What to Do in Mauritius
What to actually do in Mauritius beyond the beach, from someone who grew up there: mountains, waterfalls, catamarans, markets and the sacred lake — and where to eat after.
This post contains affiliate links, marked (ad). If you book through one I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Everything here is somewhere I've been usually more than once.
Most people come to Mauritius for the beach and leave having seen a beach. Which is a shame, because the island I grew up on is a place where you can climb a mountain before lunch, swim under a waterfall after it, and eat fritters from a roadside stall on the way home.
This is the guide I send friends when they ask what to actually do. It's built around how we spend our own unplanned days there, with the kids wanting adventure and me wanting to eat, and it errs towards the things you can't do anywhere else.
The short answer
| If you want… | Do this | With kids? | Book it |
|---|---|---|---|
| One unforgettable walk | Le Pouce, early morning | Yes, 6+ | No need |
| Wild swimming | Rochester Falls | Yes | Driver for the day |
| A day on the water | Catamaran to Ile aux Cerfs or Ile aux Bénitiers | Yes | Book a catamaran |
| Animals | La Vanille Nature Park | Yes, all ages | Tickets on the door |
| Adrenaline | Casela | Yes, 6+ | Book online |
| History that matters | Aapravasi Ghat, then Port Louis market | Yes | Free |
| Something sacred | Grand Bassin | Yes | Free |
| The "real" island | Otentik app, a hired car, no plan | Yes | — |
Get into nature
Black River Gorges and the 7 Cascades
The island's biggest national park is dense forest, birdsong, and valleys that fill with mist and feel prehistoric. The 7 Cascades trail is the one Mauritians talk about — and it's muddy, steep and hard, and unless you know the terrain you want a guide (ad). It earns every bit of the effort.
Climb Le Pouce
Le Pouce, aka "The Thumb" is a moderate ninety-minute to two-hour climb with Port Louis on one side and the whole ocean on the other. On a clear day you feel like you're standing on top of the island. Start early. Night falls at about six and it falls fast — we once came down the last stretch in near-dark, which I do not recommend, it can get spooky. With kids: fine from about six (but my kids love a hike, so take that with a pinch of salt!), with water and a plenty of snacks.
Rochester Falls
A wide curtain of water over volcanic rock with a natural pool underneath. Local lads dive from the rocks; we stick to the pool. The approach is through sugar-cane fields and feels wrong right up until it opens onto the falls, which feel like another century. Raw, fun, secret-feeling. Getting there: hire a driver for the day rather than a coach and combine it with the south coast.
Rochester Falls
On the water
Catamaran days
A full day sailing, snorkelling, stopping at islets and eating a barbecue off the deck — grilled fish, chicken and salads, so vegetarians should say so when booking and check what's actually on the grill. The classics are Ile aux Cerfs from the east coast and Ile aux Bénitiers from the west. Both show you the lagoon at its most absurdly turquoise. We've done the full-day catamaran to Ile aux Cerfs (ad); book it a few days ahead in high season.
Wildlife and adventure
La Vanille Nature Park
Still called the Crocodile Park by everyone over thirty. Giant tortoises, crocodiles basking, an enormous butterfly collection. I'd take this over Chamarel any day — it feels alive rather than like a place built for photos. If you want to do both though and decide for yourself, you can absolutely book a day exploring the south of the island (ad). With kids: the best all-ages half day on the island. Eat nearby: Le Crocodile Affamé, on-site restaurant. Just a word of warning, in case, like me, you thought this was a sanctuary for reptiles and get shocked when you see crocodile on the menu.
Casela World of Adventures
Ziplines, safari drives, quad bikes. For families who need a day off the beach and for anyone who thinks a holiday should include a small amount of screaming. If you're feeling brave, book ahead!(ad)
Culture and history
Aapravasi Ghat
The UNESCO World Heritage Site in Port Louis where indentured labourers from India first stepped onto the island in the nineteenth century. It is the chapter that made Mauritius what it is — and, for a lot of us, the chapter that made our families. Go, take the children, and give it a couple of hours. Free.
Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao)
A crater lake in the mountains and one of the most sacred Hindu sites outside India: vast statues, incense on the wind, people at prayer. You don't need to be religious for it to land. Dress modestly, take your shoes off where asked, and go quietly.
SSR Botanic Garden, Pamplemousses
Not just plants. This is a living archive: giant water lilies, palms that make you feel small, and species brought from all over the world — many of the spices and crops that built Mauritian cooking started here. Eat nearby: Le Fangourin.
Château de Labourdonnais
A restored nineteenth-century house among orchards and a rum distillery. Elegant, quiet, and a gentler slice of the island's history than the grand narratives. The rum tasting is worth the detour; the adults may need a driver afterwards.
Caudan Waterfront and the markets
Caudan is the harbourside mix of craft stalls, restaurants and pastel buildings that makes a good late afternoon in Port Louis. The Central Market is the opposite: loud, chaotic, glorious, and the best place to see what Mauritians actually eat (ad). Quatre Bornes market is for fabric; Flacq is the most local of the lot. Eat: the market is where you find alouda and dholl puri — see Eating Your Way Around Mauritius.
Wander off the beaten track
The real Mauritius shows up when you stop following the itinerary. Hire a car, pick a village, take the road that looks like it goes nowhere. The Otentik Discovery app is good for lesser-known trails, village routes and viewpoints that never make the brochures. Half the best days we've had on the island started with "let's just see where this goes."
How many days do you need?
Are you ready to book (ad) and wondering how long you will need? Three full days of doing things is plenty for a ten-night holiday — one nature day (Le Pouce or the Gorges plus Rochester), one water day (catamaran), one culture day (Aapravasi Ghat, market, Caudan, dinner in Port Louis). The rest of the time, be on a beach. You'll want to.
Mauritius Unlocked
- Where to Stay in Mauritius — which coast suits you, and what to book if your family eats differently
- Eating Your Way Around Mauritius — the dishes, the stalls, the restaurants worth the detour
- The Ravenala Attitude: should you go? — an honest week at an all-inclusive
Been and done something I've missed? Tell me in the comments. My list is long, but it isn't finished.
I'm Lorna — Mauritian appetite, Midlands postcode, and a habit of planning holidays around lunch. I write about the food that got me here and the food worth travelling for.
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