--- okf_version: "0.2" type: "Article" title: "Vacationing in Mauritius, island of contrasts" description: "Mauritius, the Indian Ocean island ringed by paradisiacal beaches and lush green palm trees also offers some surprising contrasts." resource: "https://travelmemo.com/mauritius/vacationing-mauritius-island-of-contrasts" language: en author: "Walter Schaerer" publisher: "Travelmemo" photo_count: 17 tags: ["Beach", "Experience", "Mauritius"] entities: - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/mauritius" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/japan" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/zuerich" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/sea-travel" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/experience-travel" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/luxury-travel" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/rural-tourism" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/vehicle-rental" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/air-travel" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/golf" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/museum" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/review" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/shopping" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/booking-com" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/edelweiss-air" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/swiss-international-air-lines" - "https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer" generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2026-07-04T13:31:16+00:00 } verified: - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2017-12-02T20:56:50+00:00 } sources: - id: photos resource: vacationing-mauritius-island-of-contrasts.md#photos title: "Original photography by Walter Schärer" author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer" last_modified: 2017-11-10 timestamp: 2026-07-04T13:31:16+00:00 --- # Vacationing in Mauritius, island of contrasts > Mauritius is a coveted Indian Ocean luxury destination ringed by white-sand beaches, yet reveals striking contrasts between opulent resorts and modest local villages, lush countryside and busy capital streets. ## Destination Mauritius, Indian Ocean ## Getting there Edelweiss Air operates direct flights from Zurich to Mauritius; flight time is approximately 11 hours. ## When to go Although hotels are nearly fully booked in November, guests are well dispersed across large resorts and beaches rarely feel crowded. Weather can change quickly with sudden cloudbursts that pass fast. ## Why visit Mauritius offers paradisiacal white-sand beaches, turquoise ocean, dramatic sunrises and moonrises, and a fascinating contrast between luxury resorts and authentic local life in sugar cane countryside and a lively capital city. ## What to see - **Flic en Flac** — Coastal area with beaches alongside gated villa enclaves and marinas with private spas. - **Port Louis** — The lively, loud capital where Chinatown and the banking district sit side by side; rich and poor live cheek by jowl. - **Le Caudan Waterfront, Port Louis** — Modern complex of shopping malls, hotels, restaurants and a museum on the oceanfront. - **Belle Mare beach** — Good spot for early-morning sunrises and spectacular evening moonrises over the ocean. - **Sugar cane fields and tea plantations** — Rural countryside offering a stark contrast to the capital; life moves at a relaxed pace. - **Macondé overlook** — A scenic viewpoint accessible by rental car. ## What to do - **Rent a car** — Recommended as the best way to explore independently; note that driving is on the left, British style, and roadside parking in the middle of the road is common island-wide. - **Sunrise photography at Belle Mare** — Catching the coastal sunrise requires an early 6 a.m. start on the beach. - **Moonrise watching** — The moon rises spectacularly over the ocean in the evening, turning the horizon golden before it appears. - **Sunset photography on the west coast** — The west coast is slightly warmer due to south-east trade winds and offers classic palm-tree sunset settings with kite surfers, rocks and other foreground options. - **Taxis and contract buses** — Plentiful at all sightseeing spots, including remote ones, for those not hiring a car. ## Good to know Traffic drives on the left. Rural roads are largely unlit at night. The west coast is warmer than the east coast due to south-east trade winds. A large number of holiday apartments are also available alongside hotels, according to booking.com. ## Photos ```yaml photos: - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/coastline-Le-Morne-Mauritius.jpg" caption: "Le Morne coastline near Beachcomber Dinarobin" keywords: ["Beachcomber", "Dinarobin", "Indian Ocean", "Le Morne", "Mauritius", "coastline", "travelmemo.com"] captured: 2017-11-10 credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/frangipani-blossom-Mauritius.jpg" caption: "Frangipani blossom at the beach in Mauritius" keywords: ["Beachcomber", "beach", "blossom", "frangipani", "sunset", "travelmemo.com"] geo: {latitude: -20.4504, longitude: 57.3137} credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Coke-refreshment-stand.jpg" caption: "Coke themed beach shack" keywords: ["Coke", "Flic en Flac", "beach", "travelmemo.com"] geo: {latitude: -20.2842, longitude: 57.3644} credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/busy-Port-Louis-street.jpg" caption: "Busy street life" keywords: ["Mauritius", "Port Louis", "shops", "street life", "travelmemo.com"] geo: {latitude: -20.162, longitude: 57.5045} credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/street-life-Port-Louis-Mauritius.jpg" caption: "Street life near Port Louis waterfront" keywords: ["Port Louis", "travelmemo.com"] geo: {latitude: -20.1607, longitude: 57.5018} credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Labourdonnais-waterfront-hotel-Port-Louis-Mauritius.jpg" caption: "Labourdonnais waterfront hotel" keywords: ["Labourdonnais", "Mauritius", "Port Louis", "hotel", "travelmemo.com. Le Caudan", "waterfront"] credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/sugarcane-street-Mauritius.jpg" caption: "Sugarcane and tea plantation" keywords: ["travelmemo.com"] captured: 2006-12-09 credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/sugarcane-Mauritius-2.jpg" caption: "Sugarcane in Mauritius" keywords: ["travelmemo.com"] captured: 2006-12-09 credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/band-bar-night-Beachcomber-Dinarobin.jpg" caption: "Band playing at the hotel bar and pool" keywords: ["Beachcomber", "Dinarobin", "Mauritius", "band", "hotel bar", "night", "travelmemo.com"] captured: 2017-11-08 - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Nissan-minivan-Maconde-Mauritius.jpg" caption: "Nissan rental car at Macondé lookout" keywords: ["Macondé", "Nissan", "lookout", "minivan", "rental car", "travelmemo.com"] captured: 2017-11-07 geo: {latitude: -20.4906, longitude: 57.3712} credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/sugarcane-street-Mauritius-2.jpg" caption: "Sugarcane street" keywords: ["travelmemo.com"] captured: 2006-12-09 credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/ditch-dimension-Mauritius.jpg" caption: "Sizable ditch - imagine the according rain!" keywords: ["travelmemo.com"] captured: 2006-12-09 credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/sunrise-Long-Beach-Mauritius.jpg" caption: "Sunrise in Long Beach. Around 6-ish..." keywords: ["Long Beach", "Mauritius", "beach", "gazebo", "sunrise", "swing", "travelmemo.com"] captured: 2017-11-06 geo: {latitude: -20.1713, longitude: 57.7712} credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/moon-rise-Long-Beach-Mauritius.jpg" caption: "Moon rise at Long Beach" keywords: ["Long Beach", "Mauritius", "moon rise", "travelmemo.com"] captured: 2017-11-04 credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/sunset-Dinarobin-beach-guard-Mauritius.jpg" caption: "Guard at Beachcomber Dinarobin beach sunset" keywords: ["Beachcomber", "Dinarobin", "beach", "sunset", "travelmemo.com"] captured: 2017-11-08 credit: "Walter Schärer" ```