Green sugarcane fields fill your sight. Round or square old sugar factory chimneys and small dirt roads leading to them remind some people were here a long time ago. We are not in the 14th century and this is not a virgin deserted island. This is the 21st century, the island is Mauritius and we are invading its beauty. Here we offer some responsible activities in Mauritius so you can enjoy the island while leaving nothing but footprints on it.
The beach, oh the beach is like a piece of paradise itself. This volcanic island has its underwater terrace from volcanic stone.
So the water around the shore is crystal clear, shallow and very calm, no waves at all. If you miss the waves – no worries, you can hear and watch them a couple of hundreds of meters in the sea crashing at the end of the terrace. This sound is mixed with the sound of the wind touching palm trees. The aromatic white sand scent is mixed with sunblock and cocktail aromas. Our senses become slaves to that. Gentle lounge music from the beach bar creates the perfect background for total relaxation and laziness.
You should think we would never want to leave this paradise. And you wouldn’t be wrong and we couldn’t agree more with you. Nevertheless, this is only a small part of the magic of traveling and we want to feel it in its completeness. In order to achieve that we visited the northern and southern inner parts of the island as well as the near island L’Ile aux Cerfs. We met the locals and their culture, architecture, cuisine, habits, and way of life. A bike trip to the nearest to our hotel village also helped us to feel the island better by sweating our way to the never stopping rural life. We passed the onion fields full of hardworking people, bargained at street markets and wandered around endless sugar cane fields.
History of Mauritius
If you take a short look at the history, Mauritius survived many human attacks throughout the years.
First came the Arabs. The green and lush island chased them away quickly with its hungry mosquitoes and malaria. Then the Dutch came. Ate all of the unique Dodo birds and cut all the ebony trees and left. Then the French came. Stayed a while and started building. They were the first ones to appreciate the island’s natural resources for longer. Then the British came to appreciate it as well. War.
After that – better times, the economy was growing. The island was getting more and more inhabited to reach 1.3 million today. Lots of people came and never left. People from different countries and cultures are the prerequisite for the unique atmosphere and outlook of the island. More than six religions manage to live together in peace. Tourism, agriculture, and textile industries make the living of the population while hundreds of tourists come to admire world-known beaches and spiritual inner-lands.
Mauritius – the water and coastal activities list
Being on an island means a lot of interactions with water. Sometimes even with sand. Let your body get loaded with vitamin D and your inner camera (a.k.a. eyes and brain) take the moments. Our list of things to do in/near the Indian Ocean of Mauritius follows.
Relax on the beach
Good news! All the beaches in Mauritius are public. Take advantage and explore as many beaches as you can. And still, there are so many other things you can do on the island because Mauritius is much more than a beach holiday destination!
Sweat on the beach
Drinking cocktails is much less energy-consuming but playing basketball is so much more rewarding. Why not combine them?
Endless pools
Every self-respecting beach accommodation would have an endless pool to spoil with a cool perspective. Take the camera and spent some minutes away from the ocean for a change.
Stand-up pedaling and kayaking
Activities like this could come for free if you’re staying at a hotel on the beach. The only advice is to go pedaling and kayaking in calm waters. Low tide gives the amazing opportunity for first-timers and inexperienced kayakers and pedalers to gain experience while being amazed by the surroundings.
Parasailing
Parasailing has a pretty reasonable price in Mauritius, even better than in Bulgaria. The views, as you can imagine, are spectacular. And don’t worry – “No landing in the water”.
Snorkeling and diving
Swimming is more than lovely when you can see everything underwater. Few steps from the beach or on hidden reefs, the vast flora and fauna wouldn’t disappoint. If you are patient enough, you can see vividly-colored fish hiding from you in the corals.
Yachting/Boating along the coastline
You can spend days circling the island and it won’t be enough. While you can select the type of vehicle and the extras along with your cruise, you have no choice when it comes to what you’ll see.
It is just beautiful.
Exploring smaller islands
Boats will take you to smaller paradises like L’Ille aux Cerfs. Although there are no cerfs (deers) anymore, you won’t regret going there.
Dance on the beach
Put on the shoes of the locals (meaning be barefoot) and sway into the rhythm of sega music. Respect the history and feel like slaves did after a hard day – nothing would really matter, just let it go!
Learn how you can explore the history and local culture through dance!
Keep in mind that the island has even more to offer. There is certainly a lot you can go away from the shore and without a swimming suit. Enjoy the inner part of Mauritius!
Mauritius – the inland activities list
The Paradise (a.k.a. Mauritius) offers something really special to its admirers – the inner part of the island is also rich with history, national parks, and sights to blow your mind. So we must recommend spending some time away from the beach and the ocean to fully enjoy this little paradise.
The mountains
Views from above deserve the sweaty journey to them. It’s Mauritius and everything is pretty much accessible with a car or you can hike your way around. Spend some time exploring the upper islands with knowledgeable guides or just pop up at some of the viewpoints to admire views of the island and the belonging ocean. We enjoyed the views over mounts Piton de la Petite Riviere Noire and Piton Saint-Denis, The Black River Valley, and the mountains surrounding the Port Louis fortress.
The sugarcane kingdom
Welcome to the sugarcane heaven! Endless fields and it is still not enough! Did you know that every part of the sugarcane plant is used for something – that’s how Mauritius produces world-class sugar, rum, pellets, fuel, etc.?
Did you know that the shape of the factory chimney tells us who built it?
The plains and the colors of Chamarel
Let’s get surrealistic! Let’s drive from the plains, surround the mountains, and get to the Seven Coloured Earth of Chamarel. Those volcanic remains formed sand dunes that acquired different colors depending on the elements in them.
Biking on Mauritius
This is how you manage shorter distances or even longer if you’re a pro biker and know the route map. The motorized vehicles are used to bikers but still, be careful – some roads are not wide enough for everyone. We suggest using the dirt roads around the sugarcane fields(if not a private territory) and the beach park alleys.
The temples
At least four different religions coexist in happiness on the island. That means you can see a variety of temples and shrines, some of which you can enter. If you’re lucky you may encounter a ceremony or receive a blessing.
The rum factories
Sugarcane is the parent of the famous Mauritian rum. Visiting a rum factory is not only an inspiration for rum lovers but also it’s educational and entertaining for everyone exploring the country. For rum tasting: take it on small sips, it could be burning. 🙂
The botanical gardens
This private settlement is a cool place to release some pressure(although it’s hard not to have done this so far) and learn more about waterlilies and turtles. Those parks are good for their calm atmosphere and are mainly targeting local people, IMHO.
City Market
Since ancient times we know all the trade and business happen in the city market. That’s why headed to Port Louis’ markets to buy some traditional clothing on the cheap, to find the best deal for spices, and to grab a vegetable we’ve never eaten before. Markets could be the most colorful and off-the-beaten-path experience in a place but you need to be cautious about the hundreds of people you’ll meet there – from those willing to kiss your feet to those willing to kick your ass and grab your bag.
Exploring villages and towns
This is where the rural wife happens. People working in the fields, people working in small shops, and people moving around without caring for tourists. Trading never stops, as well as the somehow relaxed lifestyle we envy for.
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This is why we love places with a rich history. History is knowledge but it also is entertainment. Mauritians are proud of their country and will love to tell you about their glorious moments as well as their miserable times. 🏝
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