MorisCountry guide
Mauritius in a nutshell
The essentials to understand the island and travel it well, with a focus on our November–December stay.
At a glance
Weather month by month
Mauritius has a mild tropical climate with two seasons: a hot, humid summer (November–April) and a warm, dry winter (May–October). Micro-climates matter more than seasons: the west coast, where the villa is, is the driest and sunniest, while the central plateau (Curepipe) is cooler and gets four times more rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max °C, west coast | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 30 |
| Min °C, west coast | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 22 |
| Max °C, plateau | 26 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 25 |
| Sea °C | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| Rain mm, west coast | 150 | 180 | 140 | 80 | 45 | 35 | 35 | 30 | 25 | 25 | 40 | 90 |
| Rain mm, east coast | 230 | 280 | 260 | 180 | 130 | 110 | 120 | 100 | 60 | 50 | 60 | 140 |
| Rain mm, plateau | 450 | 520 | 430 | 330 | 230 | 200 | 220 | 180 | 130 | 110 | 140 | 280 |
| Sunshine h/day (west) | 8 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 8 | 7.9 | 7.6 | 7.5 | 7.9 | 8.5 | 9.2 | 9.4 | 8.6 |
| Trade winds | ●● | ●● | ●● | ●●● | ●●● | ●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●● | ●●●● | ●●● | ●● |
| Cyclone risk | High | High | Moderate | Low | None | None | None | None | None | None | Very low | Low |
| Sunrise / sunset | 5:40 19:00 | 5:55 18:55 | 6:05 18:35 | 6:10 18:10 | 6:20 17:55 | 6:30 17:50 | 6:35 18:00 | 6:25 18:10 | 6:00 18:15 | 5:35 18:20 | 5:20 18:35 | 5:20 18:50 |
Approximate long-term averages; our trip months are highlighted. Rainfall map by month →
🌀 Cyclones
Tropical cyclones can hit between November and April, most often January–March. Before a cyclone, the Meteorological Services issue warnings from Class I to IV: at Class III everyone must stay indoors. Follow metservice.intnet.mu, keep water, torches and phone batteries charged, and never go to the beach or into the sea during a warning. Beaches and boat trips close.
When to go
☀️ Summer · Nov – Apr
Pros: hot (28–32 °C), warm sea (26–28 °C), calm lagoons everywhere including the east coast, big-game fishing season, lychees and mangoes, long days.
Cons: humid, heavy showers (especially January–March), cyclone risk, busy over Christmas and New Year.
🌬️ Winter · May – Oct
Pros: dry, sunny, pleasant (24–27 °C), the best hiking weather, humpback whales (July–October), kitesurfing and surfing season.
Cons: sea cooler (22–24 °C), strong trade winds on the east and south coasts, chilly evenings on the plateau.
🗓️ Our trip · Nov – Dec
Early summer: the sweet spot. Dry on the west coast, the whole coast calm and warm, no big crowds until mid-December. Hike early (it's hot by 10:00), expect afternoon showers inland, and book Christmas-week tables and boats in advance.
History
- 975Arab sailors know the island as Dina Arobi; it remains uninhabited.
- 1507Portuguese navigators visit but do not settle.
- 1598The Dutch land at Vieux Grand Port and name the island after Prince Maurice of Nassau.
- 1638–1710Dutch settlement: ebony logging, sugarcane and deer introduced; the dodo is extinct by about 1681.
- 1715–1810French rule as Île de France. Governor Mahé de La Bourdonnais founds Port Louis (1735). Enslaved people are brought from Madagascar and Africa.
- 18th c.Maroons (escaped slaves) take refuge on Le Morne Brabant.
- Aug 1810Battle of Grand Port, the only French naval victory of the Napoleonic wars on the Arc de Triomphe.
- Dec 1810The British land at Cap Malheureux and take the island. French language, law and property are kept.
- 1835Abolition of slavery. Indentured labourers, mostly from India, arrive through the Aapravasi Ghat (≈ 460,000 until 1920).
- 1968Independence (12 March), under Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam.
- 1992Mauritius becomes a republic within the Commonwealth.
- TodayOne of Africa’s most stable democracies and richest economies: tourism, textiles, sugar, finance and IT.
Mauritius is also famous for the dodo, a flightless bird that lived only here and was extinct within 80 years of the Dutch arrival. You'll find its image everywhere, and a skeleton in the Natural History Museum in Port Louis.
People, languages & religions
Almost all Mauritians descend from people who arrived in the last 300 years: Indo-Mauritians (about two-thirds, descendants of indentured labourers, Hindu and Muslim), Creoles (of African and Malagasy descent, mostly Catholic), Sino-Mauritians (Hakka Chinese traders) and Franco-Mauritians (descendants of the French planters). Temples, churches, mosques and pagodas often stand side by side, and everyone celebrates each other's festivals.
Everybody speaks Kreol Morisien, a French-based creole. French dominates the media and daily life in tourism; English is the language of parliament, law and school exams. You'll get by easily in French.
Food & drink
Mauritian food is a mix of Indian, Creole, Chinese and French cooking. Eat street food at markets and beaches (the vans at Flic en Flac and Le Morne on weekends), and try at least one Creole table d'hôte.
- Dholl puri
- Thin flatbread filled with ground yellow split peas, rolled around bean curry, rougaille and chutneys. The national snack (Rs 25–40 a pair).
- Roti / farata
- Soft flatbread wrapped around curries; Indian-Mauritian street food.
- Gateau piment
- Crispy fried split-pea and chilli fritters, eaten with bread for breakfast.
- Mine frit / mine bouilli
- Fried or boiled noodles, the Sino-Mauritian staple.
- Bol renversé
- "Upside-down bowl": rice topped with a chicken or seafood stir-fry and a fried egg.
- Rougaille
- Creole tomato, onion, garlic, thyme and chilli sauce with sausage, fish or salted fish.
- Vindaye
- Fish or octopus marinated in mustard seeds, turmeric, garlic and vinegar, served cold.
- Cari (curry)
- Chicken, goat, octopus (cari ourite) or venison curry with Mauritian spices.
- Briani
- Layered rice, meat or fish, potatoes and spices; a festive and weekend dish.
- Achards & chatini
- Pickled vegetables and fresh chutneys (tomato, coconut, coriander) served with everything.
- Palm-heart salad
- 'Millionaire's salad', made from the heart of a palm tree: a Creole luxury.
- Boulettes
- Chinese-style dumplings (chicken, fish, chayote) in broth, from street stalls.
- Napolitaine
- Pink-iced shortbread sandwich with jam, the classic Mauritian cake.
- Alouda
- Sweet, cold milk drink with basil seeds and agar jelly, sold at the Port Louis market.
- Phoenix
- The local beer. Also try the local rums (Chamarel, Saint-Aubin, Labourdonnais) and vanilla tea.
- Litchis
- Lychees: the season runs from late November to January, sold by the bunch on every roadside.
Festivals & public holidays
| 1–2 Jan | New Year | Fireworks everywhere at midnight; two public holidays. |
| Jan–Feb | Thaipoosam Cavadee | Tamil festival: devotees carry decorated arches (cavadees) to temples, some with pierced skin. |
| Jan–Feb | Chinese Spring Festival | Dragon dances and firecrackers in Port Louis Chinatown. |
| 1 Feb | Abolition of Slavery Day | Commemorations at Le Morne. |
| Feb–Mar | Maha Shivaratri | Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims walk to Grand Bassin, dressed in white: the biggest Hindu festival outside India. |
| 12 Mar | National Day | Independence (1968) and Republic (1992) Day. |
| Mar | Holi | The Hindu festival of colours. |
| 1 May | Labour Day | Public holiday. |
| Aug–Sep | Ganesh Chaturthi | Statues of Ganesh immersed in the sea. |
| 8–9 Sep | Père Laval pilgrimage | Thousands visit the shrine of Father Laval in Sainte-Croix, Port Louis. |
| 1 Nov | All Saints | Public holiday; families visit cemeteries. |
| 2 Nov | Arrival of Indentured Labourers | Public holiday; ceremonies at the Aapravasi Ghat. |
| 8 Nov 2026 | Divali | Festival of lights: every house and temple glows with oil lamps and fairy lights; sweets are shared with neighbours. |
| 25 Dec | Christmas | Public holiday; the start of the summer school holidays, beaches busy with families. |
Hindu, Muslim and Chinese festivals follow lunar calendars and move every year. On public holidays banks and many shops close; markets and some restaurants stay open.
Driving & getting around
🚗 Driving
- Drive on the left. Your Swiss licence is valid for stays up to 4 weeks; carry the original.
- Speed limits: 40 km/h in towns, 80 on main roads, 110 on the M1/M2 motorway. Speed cameras are everywhere.
- Drink-driving limit: 0.2 g/l in blood: effectively don't drink at all if you drive.
- Parking coupons are required in Port Louis, Rose Hill, Quatre Bornes and Curepipe; buy them at petrol stations and supermarkets. Elsewhere parking is free.
- Watch for buses stopping anywhere, cyclists, dogs and people walking on narrow roads. Avoid mountain roads at night (fog on the plateau).
- Rush hours: 7:00–9:30 and 16:00–18:30 around Port Louis, Ébène and the M1: add 30–50 % to drive times.
🚕 Without the car
- Taxis: no meters; agree the price first (≈ Rs 40–50 per km, Rs 2,000–2,500 to the airport). Ask the villa for a trusted driver: many will do a full-day tour for Rs 3,000–4,000.
- Ride-hailing: the Yugo app works around the main towns; fewer cars on the west coast.
- Metro Express: a modern light rail from Port Louis to Curepipe via Rose Hill, Quatre Bornes and Ébène. Good for a Port Louis day without parking.
- Buses: very cheap (Rs 30–60) and they go everywhere, but slow and crowded. From Black River there are buses to Port Louis, Quatre Bornes and along the coast.
- Tours with pick-up: most boat trips, catamarans and dolphin trips collect you at the villa.
Money & prices
The Mauritian rupee: 1 CHF ≈ Rs 57.5 (Rs 1,000 ≈ CHF 17). Cards are accepted in supermarkets, restaurants and hotels; carry cash for markets, street food, beach vendors, parking coupons and small guesthouses. ATMs (MCB, SBM) are everywhere. A 5–10 % tip is appreciated in restaurants when service isn't included.
| Dholl puri (pair) | Rs 25–40 | CHF 0.5 |
| Local lunch (noodles, curry, briani) | Rs 150–350 | CHF 3–6 |
| Main course in a restaurant | Rs 500–1,500 | CHF 9–26 |
| Phoenix beer (shop / bar) | Rs 70 / 150–250 | CHF 1.2 / 3–4 |
| Rental car per day | Rs 1,500–3,000 | CHF 26–52 |
| Catamaran day with lunch | Rs 2,500–4,500 | CHF 43–78 |
| Taxi villa → airport | Rs 2,000–2,500 | CHF 35–43 |
Health & sea safety
💉 Health
- No vaccines required (yellow fever proof only if arriving from a risk country). Hepatitis A is recommended.
- Dengue and chikungunya outbreaks happen, more in the rainy season: use mosquito repellent at dusk.
- The sun is extremely strong (UV 12+ in summer): high-factor, reef-safe sunscreen, hats, shade at midday.
- Tap water is treated, but most visitors drink bottled or filtered water.
- Good private clinics in Moka, Floréal, Curepipe and Port Louis; smaller medical centres around Black River. Pharmacies are everywhere.
🌊 In the sea
- Wear water shoes: stonefish (very venomous) and sea urchins hide on lagoon floors. If stung by a stonefish: very hot water on the wound and hospital immediately.
- Stay inside the lagoon; currents are strong at the reef passes. Be careful where there's no reef (Tamarin Bay, Gris Gris, the south).
- Respect red flags and the boat lanes (marked with buoys).
- Jellyfish and "blue bottles" appear after strong winds; ask locally.
- Emergency: 999 or 112 (police), 114 (ambulance, SAMU), 115 (fire).
Entry & practical
- Entry (Swiss passport): no visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. You need a passport valid for 6 months, a return ticket and your accommodation address.
- All-in-One Travel Form: mandatory and free. Fill it in online at safemauritius.govmu.org within 30 days before arrival (health, customs and immigration) and keep the QR code. Beware of paying look-alike sites.
- Customs: no fresh fruit, plants or seeds; drones need a permit.
- SIM: my.t (Mauritius Telecom) or Emtel at the airport (≈ Rs 500–1,000 with data), or an eSIM. 4G is good almost everywhere.
- Plugs: UK three-pin (type G) and European two-pin (type C) at 230 V: bring a UK adapter for Swiss plugs.
- Shops: supermarkets open ~8:30–20:00 every day (shorter on Sundays); many small shops close on Sunday afternoon.
- Beaches: all beaches are public up to the high-water line; hotel facilities are not.
A few words of Kreol
- Bonzour / Bonswar
- Hello / Good evening
- Ki manyer?
- How are you?
- Mo bien, mersi
- I'm fine, thanks
- Mersi (boukou)
- Thank you (very much)
- Ki pri sa?
- How much is it?
- Enn ti pe
- A little
- Pa tro pima
- Not too spicy
- Mo pa konpran
- I don't understand
- Kot…?
- Where is…?
- Wi / Non
- Yes / No
- Bon apeti
- Enjoy your meal
- Salam / Namaste
- Common greetings too
- Alala!
- Wow! / Oh no!
- Ale!
- Let's go! / Bye!
Responsible travel
- Dolphins: choose licensed operators that don't chase the pods; swimming is only allowed 7:00–10:00, and swimming with whales is forbidden.
- Reef: don't touch or stand on coral, don't take shells or coral (it's illegal), and use mineral sunscreen.
- Monkeys: don't feed the macaques at Grand Bassin or the viewpoints.
- Temples: take your shoes off, cover shoulders and knees; ask before photographing people praying.
- Beaches: topless sunbathing is not allowed on public beaches. Plastic bags are banned: bring a tote bag.
- Buy local: markets, family tables, local guides and the conservation reserves (Île aux Aigrettes, Ebony Forest, Ferney) put money where it helps.