Cruises from Mauritius

The island of Mauritius is part of the Mascarene Islands which is located in the Southwest Indian Ocean. The current population of Mauritius is just over 1.2 million people. The island gained its independence in 1968 from the United Kingdom and became part of the Republic of Mauritius in 1992 along with the smaller dependent islands St. Brandon, Rodrigues, and the Agalega Islands.

The official language in Mauritius is English, although it is not the most widely spoken language on the island. Most speak Mauritian Creole but there are a high amount of French speakers on the island as well. Businesses and even newspapers typically will use the French language for communication.

The climate in Mauritius is tropical. Visitors can expect a drier winter that is warm between the months of May and November. Between December and April the climate is much more hot and humid on the island and it is considered to be the summer season. The main part of the cyclone season on the island lies between December and March. Visitors may notice that the West coast of Mauritius tends to be hotter than the windy East coast side of the island.

Those travelling to Mauritius will want to make sure they visit the Grand Bay area. This is a wonderful touristy area that includes a wide range of restaurants and bars. Many locals head to this area as well because of the availability of entertainment. Beautiful beaches like La Cuvette are located in Grand Bay as well. A number of water sports are also available in the area. Visitors can parasail, windsurf, and even water ski. Glass bottom boat rides are available in the Grand Bay area which provides an excellent opportunity to check out the interesting fish without having to get into the water.

Visitors will also be able to visit some of the historic ruins that can be found in Mauritius. In the Northern side of the island is the Balaclava Ruins. Parts of the sea walls of the Balaclava estate were built by Mahé de Labourdonnais. Toward the South side of the island visitors will find the ruins of Dutch fortifications which are currently being excavated.

Towards the centre of Mauritius is the Black River Gorges National Park. The park is more than 16,000 acres and contains numerous native wildlife and plants. A hike through the park is an opportunity not to be missed. To visit Mauritius’ highest peak chose a hike along the Black River Peak Trail.

Another place in Mauritius that should not be missed is La Vanille Réserve des Mascareignes. This park has thousands of crocodiles which has helped it to earn the nickname The Crocodile Park. Aldabra tortoises are also bred in the park. Visitors will likely see monkeys, boar, and even deer during their visit. A shop is located at the park with a variety of souvenirs.

Another spectacular site to see on the island is the Tamarind Falls. The seven waterfalls in this area are surrounded by beautiful mountains and a few of the waterfalls provide pools that you can swim in.