Travelling

flag Mauritius Mauritius: Travelling

In this page: Entry Requirements | Organising Your Trip | Visiting | Living Conditions | Eating | Paying | Speaking | Useful Resources

 

Entry Requirements

Passport and Visa Service
Passport and Immigration Office - Visa requirements
My Mauritius - Visa information
For Further Information
Mauritius diplomatic missions overseas (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Latest Travel News in connection with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak (International Air Transport Association)
 
Check IATA Travel Website for visa requirements and health advices.
 

Return to top

Organising Your Trip


Transportation From Airport to City Centre:


Airport

Distance

Taxi

Bus

Train

Car Rental
Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) 48 km/29 miles approx MUR 1,800 between MAU 15.00 and MAU 38.00 not available approx 1 hr

Means of Transport Recommended in the Rest of the Country

Train reservation services
Mauritius has no railway systems

Return to top

Major airlines

Name Type Domestic Flights International Flights
Air Mauritius National Yes Yes
Air France Major No Yes

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Return to top

Visiting

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical
Mauritius is home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites: Le Morne Cultural Landscape (including a basaltic monolith) and Aapravasi Ghat (the original immigration depot from where the modern indentured labour diaspora began).
Fort Adelaide (or Citadel Fort) is a British military installation from the 19th century overlooking the harbour and Port Louis which has been converted into a national museum. The Postal Museum's building - built between 1865 and 1870 - is another historic site, the same as for the colonial Eureka House which dates back to the 1830s.
Cultural
The National History Museum in Port Louis highlights the social and cultural history of Mauritius. Other museums include the Frederik Hendrik Museum and the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Memorial Centre for Culture.
Click here for further information.
Nature
Mauritius is a country rich in biodiversity and has three national parks and one natural reserve: the Black River Gorges National Park in the South-Western part of the island; the Bras d'Eau National Park in the North-East, the Islets National Park which comprises eight of the forty-nine small islets that surround Mauritius; and the nature reserve Grande Montagne in the Eastern part of Rodrigues Island.
Religious
Mauritius is a diverse country in terms of religious beliefs. Some of the main sacred places include the Jummah Masjid Mosque, the Hindu pilgrimage site Ganga Talao Sacred Lake, the Kwan Tee Pagoda, the Chapel of Cap Malheureux, and the Kaylasson Temple (the oldest Tamil temple of Mauritius).
Thermal
Mauritius has no natural hot springs; however, SPA centres are available in many luxury hotels throughout the island.
Beach
With approximately 330 km of coastline, Mauritius is renowned for its stunning beaches. Some of the most famous are Flic en Flac, Pereybere, Grand Baie, Deer Island Beaches, Belle Mare, Blue Bay, Le Morne, Gris Gris, Trou aux, and Mont Choisy. Click here for further information.
Winter Sports
Due to its climate, no winter sports can be performed in Mauritius.
Outdoor Activities
Outdoor activities in the country are generally linked to the sea. Most hotels in Mauritius offer very accessible activities such as pedalo, kayak, stand-up paddle, and glass-bottom boat. Kitesurfing and diving are also very popular, as well as fishing tours.
Shopping
Port Louis can count on the Le Caudan Waterfront shopping mall, the Happy World House mall, and several local craft markets. Other major shopping centres include Grand Baie's La Croisette, the Bagatelle Mall in Moka, and the Cascavelle Shopping Mall in Flic en Flac.

Return to top

Living Conditions

Health and Safety

Health Precautions
No specific vaccination is required. For further information, consult the dedicated page on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions
Safety & Health Measures
UK Gov Foreign Travel Advice - Mauritius
For Further Information on Safety Conditions
Safety and Security advice - UK Government
 

Emergency Numbers

114 Medical
115 Police
999 or 112 Fire and rescue
 

Return to top

Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference
It is %T:%M %A In Port Louis (GMT+4)
Summer Time Period
Summer time in Mauritius is from October to April.
 

Map of the Time Zone

Time zone

Type of Climate
The Republic of Mauritius enjoys a mild tropical maritime climate throughout the year, with a hot and rainy season which reaches its peak from January to March, and a relatively cooler and less rainy season from June to September. The mean temperature over Mauritius is relatively stable, at 24.7°C during summer and 21.0°C during winter. Rainfall varies considerably from region to region and throughout the year: the annual rainfall is about 1100mm on the North coast, but it increases drastically on the Central Plateau. Long term mean annual rainfall (1904-2007) over the Island is 2100 mm. The wettest months are February and March, whereas the driest month is October.
The Republic of Mauritius is located in the cyclone belt of the Southwest Indian Ocean Region, with cyclone concentrated between November and mid-May.
Hotel reservation websites
Mauritius Meteorological Services
AccuWeather
 

Average Annual Temperatures and Rainfall

Climate

 

Return to top

Eating

Food Specialties
Mauritian cuisine is a blend of African, European (French), Indian, and Chinese influences. Although most of the common dishes and desserts are consumed by all Mauritians, there are also forms of cuisine which remain distinctive of a specific ethnic community.
The staple ingredients include rice, seafood, eggplants, chayote (called "chou chou"), garlic and chillies.

The main dishes include:
- dholl puri: a savoury pancake-type dish made of ground yellow split peas, cumin and turmeric
- bol renversé (magic bowl): a rice-based dish topped with a stir-fry sauce resembling Chinese chop suey
- boulettes (Mauritian dim sum): steamed dumplings prepared using fish, minced meat, prawns, calamari or chayote
- mine frite: fresh egg noodles tossed in a heated wok along with several vegetables and chicken, shrimps, or meat
- fish vindaye: pickled seafood fried in onion, mustard seeds, garlic, ginger sauce and turmeric.

Drinks
Local drinks include:
- rhum arrangé: a rum-based drink made from sugarcane, sweetened with cinnamon, star anise or occasionally, dried fruit
- alouda: an almond-flavoured milk drink
- Phoenix: a local lager beer.
Sodas and fresh fruit juices are widely available.
Dietary Restrictions
Some Mauritians may have dietary restrictions based on their religious faith: Hindus do not eat beef as cows are considered sacred, while Muslims do not eat pork meat. Furthermore, Muslims partake in the Islamic custom of fasting during the month of Ramadan.
The drinking age is 18.

Return to top

Paying

Domestic Currency
Mauritius Rupee
ISO Code
MUR
To Obtain Domestic Currency
The local currency is the Mauritian rupee (MUR). At present, the currency circulates in the country in a total of thirteen face values, i.e., seven in the form of paper notes and the remaining six in coin form.
It is possible to get local currency directly from an ATM: they are everywhere and easily accessible. For a list of ATM machines click here.
There are plenty of exchange bureaus both at the airport and all over the island.
Possible Means of Payment
All major debit and credit cards are accepted in most places. Occasionally GBP, EUR and USD may be used when paying in tourist areas, but the locals prefer the local currency and the exchange rate will not be very favourable.

Return to top

Speaking

Official Language
English, French
Other Languages Spoken
Mauritian Creole, Bhojpuri, Tamil, and Urdu
Business Language
English and French

Return to top

Useful Resources

To Find a Job
Mauritius Jobs (governmental portal)
My Job
Jobs.mu
Motravay

Return to top

Any Comment About This Content? Report It to Us.

 

© eexpand, All Rights Reserved.
Latest Update: May 2024