Mauritius or how they officially call it, The Republic of Mauritius is a heavenly volcanic island located in the southeast of the Indian Ocean on the coast of the African continent. The island has many lagoons and palm beaches, and most of the coastline is surrounded by coral reefs.

The Mauritius Island is famous worldwide for the beautiful landscapes, great economy, rich cultural heritage and tolerance of the warm-hearted locals that live in harmony regardless of the religious and ethnic differences.

The breath-taking landscapes, unique tradition and kind people along with many fun activities are what make tourists want to come back again to visit this place. Here is the list with the top 15 tourist attractions in Mauritius.

1. Ile aux Cerfs

If you are looking for the ultimate beach experience, you will be amazed by the beauty of the Mauritius Island. Ile aux Cerfs is that place that everyone has in mind when they think about a beach.

The water in the most beautiful shade of blue, crystal clear, the sand is white and of course as the perfect beach everyone pictures, there are a lot of palm trees to complete the gorgeous landscape. You can go for a swim, tan in the sun or sit and relax with a drink under an umbrella.

Photo credit: (flickr)

2. Trou aux Cerfs

One of the most visited tourist attractions in Mauritius is the Trou aux Cerf’s volcano. Located in the center of the island, the volcano is one of the most beautiful attractions of the island, and also allows people to see all the surrounding areas from afar.

Besides the amazing views from the top of the volcano the mountains and the surroundings, the visitors also have the opportunity to go down the crater of the volcano to the water level. And to complete the experience, there is also a beautiful botanical garden near the volcano that you can visit on your way back.

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3. Labourdonnais Chateau

If you love history and architecture then you cannot leave Mauritius without visiting the Labourdonnais Chateau, a beautiful architectural masterpiece, with wonderful attractions such as the gardens and orchards that has a rich history and a beautiful story.

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 4. Centre Equestre de Riambel

For the most romantic ones the Mauritius Island is one of the best places to visit. If you are one of them, one of the things to do here is the beach horse ride. At Riambel you can ride some of the most beautiful horses you’ll ever see on a deserted beach with your loved one.

The landscape is beautiful, the beach is clean and deserted and the waters are calm, which makes the horse ride the perfect romantic experience. For the ones trying horse riding for the first time there are special trainers to help and supervise you.

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 5. Casela Nature Park

The animal lovers that visit Mauritius are able to enjoy the beautiful landscapes and observe the animals in their natural habitat on the tour of Casela Nature Park reservation. All the animals are very well taken care of and live happy in this natural habitat.

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 6. The local cuisine

If you are a gourmand than one of the things to do in Mauritius must be the tasting of the local cuisine. With a wide variety of unique local recipes inspired by a variety of cultures, the dishes from the Chinese, Indian, African and Creole are the ultimate culinary experience.

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 7. Rhumerie de Chamarel

Speaking of things to taste while visiting Mauritius, another must taste is the rum. This island has a long rum production history.

The best place for rum tasting is definitely Rhumerie de Chamarel, which has a traditional way of preparing the rum and offers a wide variety of samples.

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8. L’Aventure du Sucre

If you want a complete experience of the Mauritius Island, you can’t miss L’Aventure du Sucre. It is one of the most visited museums of the island, and offers a lot of interesting information about the history and the sugar production.

You can learn about the history and satisfy your sweet tooth with traditional goodies from the local boutique.

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9. Le Morne Brabant

You must add this one on your things to see list. Le Morne Brabant is a UNESCO Heritage site and besides being the single standing basaltic rock of such heights it also has a lot of very rare plant species.

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10. Ganga Talao

For the tourists looking for a deep spiritual experience, Ganga Talao is a must see. This sacred lake has an ancient history, great views, and many shrines and temples dedicated to gods like Shiva, and a lot of beautiful statues. The lake is filled with fish and all the place has a cozy feeling of peacefulness.

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11. Grand Baie

For those who don’t visit just for the cultural experience and sight-seeing, but also for a bit of fun, Grand Baie is the place to be.

This is the very heart of the Mauritius nightlife, with a lot of bars and clubs to choose from. Here you can enjoy the peaceful beaches by day and live the nightlife club by night.

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 12. Jummah Masjid

Architectural majesty, ancient history, and strong beliefs mend perfectly together here at Jummah Masjid mosque, one of the most beautiful religious places you will ever see. People from all over the places come here for praying.

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 13. Mauritius Aquarium

It is impossible to visit an island with such rich water life and not visit the aquarium, right? Mauritius Aquarium has over 150 different types of water animals that you can watch in a smart built ecological system.

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 14. The Naval Museum

The museum was the first colonial mansion built in Mauritius and now it holds a lot of artifacts and stories about the history of the island and how the British people fought for it. The museum has three floors two of them accessible to the public.

Amongst many other beautiful historical artifacts people can see the weapons of the “king of Corsairs”, maps of the island, and many other interesting things.

Photo credit: (flickr)

 15. Mauritian crafts

Obviously no one leaves an island like this without taking some souvenirs home to remember the trip or for their friends and relatives, which is why a must do is visit the Crafts Market, where you can purchase a lot of things such as jewelry, clothes and decorations all of them handmade with local supplies such as corals, sea shells or bamboo. Also the locals are very friendly and will even teach you how to make some of them.

Photo credit: (flickr)

Mauritius Island is for sure a heavenly place where everyone can find a little something to enjoy. With beautiful beaches, mountains and waterfalls, rich vegetation, warm-hearted people, good food and beautiful buildings full of history, Mauritius is a must-see, atleast once in a lifetime.

Here you can learn about their wonderful and rich history, see new animals and plants, enjoy the breath-taking sights, taste some of the most delicious foods on earth, talk and party with the most warm-hearted people, while tasting their exquisite drinks.

Make sure you check all these points when you visit for a complete unforgettable experience of this beautiful place.

Source: Ultimate Places