Grand Bay
Grand Bay was the first place in Mauritius that experienced a tourism boom, all thanks to its lively spirit and breathtaking leisure spots.

Grand Bay is where all the local Mauritians go if they wish to spend a good night out. Restaurants, disco halls, and bars line the street, illuminating the place after hours. The beaches are fine destinations as well. The La Cuvette beach gets honorable mention because it has undergone renovations to be a more attractive tourist spot.

The Grand Bay was once named De Bogt Zonder Eyndt, which means “the bay without end.” It was named so in the 17th century by the Dutch for its long, seemingly endless coast line. It is actually a classy town with lots of variety in what it has to offer to visitors. Activites that you can participate in include water sports such as windsurfing, water skiing, and sailing.

The Grand Bay is now the center of tourism in northern Mauritius, breaking free from its old image of being “just a resort.”

Port Louis
Port Louis is the capital city and chief port of Mauritius. It was constructed in 1753 by Mahe de Labourdonnais, a well-acclaimed French governor in Mauritius.

The city’s history is a bit depressing, with disease outbreaks in the 18th and 19th centuries forcing the professional classes to live elsewhere. This has made Port Louis an undesirable place to live in the minds of Mauritians.

Today, however, that image is slowly being shed by the city.
The harbor of Port Louis is nestled between the massive peaks of Le Pouce and Pieter Both. It is a marvelous sight to behold.
Along the main square of the city stand French-styled structures, which include the Municipal Theater, a couple of churches, one mosque, the Government House, and the Supreme Court, among others.
A visit to the country’s capital will expose you to the usual hustle and bustle of a metropolis, which forms a contrast to the classical architecture and calm disposition of the locals in the rest of the country.

Pamplemousses Garden
The Pamplemousses Garden is a famous botanical garden that tourists can’t afford to miss. Built back in 1767, the garden is officially known as the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens and is sometimes also referred to as the Royal Botanical Gardens.

The garden features a variety of plant species, some of which are endemic and others, foreign to the region. A stroll through the garden presents a dazzling showcase of the most colorful, fragrant, and beautiful flowers that you can ever imagine.

Among the prized species of flowers found in this garden is the pink lotus, a flower so rare and so delicately beautiful, a glimpse of it is something that you should look forward to.

The town of Pamplemousses itself is named after grapefruit-like citrus trees that the Dutch introduced to Mauritius from Java. In addition to the botanical garden, you will also find there a decommissioned sugar pant, the Beau Plan, which has been converted to a museum that showcases the importance of sugar and sugarcane to Mauritius.

Black River Gorge
The Black River Gorge was built to protect the natural wonders and vegetation in the region.

It is the only national park in the country of Mauritius, but with its immense size of 6,574 hectares, you probably won’t be looking for more.

In fact, it covers a full 3.5% of the island’s entire area, and it is home to more than 300 flower species and nine unique bird species, which includes the endangered pink pigeon.

It is possible to ride a bus or take a private vehicle through the park, all the while stopping for pictures – in front of the breathtaking Alexandra Falls, for instance.

However, the best way to explore the park would be by foot, along with tour guides. Hiking trails crisscross along the park, and the park map will help you navigate the park’s expansive space.

The best time to take a tour around the Black River Gorge is between September and January – the flowering season. During this time, the flowers and trees are in full bloom, and the animals are at their most active as they celebrate the advent of spring.

Ile Aux Cerfs
The beach and lagoon of Ile Aux Cerfs attract tourists for their natural beauty. The landscape of the beach looks like something straight out of a fantasy movie; it has an amazing view that can stand toe to toe with the best beaches in the world.

To reach to the beach, you will be coming from the town of Trou D’Eau Douce. You can rent private boats or go on a ferry to reach this paradise-like location. It would be best for you to leave the town early so that you can enjoy a full day in Ile Aux Cerfs.

However, the beach is not the only attraction that Ile Aux Cerfs can offer. There is also a collection of rock formations and colorful coral reefs (with schools of fish darting in and out of them) along the coastline.

Aside from diving, you can also participate in waterskiing and other water sports in the area.

Most tourists, though, opt to indulge themselves in a relaxing day by the beach in Ile Aux Cerfs, under the rejuvenating sun and placid waves, which are reasons enough to make this place part of your Mauritius trip.