not only a honeymoon or wedding destination, but it is also a great place for independent and family travellers as it offers a wide variety of self contained villas, bungalows and apartments, as advertised on our site.

The first recorded discovery of Mauritius was by Hasan ibn Ali, a mercurial leader from Shiraz in Iran who left his home in AD 975 with a fleet of 7 ships. European discovery was not until the 16th Century and although there is some doubt, it is believed that Portuguese navigator Domingo Fernandez first discovered Mauritius in 1511.  In 1528 Diego Rodriguez, another Portuguese navigator, discovered Rodrigues and it is he who the island is named after.

Due to its isolated location, Mauritius wasn’t settled until 1598. In its history, Mauritius has been under Dutch, French and finally British rule up until Independence in 1968. Even today, many people don’t know where Mauritius is! Formed on a now dormant Volcano, the island is 65 km long and 45 km wide and is surrounded by coral reefs and turquoise water, while the inland has a great plateau punctuated by impressive mountains.

Some 560km east of Mauritius lies Rodrigues, a place of simple charm. In fact, many locals say that Rodrigues is like Mauritius, but 30 years ago. Tourism is largely untapped and the people that make up the island are warm, hospitable and very welcoming to tourists. Often overlooked by the traveller to Mauritius, Rodrigues is definitely worth a visit by those who seek a fascinating, peaceful place to explore with genuinely warm and friendly locals.

With its proximity to the Tropic of Capricorn, Mauritius is of a subtropical climate which basically has two seasons, summer, from November to April and winter from May to October. Temperatures range from about 25 – 33 Degrees Celsius in summer and from about 18 – 24 degrees Celsius in winter. Even for such a small country, there can be differences of up to 5 degrees Celsius from the central plateau to the coast. Given the tropical climate, Mauritius is good to visit all year round.

Tourism is one of the main economies in Mauritius. The first tourists to arrive in Mauritius by air were on a Qantas flight from Australia to South Africa, which landed in Mauritius in 1952. Since then tourism numbers have increased year after year and the country is expected to attract 1 million tourists in 2011. The French (excluding Reunion) make up 25% of tourists annually, 12% from the UK, 11% from Reunion, 8% are made up from Germany, Italy and South Africa and 2% from India and Australia.

The population of Mauritius is 1.27 million. Given this, and the size of the island, you would expect Mauritius to feel crowded. But the majority of the population live in the larger cities/towns such as Port Louis, Quatre Bornes and Curepipe, so it is easy to find deserted areas of beach and forests.

The official language of Mauritius is English, although many Mauritians are more comfortable speaking French. The language understood and spoken by all is Creole. Fewer than 3,000 Mauritians speak English at home, 35,000 speak French and about 52% of the population speak Creole.

Mauritius is small enough to base yourself in one spot and set out on day trips. It is possible to drive around the whole island in one day but given the amount of activities and tourist attractions on offer, we suggest you take day trips to avoid missing out on what’s on offer! The most popular places for self contained, beach accommodation is in the tourist towns of Grand Baie and Pereybere in the north and Flic en Flac in the west, however you will find accommodation all over the island.

For such a small island, Mauritius has so much to offer. Be sure to check out our pages such as "Things to do in Mauritius" and the Events calendar which will assist you in your holiday planning. We hope you have a wonderful holiday in Mauritius!

Banking hours

Monday to Thursday: 9.15 am - 3.15 pm,
Friday: 9.15 am - 3.30 pm,
Saturday: 9.15 am - 11.15 am (Some banks only).

Climate

The temperature on the coastal areas varies between 22°C in winter and 34°C in summer. The sea temperature varies between 22°C and 27°C. In the central part of the island, the maximum daytime temperature varies from about 19°C in August to about 26°C in February. The western and northern regions are warmer and relatively drier than the East and the South.

Credit Cards

Credit cards are normally accepted by banks and most hotels, restaurants and tourist shops.

Culture

Mauritius is a blend of diverse cultures and religions. The population consists of Hindus, Creole, Chinese, Muslims and Europeans.

Currency

The monetary unit is the Mauritian Rupee (Rs.) which is divided into 100 cents.

Customs

Driving

People in Mauritius drive on the left-hand side of the road and give way to the right. Foreigners with a driving licence issued by a Competent Authority in their respective countries are allowed to drive during their stay in Mauritius.

Economy

The Mauritian economy is based on four sectors: Textile, Tourism, Sugar and Services.

Electricity

220 volts.

Emergency

Police & Ambulance : 999, Police : 208-7018/20 Fire : 995, Samu : 114

Health

No vaccinations are required. However a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers over 1 year of age who arrive from areas where yellow fever cases are reported.

Language

Most people in Mauritius are bilingual and are equally fluent in English and French. Creole and French are the main languages in the everyday environment and several oriental languages are also spoken.

Newspapers

Besides a wide choice of local papers, the pick of the European and American press is available

Nudism

Nudism and topless sunbathing are frowned upon on our public beaches. No hotel permits nude sunbathing on beaches. Topless sunbathing is sometimes tolerated.

Population

1,275,323 (As at 1st July 2009)

Public holidays

There are 15 public holidays every year. Seven of them are fixed holidays: January 1st & 2nd, 1st February, 12th March, 1st May, 2nd November and 25th December. The remaining public holidays are religious festivals whose dates vary from year to year.

Security

A tourist police service has been set up to ensure security in tourist zones.An anti-terrorist law has also been proclaimed. A specific law relating to all tourist activities and corrupt practices has also been voted.

The following essential pieces of advice are meant for you:

Shopping

Shopping hours in our main cities range from 9.30 am to 7.30 pm (Monday-Saturday). Some shops are open till noon on Sundays and public holidays. Many duty free shops and modern shopping centres (Caudan, Curepipe, Floral Square, Happy World House, and Orchard Centre) offer a wide choice of products.

Please note that there are no shops open in Rose Hill, Curepipe and Quatre Bornes on Thursday afternoon.

Tipping

Tipping is not compulsory.

Time & Telecommunications

Mauritius is four hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and three hours ahead (2 hours in summer) of mid-European Time. Mauritius has international direct dialling facilities to most parts of the world as well as high speed fax and internet services.

VAT

A value added tax of 15% is payable on goods and services including hotel and restaurant bills.

Visa & entry requirements

A visitor must be in possession of a valid passport and a return or onward ticket. A visitor’s visa is normally granted for a period of two weeks to one month upon arrival, to almost all holders of a valid passport, with one or two exceptions. Visitors are strongly recommended to contact the Passport and Immigration Office in Mauritius or the nearest Mauritian Embassy or Consulate. The visa can be extended upon request at the Passport and Immigration Office, Sterling House, 11-19 Lislet Geoffroy Street, Port-Louis, Tel : (230) 210-9312 to 210-9317 Fax (230)210-9322.

What to wear

Take your best beach and casual wear. In the winter months (June -September), carry some light woollen clothing for the cool evenings.

Please show due respect when visiting religious places. Wear appropriate clothing (and remove leather shoes and belts) when entering the premises.

Working Hours

Private Sector : Monday to Friday: 8.30 am - 4.15 pm Saturday : 9am - noon (Some offices)
Public Sector : Monday to Friday: 9 am - 4 pm
Saturday : 9 am - noon (Skeleton service).