Tourist Activities

Water sports
Mauritius is a paradise for water sports’ lovers. Protected lagoons, a calm sea and dominant winds which blow throughout the year are ideal for practicing windsurfing, kite-surfing, water skiing and canoe-kayak. The daring ones will not miss out on parasailing that will allow them to admire the beauty of the coast from a parachute.
Different tropical fish of all types, size and colours, shells and aquatic plants abound in the splendid coral gardens that adorn the lagoons.

A good number of tourists come over here only for the big game fishing. From November to April and often until May, enormous fish visit the coral reefs near the island. You can make your choice between the blue or black marlin, the shark, the bonito, the “voilier”, the pilgrim, the ‘bécune’, the barracuda.

Inland excursions
Nature lovers can admire huge authentic spaces whilst strolling around, on an excursion or hiking inland. One will love walking through the beauty of the landscapes of the mountains in the centre of the island, the exotic vegetation and the richness of its fauna.

Shops and markets
The reputation of the island for being a shopping paradise is reinforced by the variety and the quality of the products. One can find many markets, shopping centres, specialized stores, craft shops, art galleries as well as many stalls proposing the local products, of great quality at bargaining prices.
The most requested products remain indeed the famous ship models. Magnificently reconstructed according to original plans, each model comes along with its legend.
Heiress of a long tradition, the Mauritian Jewellery proposes many products around 18 or 22 carats gold, diamonds and pearls.
As for the textile, it is one of the most interesting sectors for shopping. Shirts, trousers, dresses and T-shirts cost two to three times less than in Europe.
Finally, the Mauritian Craft Industry which is rich and varied: basket crafting, embroidery, pottery, painting, stones cut, recycled glass.

Cuisine
Mauritius has integrated in its cuisine the French, Indian and Chinese traditions. As the time went by, the recipes have changed to incorporate local exotic ingredients and that is how the Mauritian cuisine was born. The omnipresent Creole rougaille is accompanied by pickles (raw vegetables macerated in oil), pulses and Indian rice. To give you an idea of the authentic taste of the island, you can try the dholl puri (an Indian pancake) accompanied by a glass of alouda (a milk based drink) or tamarind juice.

The festivals, dance and music
Western, Eastern and African cultures find themselves in the different festivals on the island. Practically all the festivals of all religions are celebrated in Mauritius. All dances too:Indian dances in the traditional sari, the Chinese dances of the dragon and the lion or the local dance, the Sega.