African states easily paint a picture of a land plagued by poverty and corruption, hardly a place that easily comes into the mind of anyone who wants a wonderful holiday experience. But if there are places in the continent that can overturn such terrible historical and media stereotype, the island nation of Mauritius can be counted to show the beautiful side of Africa.
The American author Mark Twain once said, “Heaven was copied after Mauritius.” While one can take his word on it at face value, there is a ring of truth in that past observation even in contemporary times. In fact, an article by CNN published in April of 2017 substantiates this claim by calling it “the best Africa destination you almost know nothing about.”
Mauritius may be a bit of a stranger to the rest of the world, but it is no stranger to success. The 2016 Legatum Prosperity Index named it the 30th most economically stable country in the world. Historically, this collective achievement doesn’t come as a complete surprise.
Foreign civilizations, from Arabs of the Middle Ages to the British Empire of the 19th Century, chose this 2,040 square kilometer island east of Madagascar to increase their wealth. Today, not much has changed. Mauritius continues to draw visitors from overseas both for good investment opportunity or wealth of travel experience.
Best Time to Visit
Being a tropical island allows Mauritius to experience warm weather all year round. However, travelers are generally advised to avoid the wet cyclone months of January to March. Several online sources recommend the winter months between July and September since this period often makes the use of air condition unnecessary.
The months between June and August attracts surfers from different parts of the world. According to Eliot & Me, June also marks as one of the cheapest months of the year to book a hotel reservation. One may consider scheduling a 2-week vacation in any of these specific dates:
- June 1 to 15, 2018
- July 1 to 15, 2018
- August 1 to 15, 2018
Flight Costs by CheapAir
It is generally believed that visiting Mauritius is not cheap, although the general overall safety of the country makes the pricey travel expenses worth it. So how much does a trip to Mauritius cost exactly? CheapAir lives up to its namesake trademark considering that ticket prices based on the previously mentioned dates do not exceed $2,000. It is, however, important to consider the length of the period required to complete the journey. Here is a table of the specific flight costs:
| Round Trip Flights | June 1 to 15, 2018 | July 1 to 15, 2018 | August 1 to 15, 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| from New York • June: Iberia • July: Iberia • August: Air Mauritius | $1,186 --- 36h 40m 2 stops: Canada and UK | $1,182 --- 30h 1 stop: UK | $1,975 --- 22h 10m 1 stop: France |
| from Los Angeles • June: Iberia • July: Iberia • August: Air France | $1,177 --- 40h 45m 2 stops: Canada and UK | $1,178 --- 37h 45m 2 stops: New York and UK | $1,865 --- 24h 45m 1 stop: France |
| from Chicago • June: Iberia • July: Iberia • August: Emirates Airlines | $1,195 --- 30h 40m 2 stops: Ireland and UK | $1,198 --- 32h 20m 2 stops: Ireland and UK | $1,849 --- 29h 1 stop: UAE |
| from Washington DC • June: Air France • July: Iberia • August: Emirates Airlines | $1,551 --- 24h 30m 1 stop: France | $1,464 --- 39h 24m 2 stops: New York and UK | $1,639 --- 21h 45m 1 stop: UAE |
Best Accommodations
Although certain Mauritius vacation packages already include accommodation fees, it does not provide an opportunity for consumers to have complete control in this budget aspect. Interestingly, careful research allows prospective travelers to book reservations for a 12-day stay at a price lower than $300.
As mentioned earlier, knowledge of the overall flight duration is crucial for knowing when to reserve a temporary living space in Mauritius on the first night. As shown from the earlier table, most travels take 2 days to conclude. Here are the top 10 low-cost accommodations one can book at the earliest time:
| Property name | Address & 12-night stay cost | Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| LUC Studio | Anse Aux Anglais, Port Mathurin • $176 (July & August) | • Free parking • Free WIFI • Airport shuttle |
| Budget Travel Vacaos | John Kennedy Avenue, Reunion • $182 (June, July & August) | • Free parking • Free WIFI • Airport shuttle |
| Allamanda Studios & Apartments | Coastal Road, Bain Boeuf • $197 (June) • $241 (July) • $230 (August) | • Free WIFI • Airport shuttle |
| Lotus Apartments | Coastal Road, Post Code 30542, Pereybere • $212 (August) | • Free parking • Free WIFI • Free airport shuttle • Family rooms • Air condition |
| Auberge Etienette | Royal Road, Trou dʼ Eau Douce • $212 (June, July & August) | • Free parking • Free WIFI • Airport shuttle • Family rooms • Air condition |
| Paradisia Holiday Inn | Royal Road, +230 Trou dʼ Eau Douce • $254 (June, July & August) | • Free parking • Free WIFI • Airport shuttle • Family rooms • Air condition • Restaurant • Spa & wellness center |
| Mauritius Holiday Guest House | Pitot Street, Souillac • $254 (June, July & August) | • Free parking • Airport shuttle • Pets are allowed |
| Villa Victoria | 42213 Petite Victoria, Trou dʼ Eau Douce • $282 (June, July & August) | • Free parking • Free WIFI • Airport shuttle • Family rooms • Air condition • Restaurant & bar • Swimming pool |
| Chez May | Accacia, Port Mathurin • $282 (June, July & August) | • Free parking • Airport shuttle • Pets are allowed • Family rooms |
| Curepipe House | Camp Levieux Street, Curepipe • $282 (June, July & August) | • Free parking • Free WIFI • Airport shuttle • Balcony |
Smart Consumer Guide
Round trip tickets and accommodation fees are only one part of the overall Mauritius trip cost. These are the certain aspects one can control easily. Other more difficult budget features to watch keenly includes consumables. According to Numbeo, native Mauritians can spend as much as $11.81 in one day for these following needs:
- Daily recommended food cost: $3.48
- Taxi fare per km (with 1-hour wait): $7.66
- Motor gas per liter: $0.67
Smart spending means limiting one’s daily budget on necessities along the lines of the specified value. Being able to spend an amount near it could enable travelers to keep extra funds for other charges (e.g. tour services, dine-out meals, and souvenirs).
Tourist Attractions
Being a relatively small island country, the interesting attractions in Mauritius are very difficult to miss. Interestingly, many of the places of interest in this country represent a fundamental part of their history. Anyone who wishes to know Mauritius more intimately could check out 10 of these following tourist attractions:
| Site name | Attraction type | Location & history | Visitor info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aapravasi Ghat | Historical heritage | Caudan Waterfront, Port Louis Built in 1849 to 1923 Inscribed in UNESCO in 2006 | 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Mon-Fri) 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Sat) |
| Black River Gorges National Park | Natural heritage | Plaine Champagne Road, Savanne Proclaimed a national park in 1994 | East gate: • 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM (Mon-Fri) • 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Sat-Sun) West gate: • 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Mon-Fri) • 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Sat-Sun) |
| Bois Cheri Tea Plantation | Historical heritage | Bois Cheri Road, Bois Cheri Operating since 1892 | 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM (Mon-Fri) 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM (Sat) Factory open (Wed & Thu) Entrance fees: • Adult: $14.16 • Children: $9.44 |
| Casela Nature Park | Garden resort | Route Royal, Cascavelle Opened in 1979 | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Entrance fees: • Non-resident adults: $4.57 • Non-resident children: $2.66 • Local adults: $2.74 • Local children: $1.07 |
| China Town | Historical heritage | Rue Royal, Port Louis Founded in 1944 | Chinese New Year (Jan-Feb) China Town Food and Cultural Festival (annual) |
| Deer Island | Natural heritage | Ile Aux Cerfs, Trou d'Eau Douce | Ile Aux Cerfs Leisure Island • 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Ile Aux Cerfs Golf Course • 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM |
| Grand Baie | Beach town | Riviere du Rampart District Settled by the Dutch in the 17th Century | Grand Baie Bazaar • 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM (Mon-Sat) • 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM (Sun) Super U Hypermarket • 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM (Mon-Thu) • 9:00 AM to 9:30 PM (Fri-Sat) • 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM (Sun) |
| Le Morne Brabant | Natural & historical heritage | Le Morne Peninsula, Southern Mauritius 19th Century refuge for runaway slaves Inscribed in UNESCO in 2008 | $22 per person Hiking schedules: • Starts at 7:00 AM or 2:00 PM (Apr-Oct) • Starts at 6:00 AM or 1:00 PM (Nov-Mar) |
| Maison Eureka | Historical heritage | La Maison Eureka, Moka Built in 1830 | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Mon-Sat) 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Sun) Entrance & misc. fees: • House entry: $2.68 • House & waterfall: $4.59 • Table menu: $9.19 |
| Seven-Colored Earth | Natural heritage | Chamarel Village, Riviere Noire District Attracting tourists since the 1960's | 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM Entrance fees: • Non-resident adults: $5.91 • Non-resident children: $2.95 • Local adults: $3.69 • Local children: $2.22 |
About Food & Dining
If there is one aspect about the overall Mauritius trip cost that really counts, it’s the value spent on food. In this island country, food is more than just a necessity. Interestingly, Mauritian food culture is so rich and diverse that at one point, it became an editorial for CNN on the 1st of May 2017. As the title implies, Mauritius is the island where food is everywhere.
Indeed, anyone looking for food outside their own temporary kitchen can find the following establishments listed by Lonely Planet: 43 local restaurants, 14 seafood bistros, 7 international restaurants, 6 Indian bistros, 4 Italian eateries, 4 Chinese buffets and around 7 popular cafes. It is not only a melting pot of ethnicities. It is also a melting pot of cultural flavors.
Individuals who define a rich vacation experience by the number of authentic local recipes they discover will find Mauritius an ideal destination. These are just some of the countless exotic dishes one can easily find (and replicate) in this island nation:
- Du paine frire – bread slices fried in batter.
- Gateaux piment – split pea fritters laced with chili.
- Sausage rougail – sausage stew based on tomato, onion, garlic, ginger, and spices.
- Doner kebab – a Turkish kebab, made of meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie.
- Chicken daube – chicken stew primarily based on tomato sauce.
- Napolitaine – buttery shortcakes topped with icing and filled with fruit jam in between.
- Ladoo – traditional Indian sphere-shaped sweets usually served during the Divali Festival.
- Boulettes – Chinese steamed dumplings available in China Town.
Shopping & Souvenirs
Looking for a place to shop in Mauritius is easy. It’s finding interesting things to buy seemed easier said than done. People who are regular vacationers in this country recommend the following cool stuff new travelers can bring home:
- Premium rum: $25
- Bois Cheri tea: $10
- Phoenix beer: $1.19
- Ravanne (flat drum): $25
- Screwpine shopping bag: $8
- Traditional sega music CD: $7
- Impossible bottle: depends on the size
- Colored sand: free (except the sample bottle)
Packaged Trips
When it comes to the question ‘how much does a trip to Mauritius cost,’ some travelers are eager to know the answer without committing themselves to long hours of computation. Traveling overseas may require a lot of planning but one can cut the time shorter away from the calculator and the notebook.
Holiday packages offer the advantage of accounting for certain basic travel costs in advance on top of providing an easier pace for newcomers. Interestingly, one can choose 5 among the Mauritius vacation packages featured by Yatra. Each one in this table cost less than $500:
| Packaged Trip | Cost & Duration | Price Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Mauritius On My Mind | • from $240.97 • 4 nights | • Breakfast & dinner • 4 nights accommodation • Airport shuttle • Sightseeing in a shared car • Boat ride • Visa on arrival |
| Fascinating Mauritius | • from $313.64 • 5 nights | • Breakfast & dinner • 4 nights accommodation • Airport shuttle • Sightseeing in a shared car • Boat ride • Cruise • 1 free GSM sim card • WIFI |
| Best Of Mauritius | • from $359.54 • 6 nights | • Breakfast & dinner • 6 nights accommodation • Airport shuttle • Sightseeing in a shared car • Full-day North Tour • Full-day South Tour • Full-day Ile Aux Cerf Tour |
| The Amazing Mauritius | • from $420.74 • 6 nights | • Breakfast & dinner • 6 nights accommodation • Sightseeing in a shared car • All tours and transfers in a shared car • Ile Aux Cerf speedboat ride |
| Scintillating Mauritius | • from $449.81 • 6 nights | • Breakfast & dinner • 2 free lunches • 6 nights accommodation • Airport shuttle • Sightseeing in a shared car • Honeymoon freebies • Professional photographer • Spa for the couple with 15% off • Candle light dinner |
Travel Guide
As implied by an April 2017 CNN editorial, travelers may need a little help getting acquainted with Mauritius. Travel guides are a good investment for those who are building a more positive expectation about this relatively alien country. Check out these top 3 most requested volumes: