Things to do in Mauritius — Life Beyond 9 to 5

Mauritius is a small island in the Indian Ocean amidst beautiful waters and rich flora and fauna. Like all islands in the Indian Ocean, this too attracts many tourists looking to enjoy the tropical weather and bask in some sun. But what differentiates this island is the ‘cost of living for tourists’. Mauritius is way cheaper than its counterpart islands, Seychelles and Maldives(also in the Indian Ocean). One of the reason is that they have Sugarcane plantations aplenty. So the strategy they use is, they export all of this superior quality sugar at the highest rates and import low quality sugar for minimal cost for their internal consumption. So Tourism is not the only source for Mauritius to add to their economy. Thus, it automatically becomes friendlier to tourist’s pockets.

Mauritius is so tiny that we can actually drive along the entire coastal perimeter in less than a day, which means you can explore the entire island well within 15 days (this depends on what kind of a traveler you are because I know of people who live there, but haven’t seen anything of the island). The island is approx. 65 km long and 45 km wide. It provides some unique experiences which you might not experience elsewhere. I have listed some must dos, so next time you are in Mauritius do not miss them out from your list.

Also, one point you will not find in this list is the list of restaurants to try seafood. I, being a vegetarian, I do not know much about fish. But from what I have heard, you might find lovely restaurants who serve fresh fish. So try it on!!

Water Sports – Scuba-Diving, Snorkeling, Kayaking, Parasailing, Fly boarding, Ocean Walk and many more that you can choose from.

Swim with Dolphins – Yes, that is correct. You not just get to spot them, but you can also get in the water and swim with them. And all this not in captivity, but in the open ocean. We had booked Dolswim (dolswim.com) for our unique Dolphin excursion. The day we visited the place, we were lucky to encounter two pods of Dolphins, which means hundreds of them near the shore. They apparently get close to the shore to mate and to feed. We got in the water and swam with them, looked at them from real close and marveled at these mysterious creatures.

Sub-Scooter – Well this was something I had never heard of. So obviously, we were curious to try it. It is a scooter that can seat one or two. There is an accelerator paddle and a handle to change directions under water. So it was more like riding a scooter under water. And the whole experience, ENTHRALLING.

A School of Fish surrounding a sub-scooter

Walk with the Lions – This one is my best in Mauritius. Who would have thought, a petite girl like me could walk the lions? But here I am, the ringmaster and with me, Mr. Jungle King.

The King of the Jungle on my finger-tips

Explore Beaches – Well, it goes without saying, if you are on an island then there are beaches everywhere and in every direction. Do not go by the standard list of Mauritius beaches, because all you will find there is crowd. Instead, explore, find one for yourself because that will be the place where you will find YOU. A list to start with:

St Félix
Gris Gris
Riviere des Galets
Tamarin
Belle Mare

….And many more

Booking.com

The entire sky turned into a Rainbow at Sunset

Virgin Beaches just for yourself – No soul to be seen

Drive along the Coastal Roads – In Mauritius, northern and southern halves are very distinct from each other. North is more populated, being residential and commercial hub. Whereas south is more secluded in its natural habitat. Public transport is not very great here. But hiring a car is equally easy and pocket-friendly. So just hire a car and get on the road. Drive along the coastal road and enjoy the waves crashing against the rocks.

Enjoy the Night Life – Grand Baie is one of the popular areas and night capital of Mauritius. We were lucky to have our resort 5 minutes away from Grand Baie. Few places we visited were Buddah Bar and Banana Beach Club. So after a hectic beach day, some live music and dancing is a welcome change.

Shopping – There are plenty of flea markets in North Mauritius which you can explore. You can buy some souvenirs for your folks back home. The best one can be a ‘Dodo’ souvenir. Dodo is an extinct bird and is also the national bird of Mauritius. You will find a Dodo even on their currency notes. You can also explore the Caudan Waterfront Grand Bay. Not just for shopping, but it has some amazing cafes and restaurants that overlook the water-body. So book a table and enjoy the view.

Mauritius is also famous for ship making. They are famous for making miniatures of all possible famous ships across the globe. You can buy these and add it your collection if you are a collector of miniature models.

Chamarel Falls and Colored Earth – This is a small patch of land in South Mauritius comprising of seven distinct colors, colors ranging between hues of red and blue. The difference in color is due to different ratios of iron and aluminium mixed in the soil. Sometimes nature makes me wonder about its mysterious and magical ways to tell us how beautiful it can be.

Do Nothing!! – This is my personal favorite. Sometimes I like when I have no agenda for my travel. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the new place. Drive aimlessly, walk on streets, get lost and mingle with the locals. These are the best moments when you spot or find something best. So just go out there and enjoy ‘Nothing’.