When you think of Mauritius, your imagination instantly conjures images of tropical palm trees and powdery white beaches. However, there are many things to do in Mauritius besides topping up your tan on one of its many beautiful beaches. Here is a selection of some of my top things to do in Mauritius including visiting Grand Bassin, seeing the races at Champ de Mars racecourse in Port Louis, visiting the Chamarel Waterfall.
9 things to do in Mauritius
- Grand Bassin
- Champ de Mars racecourse
- Chamarel Waterfall
- Black River Gorges National Park
- Skydive Mauritius
- Grand Baie
- Pamplemousses Botanical Garden
- La Vanille Crocodile Park
- Ile Aux Cerfs
Visit Grand Bassin
Grand Bassin, a mountain lake at 1800 feet above sea level, is located high up in the mountains. This is the most sacred Hindu spot in Mauritius, and there is also a temple dedicated solely to Lord Shiva. People believe that the island is filled with holy waters from India’s River Ganges, and they make pilgrimages to the lake from their homes. A Shiva statue measuring 108 feet is also located on the island, and it was built in 2007. Grand Bassin is often included in tours of the southwest of the island.
Champ de Mars Racecourse
Surprisingly, the races are a quite big deal in Mauritius. I assume this is a legacy from Mauritius’ colonial past. But the Champ de Mars is a great place to watch horse racing.
Enjoy a relaxing day at the Champ de Mars Racecourse with Mauritius’ socialites dressed in their finest clothes on Saturday. You can have canapes, drinks, and a chance to win a wager on the horses at the race track, one of the oldest in the southern hemisphere.
Chamarel Waterfall
Chamarel, at 100m high, is Mauritius’ highest waterfall. This natural beauty spot makes for a great photo opportunity, and it is undoubtedly an impressive sight.
You can climb the steps to the top of the platform and enjoy a view of the waterfall hitting the pool 100m below.
The Seven Coloured Earth tour is often bundled with one of the tours of this kind. The Hamptons feature various colors with dunes of multiple hues, such as reds, browns, and purples.
The dunes are made up of volcanic rocks cooled to various temperatures over time. Those materials were then crushed into sand, which eventually became distinct colors due to their subsequent processing.
Black River Gorges National Park
The Black River Gorges National Park is 6574 hectares of natural beauty and nature. Hikers can enjoy hiking the park’s trails while enjoying its wildlife and native vegetation.
Over 300 species of flowering plants can be found in the thick forest. If you’re lucky, you might see the pink pigeon, an endemic bird to Mauritius and almost extinct.
You can walk for hours on long hiking trails. It is best to be prepared with the right shoes, maps, and water.
This is the perfect opportunity for visitors who enjoy the great outdoors to view panoramic views of the island’s terrain, including vistas and peaks, waterfalls, and gorges.
Skydive Mauritius
For the adrenaline junkie, Skydive Mauritius offers tandem skydiving for stunning views of Mauritius, including lush green forests surrounded by turquoise waters.
Grand Baie
Grand Baie is the most popular tourist destination in Mauritius, and for good reason. Not only is it close to some of the best beaches in Mauritius, but it also offers a variety of different activities. Grand Baie offers a variety of restaurants, nightlife, and shopping options, but is also the perfect location for exploring the north of the island. Grand Baie offers a wide range of watersports, including sailing, windsurfing, diving, and waterskiing.
Pamplemousses Botanical Garden
If you are looking for tranquility Pamplemousses Botanical Garden, also known as Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden, is the place to go. It’s composed of 60 acres of land, with a variety of palm trees, lakes, giant lilly ponds, and fruit bats. Pamplemousses Botanical Garden is also home to trees planted by Indira Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.
La Vanille Nature Park
Although called a nature park, I felt like La Vanille was more of a zoo. That being said the highlight is definitely the giant tortoises, followed by being able to feed the baby crocodiles. La Vanille Nature Park is located in the south of Mauritius with an entry fee of 300 MUR for adults and 150 MUR for children. If you are staying elsewhere on the island it might be worth doing a tour that includes Vallée des Couleurs and Gris Gris beach.
Ile Aux Cerfs
Mauritius’s largest island, Isle aux Cerfs, is home to stunning white-sand beaches, palms, and crystal-clear blue water on the East Coast of Mauritius. In my opinion, Ile aux Cerfs has one of the best beaches in Mauritius with beautifully warm water. You can visit the island by taking a catamaran cruise, which I found was an enjoyable day trip. Most catamaran cruises will include a basic BBQ lunch and drinks, however, there are dining options on the island. There are also plenty of activities on the island including Parasailing and the Bernard Langer championship golf course.