Best Things To Do in Port Louis & North Mauritius

Endless hectares of land stretch across 650 species of flora and fauna: the famous giant water lilies, the Lion King's baobabs, plants with medicinal properties and the ruby-red bell-shaped Trochetia Boutoniana. Alleys overhung by tropical palms, explosions of colour and sweet scents that pollinate the air. For an enchanting experience in a corner of paradise, take a guide for a leisurely stroll through an exotic utopia.

Fifteen minutes south of Grand Baie, the SSRBG, commonly known as the Pamplemousse botanical gardens, are said to give London’s Kew Gardens a run for their money, with 80 different types of palm tree and water lilies big enough to sunbathe on.

This former colonial sugar plantation sits just minutes from Grand Baie but feels like a different world altogether. Couples will love coming for rum tasting sessions, learning a thing or two about rum production and whipping up their own rum arrangé, before a sunset dinner overlooking the plantations.

Five minutes from Mont Choisy beach, the small town of Triolet is home to the island's largest Hindu temple, an imposing, brightly coloured edifice with an interesting history (a pirate treasure). For inexpensive souvenirs that support the local community, buy painted statuettes from the market stalls along the main road.

The capital city of Mauritius, Port Louis, lies on the northwest coast before the main resort area in the north. It’s a busy city but worth an afternoon trip to see the wonderful clash of cultures come together. Visitors will love Le Caudan Waterfront - a commercial centre with an arrangement of shops, cafes, casinos and art galleries.

For an authentic experience, head to the Port Louis Central Market. Follow the aromatic smells from the spices and exotic fruit stalls and pick up some souvenirs for a cheap price. Indulge in sumptuous Mauritian street food – try out dholl puris (a large pancake filled with curry sauce), chilli cakes (crispy chickpea fritters), Chinese dumplings and stir-fried noodles. Other popular sites include Chinatown, Jummah Mosque, Citadelle (Fort Adelaide), Champ de Mars horse racing track and Marie Reine de la Paix.

The gorgeous stretches of casuarina-lined sand at Trou aux Biches have often been hailed the most beautiful on the island, continuing almost unbroken all the way to sleepy Mont Choisy. It can sure get hot in summer on northern beaches like this one, but there’s plenty to offer shelter from the sun. When you’re not snorkelling or scuba diving in the colourful reef, potter about in the village or strike out ten minutes inland to the huge Hindu Temple at Triolets. Just be sure to make it back in time for the sunset.

Experience nature at its best as you explore this national park, which covers 2% of the island's surface area, the largest protected forest in Mauritius. Named after the black stones lining the river, the Black River Gorge offers exceptional panoramic views of mangroves and magnificent waterfalls, interspersed with 50km lush hiking trails and some of the best birdwatching in the world!

Fixed footpaths and hiking trails, partnered with cooler temperatures compared to the rest of the island, makes this the perfect place for anyone who loves walking. This National Park is home to 300 native plants and nine species of birds that are unique to Mauritius, making this any bird watchers idea of paradise. Wild boars, deer and monkeys can also be spotted roaming freely around the park.

If you're short on time, you can drive to several viewpoints for an Insta-worthy photo: don't miss the Alexandra Falls viewpoint and the Gorge viewpoint.

Although the national park is located in the hilly south-west of the island, it is easy to get to from the north, just 1 hour and 15 minutes away. Taxis are relatively cheap in Mauritius and should be available from your hotel reception. Alternatively, you can hire a car or book a day trip by minibus. While you're in this area, give yourself an hour or two to visit Chamarel.

So what are you waiting for? Grab your walking boots and binoculars and start exploring.

Chamarel is a village on a hill near Black River Gorges National Park. There are points in the village where you get incredible panoramic views out to the southwest coastline. One of the best places to take in the view is at Le Chamarel restaurant (make sure you book in advance) and the Chamarel View Point. Five minutes drive from the viewpoint is the famous Chamarel Geopark with Chamarel Waterfall and Seven Coloured Earth, magnificent sand dunes of seven different colours; red, blue, violet, brown, green, purple and yellow!

One of the most popular experiences in Mauritius is dolphin watching. Bottlenose and spinner dolphins congregate near Tamarin Bay on the west coast, and sightings are usually guaranteed. Excursions usually include hotel pick-up, transfers, dolphin encounter, stop at Crystal Rock, snorkelling on the reefs, lunch on Benitier Island and return to the hotel.