Tourists spending their holidays in the island of Mauritius might be curious about the rest of the island and about the good places to visit during their stay. In this article we go on a tour of some of the great places to see in the west of Mauritius.

Port-Louis

Port-Louis is the capital of the island of Mauritius. It was founded by the Dutch in 1638, but it was only after the arrival of the French that the town really prospered. Nowadays it is a bustling city where everything can be found. Thus it is a great place to go shopping in Mauritius during your holidays. Quite a variety of vendors can be found there: from the street hawkers to big commercial centres tailored for tourists such as the Caudan Waterfront where tourists will find an array of fine-dining restaurants, bars, food courts, clothes shops, art galleries, jewelers, and cinemas.

Tourists willing to go off the beaten track will be delighted by the treasures that they will be able to discover in the crowded streets of Chinatown or near the central market like SSR Street, Corderie, Bourbon, etc. Port-Louis is also home to several traditional restaurants where the whole gamut of Mauritian gastronomy can be experienced.

The other great places to visit in Port-Louis during holidays in Mauritius are the museums of the city. These museums are: the Blue Penny Museum in Caudan Waterfront, the Post Office museum near the port, the National History Museum near the gardens of the East India Company, the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Memorial Centre for Culture near Plaine-Verte, the Mauritius Photography Museum opposite the theater of Port-Louis, the Mikado Shell Museum near the Central Market and the China Heritage Museum in Rémy Ollier street.

Flic-en-Flac

The town of Flic-en-Flac is a highly touristic area of the Black-River district. Lots of good Mauritian hotels can be found nearby and most of them have direct access to the gorgeous beach and lagoon. It is very popular with the locals as well as can be seen every weekend. It is a good place to go shopping as well, with several shopping centres, souvenir shops, textile shops which can be seen in the area. The night-life is great as well, with several night clubs, restaurants and a casino.

Tamarin

The beach of Tamarin is well known as a kite-surfing and surfing spot. Tamarin is also known for its beautiful 18-hole golf course with an “out of Africa” feel. Several good restaurants can also be found in the area as well as great little street food vendors by the beach. The area is known to be a great place for whale and dolphin watching as those cetaceans can be often found cruising outside the lagoon.

Casela Nature Park

The Casela Nature and Reserve Park is located just after the town of Flic-en-flac, near the village of Cascavelle. It houses more than 1500 birds of different species as well as lions, zebras, giant tortoises, monkeys, tigers, etc. A lot of great touristic activities are also offered there such as zip-lining, walks with lions, quad rides, photo safaris, segway rides, canyoning, via ferrata, etc. It is one of the best nature parks of the island and is well worth a visit.

Where to go in Mauritius - visit Chamarel
Chamarel, land of 7 colours, in the district of Black River.

Chamarel

One of the most famous places of the island of Mauritius is Chamarel, which is also known as the land of the seven-colored earths. It is a geological formation made of a number of sand dunes of different distinct colours which, strangely, cannot mix. The dunes do not wash off either, despite the torrential rains that can fall in the area. The area of Chamarel is also well known for its forests and nature. Several host tables can be found in the area, as well as nice little restaurants. It’s also a great place to go hiking and cycling.

Black River Gorges

The district of Black River is known for its great private villas, big game fishing, Mauritian hotels and nature reserves. One of the best-known nature reserves of the island is the Black River Gorges Nature reserve. It covers an area of 67.54 square kilometers and is home to the island’s last remaining rainforest. It is a great place for hiking, as it has about 60 kilometres of hiking trails.

Le Morne

Le Morne mountain is one of the landmarks of the district of Black river that’s really hard to miss. This mountain is best known as being the symbol of runaway slaves’ struggle for freedom. It is a well-known spot for kitesurfing and windsurfing, and has beautiful white sandy beaches. Other attractions of the area are an 18-hole golf course located near beautiful Mauritian hotels and horse riding trips which are available at the Haras du Morne, who offer horseback excursions around Le Morne Mountain and to the nearby Ilot Fournier.

Photo credits:

Top: http://www.flickr.com/photos/matze_ott

Middle: Wikimedia Commons