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Travel and Tourism in Mauritius
Travel alerts, currency, climate, transit, health, and safety information for visitors to Mauritius.
Practical Information
Travel alert status, currency, climate, and transit details.
- Travel Alert Status
- Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
- Time Difference
- UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Currency
- Mauritian rupee (MUR)
- Climate
- Mauritius has a maritime climate with slight differences between tropical summer and subtropical winter. Humidity is high, and annual rainfall along the central plateau's western slopes totals nearly 200 inches. In Floreal the winter low can drop to 50°F with high winds and rain, making it seem much colder. The summer daytime high is in the 80s with nighttime temperatures about 10°F cooler. Temperatures in Port Louis and at the beach are about 10°F higher than elsewhere on the island. Rainy and dry seasons are not well defined, and vegetation remains green all year. Cyclones threaten the island between November and April.
- Ethnic Groups
- Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%
- National Holiday
- Independence and Republic Day, 12 March (1968 & 1992); note - became independent and a republic on the same date in 1968 and 1992 respectively
- Geographic Coordinates
- 20 17 S, 57 33 E
- Location
- Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
- Airports
- 5
Destinations
Regions and cities, top sights, national parks, UNESCO sites, and festivals for visitors.
The North and the Beaches
The northern region of Mauritius is in many ways the island's most developed tourist area, offering the largest concentration of tourist infrastructure alongside some of the most beautiful beaches on the island. The trade winds that blow predominantly from the southeast mean that the northern coast, sheltered from the prevailing weather, enjoys some of the calmest and sunniest conditions on the island for much of the year.
Grand Baie is the undisputed hub of tourist activity on the northern coast, a town that has grown from a quiet fishing village into a bustling resort hub with an array of restaurants, shops, water sports operators, excursion companies, and nightlife venues.
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Health and Safety
Medical facilities, vaccinations, disease risk, and sanitation conditions.
Medical facilities are available, but are more limited than in the United States. Emergency assistance is also limited. While public hospitals provide free care, visitors may choose to be treated by private doctors and clinics. Prescription and over-the-counter medicines are generally available, though they may not be specific U.S. brand names.
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