Written on the island
Mauritius, without the brochure
Real prices in rupees. Real opening hours. Honest answers on what is worth a whole day and what is worth forty minutes.
Start with the beachesGuides that answer the question you actually asked
Most Mauritius articles tell you the island is beautiful. You already know that. What you do not know is whether the Seven Coloured Earths is worth 350 rupees on a cloudy Tuesday, which bus gets you to Le Morne without a car, or where to eat in Grand Baie for under 500 rupees a head.
Every guide here carries prices, hours and travel times that were checked on the ground, and it says when they were last checked.
Latest
Recently on the island
New guides, checked and dated. Oldest information gets rechecked before it gets re-published.
Grand Bassin: the sacred lake, and what changes at Maha Shivaratri
Most days it is quiet: temples, monkeys and mist off the forest. Once a year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims walk here. How to visit either way.
Mauritian rum: three distilleries you can actually visit
One in the south-west hills, one in the north, one in the south. What each tasting costs, when they are open and the day out each one fits into.
New Year's Eve in Mauritius: fireworks, beach camps and what closes
No countdown in a square, just the whole island setting off fireworks at midnight, then a day of beach camping. Here is how New Year actually works.
Gris Gris and the wild south coast road
No reef, no swimming, and the best coastal drive on the island. Gris Gris to Le Morne, with the stops worth making.
Pamplemousses botanical garden in two hours
Three hundred rupees, an official guide for the first hour and the giant lily pond at opening time. Here is how to do the garden properly in a morning.
Hiking Le Morne Brabant: route, access and when you need a guide
The best hike on the island comes in two halves, and the top one keeps closing. Here is what is open, how long it takes and when you need a guide.
What a day in Mauritius costs: a realistic rupee budget
Street food is almost free and resorts can swallow any budget. Here is what an honest day actually costs, broken down by traveller type.
From the airport to your hotel: taxis, buses and transfer prices
SSR airport sits in the south-east, a real drive from most hotels. Here is what a transfer actually costs by coast, and when the bus is realistic.
Cyclone season in Mauritius: what actually happens
Warning flags, closed schools and a handful of disrupted days a year. Here is what cyclone season really looks like on the ground, and how to plan around it.
Where to stay in Mauritius: which coast suits which trip
The north is convenient, the west is calm, the east is breezy and the south is dramatic. Picking the wrong coast is the easiest mistake to make.
Port Louis markets: where to buy produce, spices and seafood
The covered markets are chaos in the best way. Morning chaos, if you want the good fish. Here is how to navigate them.
Tamarind Falls: what a guide costs and why you need one
Seven cascades, a lot of scrambling, and a route that genuinely should not be done alone. Here is what it costs.
Places
Worth the drive
Individual spots with fees, hours and how to reach them without a rental car.
Le Morne public beach
Flat lagoon under the mountain, free to enter, best before the afternoon wind.
Seven Coloured Earths
Striped volcanic dunes, and a ticket that also covers the Chamarel waterfall and the tortoise park.
Tamarind Falls
Seven cascades in the interior. The full route involves swimming and scrambling, and needs a guide.
Port Louis Central Market
Produce downstairs, textiles upstairs, and the best cheap food in the country on the pavement outside.
Before you book
When is the best time to visit Mauritius?
May to June and September to early December. The sea is still warm, humidity has dropped, and you are outside cyclone season, which runs November to April with the real risk concentrated in January and February.
How many days do you need in Mauritius?
Seven to ten. Five is enough for one coast, but drive times are roughly double what the map suggests once you leave the motorway, so seeing the north and the south properly needs a week.
Do you need to rent a car in Mauritius?
Not to see the coast. Buses connect the coastal towns for roughly 25 to 45 rupees a journey. They stop running around 6.30pm, so if you want the interior or you want to eat out in the evening, rent.
Is Mauritius expensive?
It splits sharply. Street food runs 25 to 100 rupees a dish and buses cost under 50. Resorts and hotel excursions are priced for Europe. Eating and travelling like a local costs a fraction of the packaged version.
Which coast of Mauritius should you stay on?
North for convenience and nightlife, west for calm water and sunsets, east for wind sports and quiet, south for drama and remoteness. Choosing the wrong coast is the most common Mauritius mistake and hotel quality does not fix it.
Do you need a visa for Mauritius?
Most visitors, including EU, UK, US and Australian passport holders, get a free entry permit on arrival for up to 60 days. Check your own nationality before travelling, as the list does change.
Thursday newsletter
One good Mauritius idea a week
A place worth the drive, what it costs this month, and one thing worth knowing before you go. No fluff, no affiliate spam.