Mauritius: Tips & General Information for Your Dream Trip

Mauritius – an island that makes every beach lover’s heart skip a beat.
This incredibly diverse island in the Indian Ocean offers not only dream beaches, impressive national parks, and various cultures, but much more that is sure to leave you in awe.
But before you embark on your trip to Mauritius, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with general facts about Mauritius as well as some tips. We’ve gathered them all here in this post for you.

1. THE BEST TIME TO VISIT MAURITIUS

You can visit Mauritius year-round, so the best time to visit depends on your personal preferences.

We recommend traveling to the island in the dry season, which means from May to November.
During this time, you can enjoy the best weather conditions for a dream beach vacation or an active holiday. During the day, temperatures range between a summery 25°C to 30°C.
At night, temperatures may drop to around 20°C, so we advise packing a vest/light sweater or long pants.

However, it’s still worth visiting during the rainy season from December to the end of April.
Just keep in mind that you may experience tropical showers and the occasional tropical storm. Although the island is relatively small, there are slight climatic differences between the east and west coasts. Compared to the west coast, the east coast of Mauritius is much rainier and often windy.
This also means that from April to October, the east side can be significantly cooler than the west.

2. THE CLIMATE IN MAURITIUS

Mauritius has a tropical-oceanic climate, also known as a maritime climate. This means there are minimal temperature fluctuations throughout the year.
In addition, the southeast trade winds blow year-round, preventing extreme heat on the island and keeping temperatures pleasant.

The humidity in Mauritius is constantly high, averaging around 80%.
The water temperatures are very consistent, with the Indian Ocean staying a pleasant 24°C – 27°C all year round.

GOOD TO KNOW

Make sure to bring the correct travel adapter for your stay, as many accommodations don’t have standard outlets used in your home country.
You can find the appropriate adapter here: Mauritius Travel Adapter.

3. THE IDEAL LENGTH OF STAY

Like the best time to visit, the ideal length of stay depends on your personal interests.

Many tourists only spend a week on the island. This is doable, but you’ll likely be rushing from one highlight to another.
We chose the more relaxed option and spent a total of 17 nights in Mauritius.
This allowed us to take our time exploring the sights and still have plenty of beach days and dive tours. Therefore, we recommend a stay of 10 – 17 days.

4. THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

English is the official language of the island. This, like the left-hand traffic, is a remnant from the colonial period. But Mauritians speak a wide variety of languages.
In such a multicultural country, this is not surprising. In addition to English, Creole, which is closely related to French, is one of the most spoken languages.
However, there is no official written form of Creole. Creole also has its origins in the colonial period when slaves were forced to learn French.

Due to the diverse origins of the local population, Indian and Chinese languages are also spoken. As a traveler, you’ll have no problem getting by with English in Mauritius.

5. THE TIME DIFFERENCE

Mauritius is always ahead of many regions worldwide, with a time difference of +3 hours during Central European Summer Time (CEST) and +4 hours during Central European Standard Time (CET). For example, if it’s 12 p.m. (noon) in a central European time zone, it’s already 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. in Mauritius, depending on the time of year.
If you’re in a different part of the world, simply adjust based on your own time zone.

6. CURRENCY & PAYMENT METHODS

The official currency is the Mauritian Rupee (MUR).
When booking excursions, paying in restaurants, or leaving tips, US dollars are usually accepted as well. No matter what currency you pay in, always calculate!
Sometimes paying in US dollars is more expensive, and other times it’s cheaper.

With standard credit cards, you can withdraw cash from ATMs, banks, and sometimes hotel receptions.
You can easily exchange major currencies, such as euros, at banks, exchange offices, and most hotel receptions.
We recommend bringing some US dollars or another widely accepted currency with you to ensure you always have cash on hand.

7. CRIME ON THE ISLAND

According to statistics, the crime rate on the entire island is relatively low.
Most crimes involve pickpocketing, theft of valuables and money, and occasional burglaries in tourist vacation homes.

Crime exists everywhere in the world, so don’t let statistics or reports unsettle you.
We never felt unsafe during our entire stay!

Just keep the following in mind:

• Keep an eye on your valuables, especially in crowded areas like markets!
• Always keep your valuables in sight and never leave them lying around!
• Avoid wearing expensive jewelry or handbags in public!
• Conceal your valuables and only carry the cash you need!
• Always leave valuables, passports, and large amounts of cash in the hotel safe!

8. ARRIVAL & ENTRY

Feeling inspired to visit Mauritius? Travelers from around the world can easily reach this stunning island in the Indian Ocean, with direct flights available from various regions several times a week. Find and compare the best flights for your trip on websites like skyscanner.com or your preferred travel booking platform.

Most nationalities can enter Mauritius with a valid passport, provided it is valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates.
For short tourist stays, a visa is typically not required, but it’s always a good idea to check the specific entry requirements for your country before traveling.

Flight times vary depending on your location. From Europe, the average flight time is around 11.5–12 hours, while flights from other continents, such as Asia, Africa, or Australia, may differ.
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If you’re planning a longer stay or have questions about entry requirements, consult the guidelines provided by your country’s Foreign Office or travel authority.
You’ll also find detailed, country-specific information to help prepare for your trip. Enjoy your journey to this tropical paradise!

9. GETTING AROUND THE ISLAND

RENTAL CAR

If you’d like to be flexible and discover the island on your own, you should consider renting a car.
Many hotels offer free parking to guests with rental cars, so you don’t have to worry about that.
You can easily book your rental car in advance through rentalcars.com.

Exploring on your own always means a bit of an adventure! However, keep in mind that left-hand traffic applies in Mauritius.
The roads are well-developed and well-signposted.

PRIVATE DRIVERS

A great alternative to renting your own car is hiring private drivers.
If you plan to stay mostly at your hotel and only want to explore nearby attractions occasionally, private transportation is a good alternative to a rental car.

The driver will take you around the island for a negotiated price for the entire day.
Where you go is agreed upon in advance. We used this option twice and got in touch with Andrea Rodrige via Facebook.
He lives on the island with his Mauritian wife and child. In his car, he picked us up directly from our hotel and showed us as many sights as possible over two days.
The tours were fantastic, and we highly recommend them!

TAXI

Alternatively, you can also take a taxi from one place to another or to the respective sights.
In Mauritius, it’s common to use a taxi for a longer period – for example, half a day.
It’s important to negotiate the price and approximate route beforehand!
We used taxis several times and had only positive experiences, as well as nice conversations with the very friendly drivers.
It’s easy to find a taxi anywhere on the island. They often wait in front of supermarkets, at bus stops, hotels, or tourist hotspots.

BUS

The cheapest but least flexible option is to use public buses. The price per ride ranges between $0.50 and $1.

It doesn’t make much sense to try to explore the entire island by bus.
However, you can easily explore the area around your accommodation by bus. Riding in one of the large, colorful, and sometimes rickety buses is simple.
You just get on, sit down, and wait for someone to approach you to pay for your ticket. Don’t throw the ticket away until you’ve exited the bus, as there are occasional checks on board.

A good overview of the respective bus lines is available here in the Mauritius bus overview. There are no schedules.
The buses arrive whenever they arrive. Sometimes you wait 5 minutes, sometimes 10 minutes, and sometimes 20 – 30 minutes.

10. HOTELS & ACCOMMODATIONS

If you look at the number of tourists and compare it to the number of locals, you’ll find that the number is almost the same each year. Isn’t that crazy?

Accordingly, the island is well-developed for tourism and offers pretty much everything a traveler could want.
The range of affordable to luxurious hotels, AirBnBs, hostels, or private accommodations is vast.
We spent our 17 nights in the windy east of the island, specifically at the Maritim Crystals Beach Hotel.
The hotel, with its beautiful, spacious grounds and affiliated dive center, was the ideal starting point for all our excursions and dives.
The endlessly long, fine sandy beach is perfect for long beach walks.

We were completely satisfied with our accommodation, and we lacked nothing. Therefore, we highly recommend this excellent hotel in Belle Mare.

11. MAURITIAN CUISINE

Just as the island’s population is multicultural, so is Mauritian cuisine, making it very diverse.
The dishes are influenced by African, Asian, and European flavors. But the most typical dishes in Mauritius are various curries.

For dessert lovers, there are steamed rice cakes with coconut as well as the national dessert Gateaux de Patates, a sweet potato pastry filled with coconut.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are available around every corner in small shops or from one of the many street vendors.
You should definitely try one of these healthy snacks, as you’ll quickly notice that the fresh fruit tastes completely different from what you might be used to back home!
Keep an eye out for the jackfruit that grows in Mauritius! This giant yellow fruit, covered in a warty skin, takes its name from the Malay word 'Chakka' and is often mistaken for durian.
While the jackfruit may have a somewhat unusual smell when ripe, it’s nowhere near as strong as that of durian. The taste is more like a banana and is absolutely delicious.

There are also plenty of sugar cane fields all over the island. It’s from this sugar cane that Mauritius’ national drink is made – rum. The locals love their locally produced rum, and you’ll be offered a glass of rum with cola or a tasty cocktail in bars, restaurants, and on excursions quite often.

12. RELIGION ON THE ISLAND

Mauritius is a land of religious diversity. The majority of the population, about 52%, practices Hinduism.

This dominant religion is evident throughout the island in the many beautifully colorful temples, spiritual parks, the 10-meter-tall Shiva statue, and of course, the sacred pilgrimage site Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao).

The second-largest religion on the island is Christianity, to which about 33% of the population belongs. The rest of the Mauritians identify with Islam or Buddhism.

13. SPECIAL VACCINATIONS FOR MAURITIUS

Although Mauritius is a tropical country, no special vaccinations are required.
However, the standard vaccinations such as tetanus, diphtheria, and hepatitis A are recommended, or a booster if necessary.

Mauritius is (as of May 2020) free of yellow fever, the Zika virus, and malaria.
Further information can be found on the official website of your country's Foreign Office or relevant government agency.

14. INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE

Health Insurance

Costs for medical treatment in Mauritius are not covered by most national health insurance systems. Therefore, taking out private international health insurance is essential for us.
Some credit cards include private international health insurance. If that’s not the case for you, we recommend comparing insurance plans on well-known websites like check24.de to find the best one for you. The insurance usually costs a small amount per year, and in an emergency, it’s worth every penny.

Our tip: Make sure to get full coverage with no limit on the amount and that it includes return transportation in case of serious illness! Also, keep all receipts for medical treatment and prescriptions for medications you paid for upfront to submit them to your insurance or to provide proof.

Baggage Insurance

Unfortunately, it can always happen that luggage or valuables go missing during a trip. That’s why we took out additional baggage insurance for the duration of the trip, especially because of our expensive (technical) gear like cameras, drones, etc. These insurance plans usually cost a small amount per trip or year and are always worth it in an emergency. Find and compare the best baggage insurance for you on check24.de.

Our tip: Especially for expensive equipment, make sure to get full coverage with no limits!

15. OTHER IMPORTANT TIPS

• The right travel adapter: For your trip to Mauritius, you’ll need a plug adapter, as types C and G are used there. Find the appropriate adapter here: Travel Adapter Mauritius.
• Take it easy: The most important thing for your entire stay is to take your time and not get frustrated if things take a little longer. In Mauritius, it’s normal not to rush, to arrive late every now and then, and sometimes even to stop on the side of the road to catch up on the latest gossip with neighbors or friends.
• Don’t drink tap water: Unless you want to spend most of your stay in the bathroom or your room. Even if some hotel facilities claim that tap water is safe to drink, we advise against it.
• No nudity please: Although Mauritians are often tolerant of tourists, they draw the line at nudity. Temples, churches, and mosques should only be entered with covered arms and legs, and sometimes a head covering is required.
• Beware of the poisonous stonefish: At the beach, near large stones in shallow water, in muddy sand, and around coral reefs, it’s best to wear water shoes, as the poisonous stonefish likes to hide there.
• Customs regulations: Shells, coral, and starfish are not souvenirs for your home—they belong to the country and its natural heritage. Exporting them is prohibited. For more information on customs regulations, check the official website of your country’s Foreign Office or relevant government authority.

Has this post about Mauritius left you wanting more? Would you like to learn more about the stunning attractions this island has to offer?
Then be sure to read our post, „Mauritius – Highlights of the Paradise Island in the Indian Ocean“!

USEFUL LINKS & RECOMMENDED TRAVEL GUIDES FOR YOU

• Find affordable rental cars at rentalcars.com
• Find affordable flights at skyscanner.com
• Discover the best accommodations
• Enjoy amazing Tours with Roman Duda
• The right Travel Adapter for Mauritius
• The best Travel Guides for Mauritius
• Unique Excursions to Experience in Mauritius

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Note: This blog post contains our personal recommendations in the form of so-called affiliate links. If you book or purchase something through these links, we earn a small commission. There is absolutely no change to the price for you.