MAURITIUS

Think of endless white sand beaches and about a hundred shades of blue in the ocean. Add miles of lush sugarcane plantations, abundant bird life and scenic mountains. Garnish with a fascinating potpourri of cultures, colorful traditions and festivals and you have Mauritius. The island of Mauritius has come into its own as a tropical paradise in the popular imagination, a reputation it thoroughly deserves. Mauritius has an interesting history of ethnic immigration – Indian, Chinese and African that offers to the traveler a microcosm of world cultures in addition to its amazing natural beauty. So come to Mauritius to enjoy the land, the wonderful mix of cultures, and the sunny beaches of glittering sand and scintillating aquamarine waters. Lie back in the sun and have a relaxed holiday, pack in your days with a variety of water sports or take a one of a kind underwater sea walk and view the fabulous corals and marine life, hike up into the mountains or shake your hips and practice the sega dance, sunbathe or watch the dolphins frolic in the water. Whatever you choose, beware – you may never want to leave from this island in the sun! Capital: Port Luis Best time to Visit: 1.Mauritius has typical coastal tropical climate, which means that there are no extreme changes in temperature and no high or low season. 2.The ‘winter’ is from July to September, when humidity and heat are slightly lower, making this probably the best time to visit. There is an ever-present threat of a tropical downpour especially from January to April, during which you will be confined indoors. 3.For diving enthusiasts, the clearest waters are between December and March. 4.Surfers are advised to go between June and August. 5.Anglers will be delighted at the big game fishing available from October to April. 6.In the ‘summer’ months between November and February is the tourist season as the Europeans descend on Mauritius to get ‘summer sun’ and to get away from their cold winter. 7.Therefore Mauritius is pretty much an all year round destination, and it all depends on what your interest is! Minimum Days required: 5 days Places of Interest: 1.Black River Gorges National Park 2.Ganga Talao 3.Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden 4.Trou aux Cerfs 5.Diamond Falls 6.Pieter Both Climate: 1.Mauritius has typical coastal and tropical climate, with warm and sultry summers, mild/balmy winters and light showers all year round. 2.Average summer temperatures can go high as 35 ºC. The coolest months are between July and September. 3.Humidity is highest between June and October. Mauritius has no monsoon season but is prone to tropical cyclones every fifteen years or so that bring downpours that last for days and completely arrest outdoor life. 4.Arm yourself with a book in case you are unlucky enough to be caught in one of these. Of course, doing nothing but sitting and watching life go by on a beautiful tropical island should not take too much persuasion Currency: Mauritian Rupee Things to carry: 1.Apart from sun protection (scarves, sunglasses and sunscreen), anti-malaria medicines and mosquito repellent, what you should bring depends on how you plan to spend your time in Mauritius. 2.If you are here for the surfing, then do bring the necessary equipment if you want to, otherwise it can be hired. 3.A good pair of walking/hiking boots is invaluable for taking advantage of the innumerable lowland and highland trekking opportunities in Mauritius. How to get there: Air 1.Mauritius is well connected by a number of international carriers. There are weekly flights to and from major European cities like London, Paris, Frankfurt and Rome. 2.Destinations in Africa like Nairobi, Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Harare are also well linked. In Asia, there will be no problem finding flights from Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Perth and Melbourne. 3.Once you land in Mauritius normally, your hotel or tour operator will have arranged for you to get to your hotel. 4.The airport is located on the southeast lower half of Mauritius and it will take over an hour to get to the north or even across to the eastern side of the island.