Mauritius
Mauritius Travel Guide…
Just like many of you, before Semester at Sea, I had never heard of Mauritius. That all changed when I was suddenly given 5 extra days on this little island off the coast of Africa and had two days to plan it all. Not knowing anything, I blindly stepped off the ship and traveled around the entire island for the next week.
Keep reading to see why this beautiful Island is the perfect destination for year-round travel!
WHERE IS MAURITIUS?
Mauritius is located in the South West part of the Indian Ocean. The island lies just east of Madagascar, and about 2400 kilometers south east of Africa mainland.
Mauritius is made of mountainous interior including national parks, rainforests, waterfalls, and hiking trails. It is also best known for its beaches, lagoons and reefs filled with beautiful wildlife.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
There is really no “bad” time to visit Mauritius. If you are looking for the most beautiful temps and sunny weather, October through December will be your best option.
Mauritius tends to be the most crowed from December through March and more rainy from January to March. In my opinion, any time between May and October is the perfect time to visit Mauritius!
WEATHER IN MAURITIUS
Although Mauritius is sunny and hot year round, if you are looking for the absolute best weather, October through December are going to be your best months to visit. The average summer temperature is 24.7 degrees Celsius (75 F) and mean winter temperature is 20.4 degrees Celsius (68 F).
Mauritius had two main seasons year round: a warm humid summer, and a cool, dry winter. This allows for the perfect weather whenever you decide to visit!
Winter: June – September
- Average temps of 75°F (24°C)
- A little hotter than the Summer months
- Still great for all outdoor activities if you don’t mind the heat
Summer: November – April
- Average temps of 68°F (20°C)
- Best time to visit Mauritius
- Great for all outdoor activities (hiking, scuba diving)
WHAT TO EXPECT
Language: Since Mauritius does not have an official language, you will find the citizens of the beautiful country speaking mostly English, French, Mauritian Creole. English is very common in Mauritius so a language barrier should not be a concern!
Currency: The official currency is the Mauritian Rupee (MUR). 1 USD is equivalent to 36.29 MUR.
Credit Cards and ATMs: Credit cards, for the most part, are accepted in all major areas around the island. If you plan on doing a lot of snorkeling or hiking, I would recommend having some cash on you at all times. Many of the tour companies (and private) will only accept cash on the spot so be prepared for that.
Plugs/Outlets: Mauritius uses plug types C and G. I recommend buying a converter like this to use for your hair products and a adapter like this for everything else.
Safety: Mauritius has an extremely low crime rate and is very safe. As always, be aware of your surroundings and everything will be good!
TRANSPORTATION
The main form of transportation in Mauritius is Taxi, but in Mauritius, they tend to be SUPER expensive. I learned this the hard way when I paid $30 for a 10 minute taxi ride to the beach.
The best way to get around the island is to hire a taxi driver for the day. Once you find your driver in person, you will want to negotiate the price before you get in the car and pay at the end of the day. Not only will you get the best price, but your driver will offer to come back each day you need a taxi for the same price (maybe even cheaper). This worked great during my stay and I highly recommend you doing the same!
TRAVEL GUIDES
