In short
Mauritius is a volcanic island ringed by a lagoon closed by an almost continuous reef, which explains its calm waters and its beach reputation. But the interior is mountainous and green, and many visitors never see it.
Port Louis, the capital, is in the north-west: administrative, commercial, with its central market and the Caudan waterfront. Grand Baie and Trou-aux-Biches, in the north, are the liveliest beach areas; Flic-en-Flac, in the west; Le Morne and Bel Ombre, in the south, are quieter.
Arriving and getting around
The international airport is in the south-east, about an hour from most hotel areas.
The light rail links Port Louis to Curepipe via the Plaines Wilhems towns. Buses cover the island cheaply but slowly.
A car gives access to the interior. Driving is on the left, a British legacy.
What it really costs
Mauritius covers every level, from luxury resort to family guesthouse. Staying outside the hotel zones changes the budget considerably.
The tables d'hôtes and street food — dholl puri, gâteaux piments — are the economical and the more interesting option.
When to come
May–June and September–December: dry, sunny, moderate temperatures.
Cyclone season runs from November to April. January–March is hot and humid.
The island is leeward in the west and windward in the east: the east coast is windier all year, which delights kitesurfers and discomforts everyone else.
What nobody tells you
Le Morne Brabant is World Heritage listed for its history, not its view. This mountain served as a refuge for maroon slaves, and the symbol of resistance to slavery it represents is the reason for its inscription. It is climbed in three to four hours.
The "underwater waterfall" off the south-west point is an optical illusion: a movement of sand down a submarine slope, visible only from an aircraft. There is nothing to see from the water.
The coloured earths of Chamarel, the Black River gorges and Grand Bassin, a crater lake and major Hindu pilgrimage site, form the interior many miss.
Mauritius is multicultural and multi-faith: majority Hindu, with Islam and Christianity, and Creole, French and English in simultaneous use.