Jetsettersblog

Elegant Destinations Ltd has recently released the Top Ten Things to do in Mauritius. Mauritius is the Indian Ocean’s popular family destinations. The island is famous for its powder white sand beaches – but there’s much more than meets the eye, so after a swim in the turquoise crystal waters, visitors can enjoy a variety of activities in Mauritius. Here are Top Ten Things to Do in Mauritius with tips from Elegant Destinations local office.

1. Experience the best Surfing spots during your stay on the island. The most easily accessible surf spots are found mainly along the south west coast where surfing conditions are best during the months of May to October. The legendary and most accessible surfing spots of Mauritius are the Tamarin Bay and Le Morne point, both along the South-West coast. Tamarin Bay was well known in the late 60′s among the hippy surfers, namely Australians for its ideal wave. Le Morne also offers lefts and rights as One Eye and La Prairie spots are on each side of a pass. Le Morne spots may not often offer the ideal waves like in Tamarin but has the great advantage of being moderate to big almost all year round; at least during 2 to 3 hours of the day.

2. Discover Mauritius colourful marine life by submarine. The Blue Safari Submarine is the only operator of real submarines in the Indian Ocean. At 35m depth, your dream comes true as you discover the magic of the marine life. You will enjoy a rare and unforgettable experience, travelling in total security and comfort on board very sophisticated, air conditioned submarines. During your dive, amongst multi-coloured fish, you will discover the beauty of the corals. Viewing the wreck of the ‘Star Hope’ and its numerous inhabitants, is always a magical moment. A unique adventure which should not be missed.

3. Visit the beautiful capital of Port Louis which received the status of city in 1964. The famous Port Louis central market is the ideal place to buy spices and is famed for its local handicrafts, shops and boutiques. After the shopping, have a stroll in the Chinatown of old Port-Louis where the atmosphere is really different. The eldest inhabitants of the Port-Louis Chinatown still dress the Chinese way and have kept their deep Chinese customs. The heat and strong aromas of the spices of the Chinese cuisine, will give you an impression of mainland China. In the afternoon visit the Caudan Waterfront with its cafes and shops.

4. A half day tour to the Adventurous South should not be missed. Visit the famous Seven Coloured Earth at Chamarel. Start off early as sunrise is the best time to see the Coloured Earths. Geologists are still intrigued by the rolling dunes of multi-coloured lunar-like landscape. The colours are red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow and the soil never erodes in spite of torrential tropical downpours. This phenomenon has never been fully explained but it is believed the soil is composed of various mineral rich volcanic ash. The ride to and from Chamarel is magnificent with stunning views across the Le Morne bay.

5. Enjoy Mauritius fine cuisine: Mauritius is a mix of cultures and cuisines. The Mauritius food has its origins from three main continents Africa, India and Asia. Eating in Mauritius is a real delight. The much loved dish for all Mauritians is the Creole curry which is a quite spicy and hot. The curry can be made of fish, chicken or beef and its served with white rice and lentils. In local restaurants you can also try the Chinese cuisine which is varied and very reasonable. All restaurants on the island offer fresh fish dishes and you can enjoy fresh fish, sea urchins, prawns, lobsters and oysters.

6. Big Game Fishing in the tropical water of Mauritius should not be missed. Mauritius hosts every year the world class competition The Marlin World Cup and anglers come to take part from all parts of the globe. Big game fishing is practiced throughout the year in Mauritius although the best season for marlin is from October to April. Mauritius is a real deep-sea fishing paradise. You can try your luck with blue marlins, black marlins, sharks, yellow-fin tunas, skipjack tunas, sailfish, wahoos, and barracudas. These predators feed close to the island where the sea bed falls up to a depth of 4000 m. The smaller boats that we use can be shared by up to three anglers and they have one fighting chair in the stern and outriggers to troll five baits at a time.

7. Enjoy a relaxing full day cruise of the northern islands on the catamaran with a barbecue lunch. After one hour of easy cruising you will discover the magic of Gabriel Island, a Mauritius protected nature reserve with pristine white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, a beautiful coral garden, rich birdlife and spectacular coastal scenery. On the Island you enjoy a beach barbecue overlooking the sea. In the afternoon you can take a 45-minute hike around the island on the coast path where you can enjoy the stunning views and activities of the tropical birds. You may also snorkel or kayak in the lagoon, treat yourself to a beach-side massage, or simply laze in the sun on the beautiful sandbar that Gabriel Island is best known for. An unforgettable experience!

8. Diving in Mauritius. Attractive dive sites can be found all around the island. Courses are offered all around the island and depending on the diving-centres, courses in PADI, CMAS or NAUI are offered.
The North coast offers particularly attractive diving at Whale Rock which is famous for the huge rocks, sea fan, huge stone corals, sometimes hammerhead sharks and other different species of fish. Flat Island, which is renowned for its ‘Shark pit’ shark dive and the Silver star wreck where an old fishing boat sank in 1990. Grand Bay and Pereybere offer about 6 diving sites along the coast ranging in depth from 11-18m.
The East coast is famous for its beautiful beaches and magnificent lagoons bordering the coasts and is scattered with many channels that allow easy access to the open sea. There is one nice dive into the current of the Belle Mare lagoon (12-30m). There are sharks, rays, barracuda, tuna fish and kingfish.
The South East Coast allows divers to swim in caves, canyons, arches, tunnels and peaks. The interesting diving sites are Roche Zozo, Colorado and the historical wreckage of the Sirius, which was sunk in 1810 during the naval battle of Grand Port between the British and French.

9. A first in Mauritius. Walking with lions and cheetah!
The first “Lion Encounter” takes place at the Casela Nature & Leisure Park. The team with experience of over three generations of lion handling offer the safest lion experience The park has an area of 10 hectares and is home to 1,500 birds, giant tortoises, tigers, lions and monkeys.

10. Mauritius is a world class Golf destination. Most of the golf courses in Mauritius are expertly designed and maintained. The surrounding areas with exotic palm trees, bougainvilleas, flame trees and lakes offer a relaxing and natural setting. The GOLF OPEN is held every year in December. For the earnest golfer or beginners alike the climate and facilities offer a true paradise holiday.

Website http://www.elegantdestinations.co.uk

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