TOP 10 MUST DO ACTIVITIES IN MAURITIUS

Where do I start about the most famous Island Nation in the Indian Ocean as each and every corner of MAURITIUS is packed with natural beauty. Before the Suez Canal was completed, geographically, Indian Ocean was one of the main trade routes for all European Nations which in turn put Mauritius in the prime location spot. Situated 2000kms off the coast of East Africa, Mauritius boasts of a rich cultural mix and the same is reflected through its diverse cuisine. None of the Mauritians can be considered indigenous to the island as the majority of their ancestors are traced back to its intendment period where workers were brought in from India, Africa and Madagascar. Since the largest group, two-thirds of its population belongs to the Indian origin, you will notice a familiarity factor here when you travel as an Indian and this reflects in their cuisine too which honestly is such a huge positive. Mauritius was the only country where I really didn’t miss home, I mean this ought to be something right? It is known for its white sand beaches, turquoise green waters and dreamy skies. This is one Island Nation that has something for every kind of traveler – solo, women, family, friends, adventurers or honeymooners. I’ve decided to divide my Mauritius trip into three different articles of – Best Hotels to stay at, Top 5 Activities for the Adventurous ones and Top 10 must do activities here. Hope you guys like my recommendations as this is purely on my experience taking into account the pricing, feasibility, availability and the overall value for money!!!

So people, gear up as I mention the TOP 10 Must Do Activities In MAURITIUS :

Maconde View Point – Your tropical holiday won’t ever be the same without paying a visit to the famous Maconde View Point in Baie Du Cap. This quaint village is known for its natural beauty and untouched beaches. You climb the stairs of a rocky cliff to enjoy uninterrupted views of the curvy coastal roads with ocean views on either side of it.
The best part about this viewpoint is that it is operational all 7 days a week but you must visit during weekdays to avoid the weekend crowds. Watching time slow down and enjoying the fishing scenes were my favourite things to do here. It feels unreal to sit atop that cliff while you take in this view! I hope the pictures do justice to its raw beauty.

L’Aventure Du Sucre – Wanna step back in time all the way to the 18^th century? L’Aventure Du Sucre used to be a sugar factory back in the day and is now converted into a Sugar museum after being operational for over 177 years. It is beautifully nestled in the remote area of the popular Pamplemousses village famous for it’s botanical garden Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden.

I love how this old estate has now been completely restored and it combines the history and culture of Mauritius all the way back to four centuries. You’ll see many of the original machinery retained here as well, including the locomotives and the voyage that were used to transport sugar from Mauritius to Madagascar.

After the factory tour, you get to taste some of the best Mauritian rums along with the different varieties of sugar.

Rhumerie De Chamarel – Firstly the drive towards this is so scenic with sugarcane, pineapples and other tropical fruits plantations on both sides of the road. Chamarel rums are known to be one of the finest rums from Mauritius and this happens to be one of the rare distilleries that cultivate its own sugarcane in an eco-friendly way.

It is so close to the famous “Coloured Earths Of Chamarel” in the South West part of Mauritius. This place boats of its own micro-climate and a detailed tour of the distillery and their agricultural plantation is a one of a kind experience. This is your only chance to get a guided tour of the distillery and learn how the finest rum in Mauritius is produced. After the rum tasting, you can head out to their gift shop where they have different kinds of rums, spices and sugar of course.
Apravasi Ghat – This is the first and one of a kind immigration depot in Port Louis where back in the 18^th century indentured laborers arrived from India, Madagascar, China, Southeast Asia and Eastern Africa to work in the sugar plantations under the rule of the British. The property is now protected as a National Heritage Site and this place holds a great historical significance as the buildings of Apravasi Ghat are a witness to the global economic system that saw the biggest migration to be ever written down in history. This also led to so many cultures, languages and traditions being passed down from generations which eventually made millions of Mauritian descendants look back at this very root for their diverse cultures that followed suit. Apravasi Ghat is where the Mauritian ancestors landed for the first time ever. You get to witness how they lived, where they stayed and worked, what tools they used and how they arrived through the waterways in ships. Totally worth the visit if you want to learn about the first ancestors of Mauritians and if you love history. (I would have loved to put up images but since this is such a sensitive topic, as a sign of respect I’m not sharing any images but this place is totally worth the visit).
Caudan Waterfront – This is that ideal setting for a long romantic walk by the harbor in Port Louis, shopping at the local shops and then end the night with the best Mauritian wines or rums. This Mauritian shopping complex caters to so many visitors and shoppers as it has many local and international brands under one roof, including a casino and a mall.

My favourite buys from here include – handmade bags and hats, different types of flour (almond, hazelnut), dry fruits, sun-dried fruits, freshly baked breads and sugar.

Takamaka Winery – Meeting Mr. Alexander Oxenham was a cherry on top of our cake as he happens to be the finest winemaker in Mauritius and he also is an international Bordeauz Wine Educator who patiently took us around the winery. He also is the main man responsible for training many leading Mauritian wine professionals and getting a tour of the Takamaka Boutique Winery was such a refreshing take on winemaking and tasting.

Their philosophy of “Wine Differently” takes the wine experience to another level with their homegrown, authentic and top-notch lychee wines, yes you heard that right. All their wines are made using Mauritian lychees and you need to experience first hand what the fruit of their labour has to offer. I have heard people saving special space in their suitcases for their “lychee wines”.

La Vanille Nature Park – This is your only chance to experience the real flavor of Mauritius as this Nature Park preserves the traditions and landscapes of yesteryear. Since it’s inception in the year 1985, the Park has been striving to work towards nature conservation and animal welfare while bringing forth a magical experience to us visitors by allowing us to step inside their natural habitat.

Trust me, this was such a surreal experience to feed and pat 100+ years old giant tortoises, hold Mika the 1-year-old baby crocodile and witness the Nile Crocodiles feeding session. Another must visit here is the famous “Insectarium” that houses 23,000+ specimens of butterflies and insects.

Mauritius Glass Company – The Mauritian Glass Company also known as MGG is so centrally located in the Phoenix. They use all recycled glass, especially coke bottles to create different products and the hints of different hues that you see in the transparent glass are the result of using some other crushed recycled glass. We also were a part of a session where they created different glass showpieces in less than 5 minutes.

I was so happy to see a “glass disposal bin” in their premise that allowed anyone to throw in the empty glass bottles that can be re-used or recycled by them. Their work is truly commendable!

The Curious Corner Of Chamarel – This is the first ever illusion house in Mauritius and it is open all week long. I loved each and every interactive illusion which also makes it a perfect teamwork activity and the entry fee is so affordable too.

If you are visiting the Seven Coloured Earths, then this is right opposite to that. It’s fun to become a kid again and to see things from different perspectives.

Slave Route Monument – You can literally walk here from Dinarobin Beachcomber Resort as this is right at the foot of Le Morne Mountain. You can see the main sculpture here surrounded by many more that also have engravings on the rocks.

These represent different cultures and countries from which slaves were brought into Mauritius, to name a few – India, China, Madagascar, East Africa, Haiti & more.

The Slave Route Monument was inaugurated on the 1^st of February 2009 and their main objective is to promote peace by bringing together different cultures and it also acts as a constant reminder as to what freedom truly means in everyone’s life.