What to see, what to do Mauritius?

Tourist attractions such as the Musée de l'Aventure du Sucre (the country's largest), the Usine de Thé de Bois Chéri or planters' houses transformed into museums and leisure centers like Domaine de Saint Aubin or Château de Labourdonnais, for example, are generally open 7 days a week from 9am to 4.30-5.30pm. Important natural sites such as Jardin de Pamplemousses or Terre des Sept Couleurs de Chamarel open slightly earlier. Other museums have a slightly narrower range of opening hours, averaging around 10 a.m. and closing around 4 p.m. They are generally closed on Saturday afternoons and all day Sundays.

There is no need to reserve museums or entrance fees to tourist sites such as parks or estates. However, it is necessary to book cultural walks or excursions such as those offered by Taste Buddies (culinary walks with a historical content) or Explore nou zil (curiosity walk on an electric bike).

Entrance to museums or natural sites is not expensive, rarely more than 600 Rs per person. On the other hand, as everywhere in the world, walking or cycling tours in small groups under the guidance of a professional guide are rarely less than Rs 1,600 per person, or even more for a full day with lunch.

Discounts are almost always offered to children, students and seniors, and even free admission for children under 3 years old. There are also family packages.

Religious festivals are colorful highlights of Mauritian life, and are often attended by the whole island, regardless of denomination. Examples include the Indian festivals in January-February, such as the Tamil fire marches, the Thaipoosam Cavadee and the Maha Shivaratree procession, which attracts hundreds of thousands of participants. Chinese New Year is the main annual festival for the Asian community, with dragon dances and costume parades (especially in Chinatown in Port Louis). Holi, the festival of joy, fire and color, is a highly visual festivity held in March - people sprinkle themselves with water and colored powders - as is Divali, the festival of light held in October-November. Note that the dates are not fixed from one year to the next, as they follow the lunar calendar - find out more beforehand, as there are a number of local outfitters offering to show you around and "take part" in these festivals with a guide who will explain the particularities. Alternatively, you can go yourself, follow a procession, take part in rituals, etc., as Mauritians are always very welcoming to foreigners. In any case, for those interested in the local culture, it's always an opportunity for a wonderful discovery.

Another non-religious highlight in Mauritius is the National Day on March 12, when concerts and other cultural events are held. Mauritius also boasts a number of festivals, including the Festival International Kreol , a week-long celebration of Creole culture featuring songs, concerts, dances, workshops, traditional pirogue regattas, lectures and more, held every late November and early December.

The vast majority of local tour operators offer a choice of guided excursions to discover the island's main natural and cultural attractions, in the form of half-day or full-day tours by minibus: discovery of Port Louis and its surroundings, excursion to one of the island's regions punctuated by numerous breaks and visits, etc. See the range of offers online, bearing in mind that you can also privatize the tour and opt for excursions for couples or families in a chauffeur-guided car. For themed immersion in small groups, turn to one of the three companies specializing in discovering the island's historical, natural and culinary heritage: Explore nou zil (www.explorenouzil.com), My Moris (www.mymoris.mu) and Taste Buddies (www.tastebuddies.mu). Otherwise, only the most popular cultural sites, such as Aventure du Sucre, Château de Labourdonnais and the Route du Thé, du Rhum et de la Vanille, or those immersing visitors in the island's natural heritage, such as Vallée de Ferney and Ebony Forest Reserve, offer guided tours.