Coral Reefs of Mauritius

The emerald island of Mauritius, glistening like a speck of diamond of diamond in the swirling waters of Indian Ocean is encircled by one of the world's largest unbroken coral reef systems. The coral reefs of Mauritius are spectacular to behold and no words are sufficient enough to describe its unparalleled beauty.

The island of Mauritius is surrounded by coral reefs that have resulted in the creation of beautiful lagoons. Consequently, it has also led to the formations of the amazing pristine beaches that have made Mauritius such a prolific tourist destination all across the world. The coastline, protected by the coral reefs is the favorite haunt of tourists looking for an exotic vacation stay amidst unspoiled natural beauty.

The coral reef surrounding the island nation of Mauritius is broken in several places, hence allowing surf to crash through. The biggest of such breaks can be seen on the southern coast between Souillac and Le Bouchon. From between the breaks, the white coral sand beaches entice the tourists to come and frolic in the warm azure waters of the Indian Ocean.

The coral reefs are home to some of the most stupendous form of marine flora and fauna. Numerous exotic varieties of fish seek shelter in the nooks and crevices of the coral reefs. Also, the coral reefs have different types of underwater plants sprouting from them.

Coral reefs are living eco-systems thriving in the tropical waters of Mauritius. The coral reefs of Mauritius have indeed become a major tourist attraction of the country. Tourists are forever clamoring to have a glimpse of these living corals reefs and the mystic underwater world of Mauritius. Tourists eager to witness the beauty of the coral reefs of Mauritius can do so with the help of snorkeling and scuba diving. Other options include cruising along on a glass-bottom boat that allows on to see the corals present in the shallow water. Nowadays, there are even special submarines that take tourists underwater. Traveling in total security and comfort of these air-conditioned submarines is a memorable way of experiencing the coral reefs of Mauritius.

Mauritius Beaches

The beautiful island nation of Mauritius is home to some of the most fascinating beaches in the world. These beaches, framed by the coconut palms and casuarinas trees, more commonly known as Filao trees are perfect for an idyllic vacation. Most of the beaches, except the ones in south of Mauritius are protected by the fringing coral reefs. Hence most of the beaches are in the form of sparkling lagoons and are sheltered, calm and peaceful all through the year.

Mauritius has always been renowned for its emerald green beaches are inseparable part of the country's landscape. The beaches of incomparable and exquisite beauty provide a perfect opportunity for people to frolic in the azure waters of the Indian Ocean and also give a free rein to their adventurous spirit. Tourists have a whale of a time snorkeling, scuba diving, going on glass bottom boat cruises and indulging in various other water sport activities like kayaking and water skiing. The beaches of Mauritius are like mini heavens on Earth.

Some of the beautiful and oft visited beaches of Mauritius are the Blue Bay that is a very popular long beach with white sand and crystal-clear ice blue water that is most suited for sailing, surfing and snorkeling and the Péreybère beach that is popular with tourists and Mauritians alike for its delightful little cove that is one of the best bathing places on the whole island. The northern coastline of Grand Baie is one long stretch that is replete with numerous delightful beaches and spots for safe bathing, sailing, windsurfing and water skiing. It is the prime centre for water sport activities in Mauritius and also has lots of shops and restaurants.

The Trou-aux-Biches is an ideal beach for youngsters as the water level isn't much deep and also one of the fascinating beaches where tourists can sees the stunning coral reefs and exotic fishes.

The fishing village of Cape Malheureux and the small island of Cerfs are also tourist favorites.

Other Mauritian Beaches include Mont Choisy, Roches Noires, Belle Mare, Palmar, Trou d'Eau Douce and Flic-en-Flac.

Shopping in Port Louis

Shopping in Port Louis is very much, especially since the country is totally duty-free. The shopping centres reflect the ethnic diversity of Mauritius and some good bargains can be made. The Port Louis Central Bazaar is a great place to shop for Mauritian handicrafts and other such things. Nature lovers can appreciate Port Louis' flora and fauna at the Mauritius Institute that is dedicated to the study of Mauritius's natural beauty.



Port Louis has plenty to offer for the adventurous tourist as well. Hiking through Mt. Limon and Mt. Malartic, spelunking through the Caverne Patate, surfing at Tamarin or diving at Rodrigues are just some of the options. Tourists can also view the splendid horse racing competitions at the Champ de Mars, also called the Hippodrome.

Port Louis in Mauritius

Port Louis is the vibrant capital of Mauritius and a very important port city of the Indian Ocean. The city was founded by the French in 1735 as a supply halt for their ships travelling around the Cape of Good Hope. Named after King Louis XV, Port Louis is one of the busiest city of the country and also its financial capital.

The city is dominated by the Citadelle that is situated a top Port-Louis mountain range. Tourists can never get enough of Port Louis. Discovering the city can be an enriching cultural experience. The Chinatown has a fascinating atmosphere and where the Chinese culture had been kept alive. Spicy aromas waft out through the small restaurants, engulfing the whole area, thus lending it a mystic aura. Chinatown is also home to the Jummah Mosque that was built in 1853 and has intricate fabulous teak doors and decorations. Tourists also visit Chinatown to pay their respects to the Père Laval's shrine that is supposed to have healing powers.

Other places of tourist attractions in Mauritius include the Mauritius Natural History Museum that is known for its stuffed replicas of extinct species, especially the dodo. Also rare, exquisite stamps can be viewed at the Mauritius Postal Museum. The Place D'Armes is a good place to starting point for sightseeing and is dotted by original government houses, museums, churches and the most ancient theatre of the Indian Ocean along with the statue of Mahé de Labourdonnais. The hub of the city is undoubtedly the Caudan Waterfront with its swish shops, cinema halls, restaurants, bars and casinos.

Major Tourist Attractions in Mauritius

• Port Louis City
• Beaches of Mauritius
• Coral Reefs of Mauritius
• Marine Life of Mauritius
• Water sports in Mauritius
• Scuba Diving in Mauritius
• Honeymoon in Mauritius
• Spa Holidays in Mauritius
• Golf Holiday in Mauritius
• Deep Sea Fishing in Mauritius

Map of Mauritius

Visitors to this enchanting island nation have always been awed-awed by the impressive way in which so many cultures- Indian, African, French and Chinese coexist together. A modern nation comfortably existing with its ancient heritage, Mauritius is a treat to explore. An impressive collection of beaches and stunning coral reefs remain the focus of visit for tourists in Mauritius. Tourism in Mauritius provides a comprehensive holiday package, which covers all the major tourist attractions in Mauritius.

The epitome of Indian Ocean paradise, Mauritius island of pristine sea beaches and a well stocked marine life that are an object of fascination for the majority of tourists. Spend your time lazing around on the beaches or if you are the type of the person who craves adventure, indulge in the various water sport activities that this beautiful island has to offer.

The warm crystal clear waters of the lagoons and white sandy beaches are ideal for any water sport activities such as sailing, diving, snorkeling and deep-sea fishing. Snorkeling and scuba diving will provide the perfect opportunity for guests to marvel at the rich marine life of Mauritius with its amazing coral reefs that are home to splendid multicolored fishes. Also, with record catches of blue and black Marlins, sharks and other marine fauna, Deep sea fishing in Mauritius has its own special charm.

Cuisine of Mauritius

Mauritius is a paradise for the palate where the ethnic diversity of the local people is reflected in its cuisine. The cuisine of Mauritius is a testament to the influence of the culinary traditions of France, India, China and Africa that the people of Mauritius have incorporated with their local fruits, vegetables and other ingredients. The cuisine of Mauritius, with its with its variety of flavors and aromas is indeed a gastronomic delight.

Mauritian cuisine is mix of Creole (African), Indian, French and Chinese cuisine. Hence starting from Creole rougailles, Indian curries and biryanis, Chinese chopsuey to French civet de lièvre, everything is a part of cuisine in Mauritius. The most basic and the common ingredient used in Mauritian recipes are the tomatoes, onions, ginger, garlic and chilies while the traditional base is definitely the curries and "rougailles" which is made from the blends of home crushed spices. Spices also constitute a major part of Mauritian cuisine. The extensive use of spices such as saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves provide a powerful, yet subtle flavor to the dish.

The combination of curries and rougailles along with white rice and other beans is popular with the locals and is generally included in their everyday food. The unique interblending of spices with vegetables, meat and fish is what lends that distinctive, unique charm to the food of Mauritius.

Along the years each community has adapted and mixed each other's cuisine to their liking, which resulted in a Mauritian cuisine that brings to the front the cultural richness of the pluri-ethnical Mauritian society. As a result, Creole rougaille served with a variety of achars (pickles) or dals (pulses) and rice from Indian origin is a very common sight in Mauritius.

While on a trip to Mauritius, tourists must savor the Mauritian food to the fullest. Some of the must-eat Mauritian dishes are dholl purri, farata, gâteaux piment and samosas. For sea food lovers, they must treat themselves to the "Millionaire's salad" comprising of oysters, shrimps, crayfish, crabs, Rosenbergi prawns that is served with sauce rouge (red sauce) and the heart of a palm tree. To get the taste of real Mauritian food, have a dholl puri with a large glass of Alouda or tamarind juice. It can be said for the dishes of Mauritius that just by savoring it one can travel to all corners of the globe without leaving the table. Indeed tourists in Mauritius can begin their day with a continental breakfast, followed by a Chinese lunch and finish with an Indian dinner along with some French wine.

Culture of Mauritius

European, Indian, Chinese and African cultures converge together to make up the colorful, vibrant culture of Mauritius that is replete with some of the most fascinating and years-old customs and traditions. Each aspect of Mauritian culture-its cuisine, religions, festivals, language and literature is a living proof of the myriad Asia, African and Western influences.

The Mauritian culture's rich diversity is evident in Mauritius' landscape where churches, temples and mosques jostle each other for space. Chinese pagodas and Buddhist temples are also a common sight in Mauritius. The people of Mauritius celebrate various festivals belonging to different religions with equal gusto and fervor such as Mahashivratri, Diwali, Ganesh Chathurti, Eid-Ul-Fitr, Christmas, Easter and Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) among others. The Tamil festival of Cavadee that celebrates Lord Muruga is a penitence ritual that involves spectacular feats like the fire-walking ceremony.

The multi-ethnic characteristics of Mauritius make it a multi-lingual country with ethnic languages such as Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Urdu, Mandarin and Cantonese being commonly used. But the real lingua franca of the island is Creole. The Creole language emerged as a result of interaction between French settlers and African slaves. The use of the Creole language transcends all ethnic, religious and class barriers. Creole does not have a definite written form, as mostly English or French are the languages of choice for education, media, government, law and business.

The Creole language is the medium of the indigenous music and dance form of Mauritius- the Sega. Sega is the music, songs and dances of choice played to tourists as a taste of the local culture. Its origins are said to be that of African. The Sega is based on three basic instruments: the ravanne, the maravanne and the triangle. The dancers wear colorful blouses and skirts with flower motifs and swaying their hips to the rhythmic music. Bhojpuri songs of Indian origin are also quite popular, especially in the interiors.

Mauritius is also well known for its handicrafts. The handicraft tradition of Mauritius dates back to the colonial period of the East India Company and the local handicraft is a fusion of French and Afro-Asian cultures.

When it comes to food, Mauritian cuisine is an exotic synthesis of myriad continental and oriental influences where Indian-style curries go hand in hand with French gateaux and Creole rougailles. The variety of spices used in Mauritian dishes lend a subtle and a aromatic flavor that goes a long way in making Mauritian cuisine an unique culinary experience.

Geography of Mauritius

The Geography of Mauritius is its biggest asset. Mauritius is located in the southwest Indian Ocean at a distance of 900 km east of Madagascar and about 3,943 kilometers southwest of India. Mauritius is a part of the Mascarene Islands and was formed due to a series of undersea volcanic eruptions. The island of Mauritius itself is formed around a central plateau, which is about 600 metres above sea level. Around the plateau, the original crater can still be distinguished from several other mountains. All these have led to a creation of a beautiful landscape.

The Geography of Mauritius is such that it is located at 20 17 S, 57. 33 E. Spread over 2040 sq km, it also includes the the Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals, and Rodrigues Island. It is almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC. The highest point in Mauritius is the mountain of Piton de la Rivière Noire at 828m while the lowest point is the Indian Ocean. The capital city of Mauritius and also its largest is Port Louis. Other main cities are Curepipe, Vacoas, Phoenix, Quatre Bornes, Rose-Hill and Beau-Bassin.

Tourism in Mauritius

Mauritius, Situated 1200 miles off the coast of Africa in the middle of the Indian Ocean, this dream island seems like a tropical garden arising out from the horizon. The beauty of Mauritius is beyond words. Replete with lush forest, wild waterfalls, unique wildlife, moonscaped mountains and palm-fringed beaches, Mauritius is the archetypical dream destination for tourists and perfect for an idyllic holiday. The friendliness of Mauritius's multi-cultural population is also a valuable tourist resource. These are the reasons because of which tourism in Mauritius thrives so much.

This beautiful island also offers a wide variety of leisure pursuits for the more active, based around the stunning coastline and crystal-clear waters, including deep-sea fishing, scuba diving and water skiing.

The holiday experience in Mauritius is perfectly complemented by its delicious cuisine and the traditional music and dance form- Sega whose rhythmic beats sets the mood for the evening. Mauritius also has a throbbing nightlife in the form of casinos and discotheques.