Places to visit in

Mauritius

Port Louis is the capital and economic hub of Mauritius, founded in the 18th century by the French and later expanded under British rule. It has been the island's main port and administrative centre for centuries and reflects the layered history of colonial trade, the sugar economy, and the arrival of indentured labourers from India. The city contains the UNESCO World Heritage site Aapravasi Ghat, where thousands of indentured labourers were first processed on arrival to Mauritius, marking a pivotal chapter in global migration and labour history. Port Louis also illustrates the island's multicultural identity—African, Indian, European and Chinese influences are visible in religion, food, architecture and festivals.

Grand Baie (often spelled Grand Bay) is one of Mauritius's most popular coastal towns, known for its vibrant seaside atmosphere, long history as a fishing and trading hamlet, and its important role in the island’s modern tourism industry. The area sits on a sheltered bay with clear lagoons and coral reefs that support diverse marine life, making it an ecological and recreational focal point in the north of Mauritius. Grand Baie also reflects the multicultural character of Mauritius — Creole, Indian, Chinese and European influences are visible in cuisine, festivals and daily life.

Mahebourg is a historic coastal town in southeast Mauritius known for its rich colonial history (Dutch, French and British influences), its role in the naval Battle of Grand Port (1810), and its continuing status as an active fishing port and gateway to important natural sites. It sits on Mahebourg Bay and provides close access to Blue Bay Marine Park and nearby nature reserves, making it important both culturally and ecologically.

Flic en Flac is one of Mauritius's most famous beach destinations on the west coast, valued primarily for its long white-sand shoreline, calm lagoon protected by a coral reef, and spectacular sunsets. The area is important for marine biodiversity (coral gardens, reef fish, occasional sea turtles) and for leisure tourism that supports local economy and coastal communities.

Tamarin is a coastal village on the west coast of Mauritius known historically as a small fishing village and salt-producing area. Today it is valued for its natural marine environment, scenic bay and nearby mountain and waterfall landscapes. The town sits near important conservation zones (e.g., Black River Gorges National Park) and reflects Mauritius’s blended Creole, Indian, Chinese and European cultural heritage in local food, language and festivals.

Chamarel is a small village and natural area in southwest Mauritius known primarily for its outstanding natural features: the Seven Coloured Earths dune formation and the nearby Chamarel Waterfall. The area lies close to the Black River Gorges National Park and showcases Mauritius's unique volcanic geology, endemic flora and fauna, and Creole rural culture. Chamarel has become an important eco-tourism and nature-interpretation spot on the island.

Le Morne Brabant is a striking basaltic monolith and a symbol of resistance and remembrance in Mauritius. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2008) for its cultural significance, the mountain and surrounding landscape served as a refuge for runaway slaves (maroons) in the 18th and 19th centuries. It holds deep cultural and historical importance as a place of memory for the struggle against slavery, while its dramatic cliffs, endemic flora and adjacent coral lagoon give it high natural value.

Trou aux Biches is one of Mauritius's most celebrated northwest coastal villages, prized for its long white-sand beach, calm turquoise lagoon and accessible coral reef. It is a key spot for marine recreation and relaxation, attracting families and snorkelers. The area contributes to the island's tourism economy and showcases Mauritius's coastal biodiversity and typical Creole coastal lifestyle.

Pereybere is a small coastal village in northern Mauritius prized for its natural coastline and clear lagoon. While it does not host major historical monuments, it represents a typical northern fishing and seaside community important to the island's coastal culture and tourism. The beach and reef are key natural assets for snorkeling and swimming.

Belle Mare, on Mauritius's east coast, is renowned for its long stretch of powdery white sand and protected lagoon. It is important as a major seaside resort area that showcases the island's blend of Creole culture, colonial-era history (sugarcane plantations and colonial settlements nearby), and rich marine biodiversity (coral reefs, reef fish, occasional sea turtles). The coastline plays a significant role in local fishing and tourism-driven livelihoods.

Cap Malheureux is a small coastal village at the northern tip of Mauritius known for its scenic position overlooking the northern islets. It is culturally significant as a traditional fishing community and is instantly recognisable for the red-roofed Notre-Dame Auxiliatrice church, a widely photographed landmark often used to symbolise Mauritius in postcards and travel media. Naturally, the cape offers panoramic views of the turquoise lagoon and nearby islets (notably Coin de Mire) and is valued for its coastal biodiversity and coral reef systems.

Black River Gorges National Park is Mauritius's largest protected terrestrial area and a cornerstone of the island's conservation efforts. Established to protect the last tracts of native evergreen forest, the park safeguards many endemic plant and animal species (including the Mauritius kestrel, pink pigeon and echo parakeet) and fragile watershed areas that supply fresh water to surrounding communities. Its rugged gorges and native forest represent both ecological and scenic value for the island.

Bras d’Eau National Park protects one of Mauritius's important coastal ecosystems, including remnant indigenous coastal forest, wetlands and shoreline habitats. The park conserves native plant communities and provides habitat for coastal and wetland birdlife, contributing to island biodiversity and long-term ecological resilience. It also represents part of Mauritius’s shift toward protecting natural heritage after centuries of agricultural development.

Blue Bay Marine Park is one of Mauritius' best-known marine protected areas, established to conserve its rich coral reef systems and seagrass habitats. It serves both ecological and socio-economic roles by protecting biodiversity, supporting fisheries outside the reserve, and attracting eco-tourism that benefits nearby coastal communities.

Founded in the 18th century (originally established by French colonial administrator Pierre Poivre) and later expanded under British rule, the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden (commonly called Pamplemousses Botanical Garden) is one of the oldest and most important botanical gardens in the Southern Hemisphere. It has played a critical role in the acclimatization and global exchange of spice, ornamental and economically important plants across the Indian Ocean and beyond. Named after Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, Mauritius's first prime minister, the garden is also an important cultural symbol and tourist landmark representing the island's colonial history, biodiversity and horticultural heritage.

Aapravasi Ghat (Port Louis, Mauritius) is the site of the first immigration depot where indentured labourers arriving mainly from India were processed, marking a pivotal chapter in post-abolition global migration. Operational from the mid-19th century, it is a symbol of labour migration, cultural exchange, and the beginnings of the Indo-Mauritian community. The site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006 for its outstanding testimony to the history of indentured migration and its global significance.

Le Morne Cultural Landscape (inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008) is a powerful symbol of resistance against slavery. The dramatic basaltic monolith of Le Morne Brabant and the surrounding coastal landscape served as a refuge and hideout for runaway enslaved people (maroons) during the 18th and 19th centuries. The site combines outstanding natural features (a rugged mountain, coastal lagoon and coral reef) with deep cultural and historical meaning — representing memory, identity and the struggle for freedom in Mauritius and the wider Indian Ocean world.

Natural geological phenomenon: The Seven Colored Earths of Chamarel is a unique geological formation where sand dunes display distinct layers of different colors (red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow). Formed from the cooling of molten volcanic rock and subsequent weathering, the formation illustrates long-term volcanic and pedological processes on Mauritius and is one of the island's most photographed natural landmarks.

Chamarel Waterfall is one of Mauritius's most iconic natural landmarks, renowned for its dramatic plunge into a lush, forested gorge. Falling approximately 100 metres (≈330 ft), the waterfall is set within the biodiverse landscapes of the southwest Island, close to Black River Gorges National Park. It highlights Mauritius's volcanic geology and native forest habitats and is often visited together with the nearby geological curiosity, the Seven Coloured Earths.

Tamarind Falls (Seven Cascades) is a spectacular natural waterfall system on the Tamarind (Tamarin) River in southwest Mauritius. The cascades are notable for their multi-tiered drops flowing through lush, tropical, largely unspoilt forest and rugged volcanic rock — making them an important destination for nature lovers, hikers and outdoor-adventure visitors. The site contributes to local biodiversity and is part of the island's scenic inland landscape, complementing protected areas such as Black River Gorges National Park.