Mauritius hotels

Mauritius sightseeing. Travel guide - attractions, sights, nature and touristic places

Besides beautiful nature, the island of Mauritius attracts guests with its fascinating architectural landmarks and great choice of entertainment to fit any taste. Several important landmarks are located in the capital of the island, the city of Port Louis. There is a beautiful building of Government House, and one of local medieval houses has been turned into the Museum of Natural History. Racing has become a very popular entertainment on weekends. The event traditionally takes place on Champ de Mars.

Top chic accommodation you can find in the country

The luxury hotels in Mauritius, deserving attention of the most discerning traveler.
Read further

The suburbs of the capital are the location of a popular place – Domaine Les Pailles, where visitors will enjoy many interesting excursions. Tourists are offered to make a ride on jeeps in the piedmont region, explore local nature in a miniature train and have a dinner in one of cosy local restaurants with spacious terraces. The local botanic garden is also worth visiting as many trees that grow there are several centuries old. You will also find huge water lilies and other exotic plants in the garden. Among the main architecture landmarks of the area it’s simply impossible to fail to mention Eureka Colonial House & Port, which is surrounded by a beautiful park.

Don’t forget to visit Mahebourg as there are buildings that date back to the 16th century in this small town. Moreover, there are several large nature parks near the town, the biggest ones being Domaine du Shasseur and Grand Bassin. During an excursion in these parks one will see many interesting animals – wild boars, deer, monkeys and more than a hundred species of birds. The village of Chamarel has become a true diamond for geologists as the soil near the village is coloured in the most unusual colours. Tourists will also enjoy Rochester Waterfalls and Gris Gris Beach. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Top chic accommodation you can find in the country

The luxury hotels in Mauritius, deserving attention of the most discerning traveler.
Read further

When visits to numerous parks and nature reserves become a bit boring, diversify your travel by exploring Curepipe as nearly every street in this town is an important historic object. The must see destinations include the Royal College, the Municipality building, Town Hall and the local public library. The library keeps some precious manuscripts dedicated to the history and development of the Mascarene Islands. In suburbs of the town one will see beautiful villas that were also built during the colonial period. Fans of shopping will be pleased to spend a day in Rose Hill as in this town they will find numerous shopping centres, markets, boutiques and the biggest food bazaar of the region – Arab Town.

History and Entertainment

When the Portuguese reached Mauritius at the beginning of the 16th century, it was desert. The Portuguese discoverers called it Sichna after their ships. The colonization of the island began later, in 1598, when the Dutchmen formed several big settlements here. At the turn of the 16th-17th centuries, Mauritius was used as a temporary anchorage for merchant ships from nearby countries.

Top chic accommodation you can find in the country

The luxury hotels in Mauritius, deserving attention of the most discerning traveler.
Read further

Only in the middle of the 17th century, the first plantations of cotton, sugar cane and tobacco were formed on the island. Slaves transferred from Madagascar worked on local plantations. Even during the heyday of the Dutch colonization, less than 300 people including slaves permanently resided on the island.

At the beginning of the 18th century, France conquered its territory. In 1715, French colonizers called the island Ile-de-France. Exactly during the French colonization, the island saw the first large-scale infrastructure development. The first roads were built and forts protecting the coastal area were constructed. In the first half of the 18th century, the first shipyard was built on the island.

Top chic accommodation you can find in the country

The luxury hotels in Mauritius, deserving attention of the most discerning traveler.
Read further

Then, people here started cultivating new agricultural crops, for example, manioc, corn, indigo, and different vegetables. However, the Frenchmen had not maintained control for a long time. When the war between France and Great Britain came to an end, the entire territory came to Britons in accordance with the treaty dating back to 1814. That year, the island was renamed as Mauritius. When the English colonization began, almost 70 000 people resided in its territory. In the middle of the 19th century, the island saw an active inflow of immigrants from India. At the end of the 19th century, the population was over 300 000 people. Mauritius gained independence from Great Britain in 1968.

Modern travelers appreciate the island for its enchanting beaches and rich underwater world. On the island, there are many diving centers. It will be interesting for both beginners and professionals to dive here. In recent years, a lot of upscale resort hotels attracting couples have been opened here. The island is a perfect place for honeymoon or family vacation. Local hotels offer its guests not only classic rooms, but also private villas.

This article about iconic landmarks and sights of Mauritius is protected by the copyright law. You can re-use the content, but only under the condition of placement of an active link to www.orangesmile.com.

Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Mauritius

Famous and uniques places in Mauritius from our review series

Waterfalls Tamarin

From the series “Greatest Waterfalls on Earth”

The complex of seven waterfalls of Tamarin (also known as The Tamarind Falls or seven cascades), located on the beautiful island of Mauritius, has been a popular tourist destination for a long time. Many viewing platforms have been constructed near the natural landmark. Some of them allow you to see the entire complex. The most beautiful waterfall is considered the one that located on the top of the complex. It has a pretty easy access, despite the seeming impregnability.

Tamarin Falls turned into a massive entertainment complex for travellers long ago. The waterfalls form lakes and some of them are available for a refreshing swim in the cool clear water. Those who aren’t afraid of heights prefer to dive into the lakes from the rocky ledges. It is also worth mentioning that the lakes … Read all

Sightseeing in popular cities of Mauritius

Port Louis

Initially, Port Louis was a mere seaport that was established on the site of the capital in 1635. Soon, that port became internationally famous. When exploring the world, French travelers were deeply impressed by the beauty of this land. In 1735, Port Louis officially became the capital of Mauritius by the order of French authorities. The settlement got its name after the French King Louis XV who was the ruler of France at that moment. After that, the region and the island started developing … Read more

Belle Mare

It is worth noting that the island is famous for its therapeutic services. SPA-service in Mauritius score high on a global scale, among the main ones - thalassotherapy, balneotherapy, aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, sauna and hammam. Professional SPA-center are available in all five-star hotels, the cost of the package SPA-service starts at 80 euros. Besides this, beauty treatments are based on the products of famous European and Asian brands, as well as high-quality local products. Another … Read more

Le Morne

The best place for an evening getaway will be the charming Brabant Beach. Unlike many other beaches, there are almost never waves on this beach, because it is reliably hidden from the wind behind the slope of the mountain. This beach is popular not only among beach lovers, but also among lovers of romantic nature. This is an ideal place to watch the sunset. Another popular entertainment for guests of the resort is visiting the local caves. Along the coast there are a lot of them. Such … Read more

Grand Gaube

Excursions to the nearby Island of Ile Ronde are very popular among tourists. The island can be reached by boat in just a few minutes. The territory of this island is a unique protected area, where many rare plants can be seen, and also rare birds, many of which are found only in this area, can be watched. There are many fascinating hiking trails along the territory of the island, and next to it there are several interesting places for diving. Nature lovers will have the opportunity to … Read more

Grand Baie

There are several interesting old temples on the island. The most original among them is Tamil Surya Oudaya Sangam Temple. This Buddhist temple is remarkable for the unique design of its facade, which is literally painted in all colors of the rainbow. The facade is adorned with artful painting and miniature figurines, which you can watch for hours. The interior decoration of the temple is also very bright. Its walls are decorated with traditional paintings with Buddhist motives. Also, here you … Read more

Balaclava

Getting acquainted with the local gastronomic traditions is amongst the highly recommended activities on this exotic resort. Seafood fans will have the opportunity to try a lot of rare delicacies, also the national cuisine includes a lot of interesting dishes from vegetables and fruits. Locals serve food mainly on an open fire, so all the food has a specific taste. Since the resort is quite small, a lot of entertainment for tourists is organized beyond its surroundings. Boat trips can be … Read more

Mauritius sightseeing. Travel guide - attractions, sights, nature and touristic places

History and Entertainment

Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Mauritius

Famous and uniques places in Mauritius from our review series

Waterfalls Tamarin

Sightseeing in popular cities of Mauritius

Map of travel guides to Mauritius cities