Mauritius Island: a little piece of heaven in the Indian Ocean
Kilometers of white beaches, crystal clear waters with coral bottoms, an enviable climate throughout the year, its interior full of lush vegetation...
Mauritius has everything for disconnection, relaxation and enjoyment , but it also leaves room for adventure and excitement. Shall we jump out of the hammock and go in search of him?
Seychelles, Zanzibar, Bali, Polynesia, Cook Islands… Who has not dreamed of retiring forever in one of these earthly paradises and living in a humble beach bar, or simply escaping for a few days away from everything and everyone?
The imposing attraction of the turquoise waters seen from any of these islands is as tempting as it is idyllic, but I have opted for Mauritius, perhaps the most forgotten, perhaps the most special of all.
After being discovered in the 10th century by Arab navigators, who named it Dina Arobi or Dinarobin -Isla de Plata- and they only used it as a transit land on their routes, Mauritius Island passed through Portuguese, Dutch, French and English until achieving its independence in 1968.
All those colonies wanted to give it their particular name, but the most curious of all was the one given to it by the Portuguese: Ilha do Cirne -Swan Island-. But it was not the swans that were responsible for this decision, but the drontes or dodos, an endemic bird approximately half a meter tall, which could reach up to 25 kilos in weight and lacked the ability to fly.
This species became extinct at the end of the 17th century with the firm arrival of the first men on the island.
French engraving in Pamplemousse, Mauritius
But let's focus on our journey. To begin with, it is good to know that, together with the islands of San Brandón or Charged, Rodrigues and Agalega, makes up the Republic of Mauritius and that belongs to the Commonwealth.
Its more than 300 kilometers of coastline guard extensive white-sand beaches and coral reefs, thanks to which they become safe and calm bathing areas in which to practice all kinds of water sports, including diving.
For surfers, Tamarin beach is the most attractive of all. Here, the absence of a coral reef allows for a fiercer wave to enjoy for hours "riding" on the white foam of the Indian Ocean.
Tamarin beach in Mauritius
Mauritius's natural treasure profits from the mixed population that currently makes up the island. Africans, Indians, Asians, Europeans and travelers from all over the world live together using more than 30 languages and professing 90 different religions.
An example of harmony that, far from provoking confrontations, further enriches this country that is sustained thanks to the cultivation of sugar cane and tourism.
We have it clear. Mauritius, also known worldwide as Isla Playa, is a paradise of saltpeter, sun and consonance , but it is worth forgetting the hammock for a moment to go out in search of proposals full of history, nature and emotion. Craters, jungles, waterfalls, rivers and trails. Colors, sounds and aromas . Markets, temples, gardens and natural parks. Mauricio is yet to be discovered, and I am going to tell you about it.
Lipe Island
TROU AUX CERFS
It is, along with Grand Bassin , the most impressive crater of all that can be found on the island. The Mauritius's hectic volcanic past it has left remains as admirable as those of this formation of more than 300 meters in diameter and 100 deep, surrounded by intense vegetation and located in the municipality of Curepipe.
panoramic views obtained from the top are well worth the effort of the climb.
Trou Aux Cerfs
GRAND BASSIN
Its originality of being covered by water has made it the most important place of pilgrimage in Mauritius Island for Hindus . The reason is the belief that below the ground it communicates with the Ganges River, and for this reason a temple dedicated to the god shiva . The atmosphere that surrounds it on the days corresponding to the Shivarathri , its beauty and its meaning make this crater a magical and unique visit.
THE LAND OF THE SEVEN COLORS OF CHAMAREL
They make up the most exuberant dunes in the world thanks to the colors that can be admired in each of their layers: brown, red, yellow, green, blue, violet and pink.
This incredible landscape, surrounded by a lush forest, is the result of the combination of the mineral content of the volcanic remains with rainwater, together with the erosive activity of the clay soil. The best option is to visit them at sunset, when the range of colors reaches its maximum splendor.
The land of the seven colors of Chamarel
ROCHESTER WATERFALL
Between sugar cane fields runs the path that leads to one of the most refreshing points of the South coast, specifically between Saint Aubin and Souillac.
This natural waterfall with a 10 meter drop has a pond where bathing is pure pleasure. The picture is as follows: surrounded by lush jungle while one relaxes taking a solitary dip listening only to the song of the birds and the falling of the water. Is anything else needed?
BLACK RIVER GORGES NATIONAL PARK
Inside it rests the Piton de la Riviere Noire , the highest mountain on the island, but it is not the only part of this impressive green refuge.
More than 700 types of plants They coexist with different endemic birds, macaque monkeys, wild boars, deer, flying foxes and fruit bats. All of them can be seen thanks to the more than 60 kilometers of trails and routes that culminate in a final climb to the top of the island.
the rochester waterfall
BOTANICAL GARDEN OF PAMPLEMOUSSES
Founded in 1736 during the French colonial era, the currently called Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden It is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world.
Visiting it means understanding part of the history of Mauritius and the possibility of admiring one of the most interesting collections of plants, among which are 80 varieties of palm trees, baobabs, a banyan that reaches 250 years, lotus flowers, medicinal plants, spices and the precious giant water lilies from the Amazon, whose day-long flowers bloom white and die after turning a deep red.
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden
PORT LOUIS CENTRAL MARKET
An explosion of cultures, colors, aromas and products is presented in this market that represents the very life of the Mauritian population.
Indian, Chinese and African vendors come together to offer their local customers fish of the day, spices, teas, vanilla, cinnamon, exotic fruits such as pomegranate, vegetables, tubers...
Touch, taste, know, experience... Getting lost among the different stalls of what is known as the “Pantry of the Indian” is a must if you visit the capital.
DEER ISLAND
Along the eastern coast of Mauritius is the Île aux Cerfs , a small paradise island that, as expected, is full of deer.
Its greatest charm lies in the intense blue color of its waters, considered the purest in the archipelago, which contrasts with the whiteness of its coral sand and the green of the interior. If you have to spend a day sunbathing, this is the ideal place to do it.
Ile aux Cerfs
And, finally, three more tracks. Dare to walk accompanied by the lions of Casela World of Adventures . Taste an agricultural cane rum made on the island itself. And watch the sunset on Mont Choisy beach. Because Mauritius is as special as it is unique, and it awaits us in the middle of the Indian Ocean to allow us to daydream for at least a few days.
Watch the sunset at Mont Choisy beach