Aerial view of Mauritius island reef.
Country of Africa

Mauritius

InspirationExperiencesPractical

Why visit Mauritius

Where Every Horizon Melts into Blue

Mauritius floats in the Indian Ocean like a jewel dropped from the sky, ringed by coral reefs and wrapped in sugarcane fields that sway to a rhythm all their own. Volcanic peaks punctuate the interior, their slopes cloaked in dense tropical forest where rare birds flit between ancient trees. The coastline unspools in a procession of white sand, turquoise lagoons, and fishing villages where painted pirogues bob in the shallows. From the bustling waterfront of Port Louis to the misty heights of Black River Gorges, the island packs a staggering amount of beauty into its compact frame.

A Crossroads of Cultures and Kitchens

Few places on earth blend as many culinary traditions into a single table. Street vendors in the capital dish up dholl puri alongside mine frites and gateaux piments, each bite telling the story of a different shore. Hindu temples, mosques, and churches stand within walking distance of one another, and festivals from Diwali to Cavadee paint the calendar in brilliant colour. The island's famously multilingual population slips effortlessly between Creole, French, English, and a handful of Asian languages, sometimes within the same sentence.

Wild Corners and Underwater Worlds

Beyond the resorts, Mauritius rewards the curious. Le Morne Brabant, a brooding basalt monolith on the southwestern tip, is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers hiking trails with views that stretch to the edge of the world. Inland, the Seven Coloured Earths of Chamarel shimmer in bands of red, brown, and violet, a geological oddity that defies easy explanation. Below the waterline, the marine parks of Blue Bay and Ile aux Cerfs teem with parrotfish, moray eels, and coral gardens that rival any in the tropics.

Warm Days, Warmer People

The island enjoys a tropical maritime climate, with warm summers from November through April and mild, dry winters from May to October. Cyclone season can bring drama, but most days unfold under wide blue skies. Mauritians are celebrated for their hospitality, a warmth rooted in the island's tradition of welcoming newcomers from every continent. Whether you arrive chasing waves, wildlife, or simply a slower pace of life, you will likely find that Mauritius has a way of making you feel as though you belong.

Experiences in Mauritius

WānaTravel partners with Viator and GetYourGuide so you can browse and book experiences directly. Prefer a personal touch? Contact WānaTravel and we'll add it to your itinerary for you.

WānaTravel partners with Viator and GetYourGuide so you can browse and book experiences directly. Prefer a personal touch? Contact WānaTravel and we'll add it to your itinerary for you.

Practical Information

Travel essentials, government safety advisories and The Out Index score for Mauritius.

Official Names

  • Republic of Mauritius(English)
  • République de Maurice(French)

Region

  • Western Indian Ocean

Continent

  • Africa

Total Population

1,235,260(as of 2022)

Capital

Port Louis Port Louis

ISO Codes

MUISO 3166 alpha-2MUSISO 3166 alpha-3480ISO 3166 numeric

Communications

+230Dial code.muCountry-code top-level domain

Currency

  • Mauritian Rupee (MUR • ₨)

Driving Side

Left Side of the Road

Electricity

Voltage: 230 V · Frequency: 50 Hz · Plug types: Type C, Type G

Languages

National
  • Mauritian Creole(mfe)b & c
  • Mauritian Sign Language(lsy)c
  • Arabic(ara)b
  • Bhojpuri(bho)b
  • Cantonese(yue)b

Current Time & Time Zone

1:46am, 21st August 2026Mauritius Standard Time(MUT • UTC+04:00)

Largest Cities

Port Louis(147,688 residents as of 2011)
Vacoas Phoenix(106,907 residents as of 2011)
Beau Bassin Rose Hill(103,872 residents as of 2011)
Curepipe(84,200 residents as of 2011)
Quatre Bornes(75,884 residents as of 2011)

Busiest Airport

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport(MRU • 4,000,000 passengers as of 2024)

Map of Mauritius

Map of Mauritius
Map of Mauritius

Flags

Flag of Mauritius
Flag of Mauritius

Plug types

Type C
Type C
Type G
Type G
Status
bDe Facto · cIndigenous
The Out Index

Out Score of Mauritius

Mauritius has not received an Out Score yet.

Out Score of Mauritius

Mauritius has not received an Out Score yet.

N/A

Tier N/A
Aerial view of Mauritius island reef.

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