9 Best Sights in Mauritius

Located in the hilly south-western region of the island, Black River Gorges is the largest protected forest of Mauritius and a sanctuary for about 300 species of plants. It's also home to about 50 km (31 miles) of gorgeous hiking trails. The park has four access points: the Black River entrance and Case Noyale entrance on the west coast; La Marie entrance in Plaine Wilhems, and Chamouny entrance in the south. If you are not keen to explore the deeper trails, you can easily stroll closer to the visitor center and make the most of the kiosks, ideal for picnics.

The capital's best museum, Blue Penny, showcases prestigious collections that give visitors insight into the historical and cultural diversity of Mauritius. The museum’s pride resides in two issues of post office stamps dating back to 1847. Considered by many philatelists to be highly precious items, they are only lit up for ten minutes every hour to preserve their color. Blue Penny Museum also displays old marine maps, sculptures, engravings, paintings, and old documents recounting the island’s cultural wealth. In fact, visitors are compelled to follow the explorers and learn more about the successive occupation of the island, at the crossroad of civilizations from Europe, Africa, and Asia. Combining historical facts and local legends, this one-of-a-kind museum also houses a marble sculpture inspired by Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre’s novel Paul et Virginie.

Casela Nature Park offers the unique experience of walking in a small group with two lions and their experienced handlers. The hour-long walk gives participants the opportunity to watch the lions at play, pet them, and pose with them for photographs. The operation is run separately from the wildlife park and operated by a family from Zimbabwe who have been rehabilitating and breeding big cats for three generations. You can also participate in the Cheetah Interaction, which last about 15 minutes, in which you meet the creatures, pet them, and ask questions of the handlers. The park itself is spread over some 14 hectares and houses around 1,500 species of birds and 150 other animals, including Madagascan giant tortoises, zebra, and deer. The park also has adventure activities, including quad bike riding, zip-lining across canyons, and a 90-minute Segway experience through an area populated with ostrich, deer, wild boar, zebra, peacock, African Oryx, and guinea fowl.

This waterfront complex of designer boutiques, cinemas, and restaurants is the place to stroll and shop in Port Louis. Great bargains on Mauritian products, like handmade glasses, artworks, and essential oils can be found here while enjoying a walk along the promenade that faces the harbor. The 120 shops offer a wide range of products from luxurious body care products and duty-free jewelry to hand-crafted souvenirs and international-brand textiles. The waterfront is an authentic melting-pot with numerous restaurants offering Indian, Asian, and Mauritius cuisine.

Built in 1830, the Eureka House was formerly owned by British and French aristocrats. During those times, it was among the island’s biggest houses. It now offers a glimpse of colonial history in Mauritius. The Eureka House also organizes eco adventures around the acres of beautiful nature reserve, as well as themed evenings, conferences, and weddings. Visitors can enjoy a stroll in the huge, pretty garden. Guided tours are available Monday through Saturday 9–5, and Sunday 9 –3:30. It's a simple site that's worth a stop.

The sugar industry, along with tourism, is one of the nation's main industries. In fact, some 80% of the island is under plantation. The L'Aventure du Sucre interactive museum, located in the town of Pamplemousses just north of Port Louis, sheds light on the history of the crop, the story of the slaves brought in to work in the cane fields, and the abolition of slavery following the British defeat of the French in the early 1800s. Located behind the historic facade of an old sugar mill, the tour takes about 90 minutes and finishes with sugar and rum tastings. Visitors can combine a visit to the museum with the lovely nearby botanic gardens, known as the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Gardens.

Guarded by two colonial-era cannons, the Naval Museum of Mahébourg is housed in a mansion built by Jean De Robillard in the 1760s. The museum displays several maps and drawings tracing back to the Dutch settlement of the island. A collection of fine porcelains, dating back to the time of Emperor Wan Li (1572–1620) of the Ming dynasty is also on display. Other artifacts tell the story of Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies Pieter Both, whose ship, the Banda, got caught in a terrible storm and wrecked off the western coast of Mauritius at Baie du Tombeau (Tomb’s Bay) in March of 1615. There's much to learn here for those interested in Mauritian history.

Nestled in Chamarel among breathtaking surroundings, La Rhumerie is a distillery that offers tours revealing the process that turns Mauritius's sugarcane into tasty liquors and rums. Visiting the entire site, accompanied by a knowledgeable tour-guide takes about thirty to forty minutes. The fragrance of the liquors and rum follows you wherever you go on the property. The best part of the tour is the tasting of the six different rums and liquors, followed by a quick visit to the souvenirs boutique.

Stretched over endless acres with more than 800 varieties of plants, this botanical garden, settled in the heart of Pamplemousses, is a refreshing oasis for those wishing to get away from the hustle and bustle of Port-Louis. It's particularly famed for its giant Victoria amazonica water lilies, whose gargantuan leaves can expand to three meters in diameter. One of the garden’s distinctive features is also the amazing Talipot—a plant that flowers only once every 30 to 100 years. Families and groups of tourists usually like to gather among the palm trees and have a picnic before paying a visit to the “Samadhi,” the tomb of the island’s first Prime minister, also known as the Father of the Nation.