Spend the Perfect Two Weeks in Mauritius
If you’ve got 2 weeks in Mauritius (lucky!) you’ll want to make sure you make the most of every minute. Being a small island, coverable in a matter of hours by car, in just 2 weeks you can enjoy all the sights and still have time for relaxation and activities.
What to See
Grand Bassin: Also known as Ganga Talao, this lake is the most sacred place on the island, with a Hindu temple and a 108 foot statue of Shiva. Tranquil, with incredible views, the lake’s accessible by road for a half-day trip — but you can make a day of it if you want a hearty hike.
Chamarel Waterfall: The highest waterfall in Mauritius, this impressive sight makes a fantastic backdrop for photos. In the same trip you can see this and the nearby Seven Coloured Earth, made up of distinctly different coloured sand dunes, for a wholesome half day.
Black River Gorges National Park: Stretching over a vast central part of the island, this park’s hikes will put you in the thick of native forests and wildlife. Even the more adventurous hikes, with unbelievable panoramas, only take a matter of hours, so if give it a day you’ll see more paradise than you can imagine.
Pamlemousses Botanical Garden: A nature expanse with forests of palm tree varieties, lakes of exotic turtles and fish, fruit bats, pools and frogs. Covering 60 acres, you can happily spend half a day here.
Ile Aux Cerfs: A neighbouring island with an impossibly blue lagoon and the purest white sand beaches. Worth a day at least, just to soak up the paradise, this is also a popular locale for many of the activities below.
Masion Eureka: A colonial wooden mansion in the centre of the island, offering fantastic views of the Moka mountain range. In half a day, you can relax with a tea and explore the surrounding greenery.
What to Do
Grand Baie: A cosmopolitan resort famous for its nightlife and shopping, this is an ideal base for all your activities, whether you want to explore the shops and socialise in bars or you’re after adventurous sports.
The Champ de Mars Race Course: The oldest race course in the southern hemisphere, providing a fun-filled Saturday lounge, even if you’re not a fan of horses.
Skydiving: You can see amazing views climbing mountains and parasailing off the coast, but nothing can compete with the sights you’ll see from the sky — an unforgettable experience.
Adventure Sports: Sailing, parasailing, waterskiing, snorkelling, diving — anything that involves water seems better in the crystal clear sea that surrounds Mauritius. These activities could takes days out of your trip — so choose your favourites carefully for at least a day or two of thrills. Other activities to seriously consider are horse riding and golf, both making full use of the paradise location, and demanding of a half day’s enjoyment.
Between your excursions and these activities, you should have about two thirds of your trip planned, leaving ample time to relax.
Dining: Catering to a burgeoning tourist community, the restaurants in Mauritius are exceptional and varied. Mostly based in Grand Baie, with a few options in Mahebourg, try seaford experts Le Capitaine, lively Les Copains d’Abord, and fashionable Fusion. It’d be almost rude not to try somewhere new and exciting every day of your two weeks!
Nightlife: Even outside Grand Baie, where you’re sure to attend the flamboyant Banana Cafe, the Mauritius nightlife is vibrant. Try C Beach Club in the south, for DJ parties, Tamarin Bay’s Big Willy’s, for live sports coverage, Shotz in the west for an open air beach hangout and Lambic in the north for a traditional beer hall.
Beaches: The whole island of Mauritius is surrounded by lush beaches, so you’re spoilt for choice for where to kick back. Whether recovering from your flights, topping up your tan, or simply enjoying being alive, few places in the world can compete with a Mauritius beach. Top picks include Trou aux Biches, for shallow water and nearby reefs, Ile aux Cerfs, for water sports and general fun; Belle Mare Plage, for 10km of pristine sand; and the protected Blue Bay, for the best underwater scenery.
The beaches have been deliberately left till last — because you can easily plot the rest of this list into your fourteen days, but if you settle into the beaches you might not want to leave them. And even two weeks on a Mauritius beach might not seem like enough.
Photo Credit via Creative Commons.