When is the best time to travel to Mauritius? Time in Mauritius What time is it in Mauritius

The island African state of Mauritius lies in the Indian Ocean. It is located west of the island of Madagascar, at a distance of 900 km from it at a geographic longitude of 57.6, therefore within the same time zone as Moscow, - UTC / GMT +4 hours. So on the island of Mauritius, the time corresponds to Moscow.

This remote small state is a very attractive destination for wealthy tourists from all over the world. A slight time difference with Mauritius - up to 4 hours for Europeans - does not require complicated temporary acclimatization during the flight.

The tourists are attracted by the cleanest sandy beaches on the coast and the thickets of coral reefs surrounding it. Here divers like to relax, and also come to celebrate the wedding of the newlyweds. At the same time, the island’s location is convenient for Russians, from the capital of the Russian Federation a direct Transaero flight is organized in season, with a flight time of 11.5 hours, and moscow-Mauritius time difference is zero. The island has a developed tourist infrastructure and the highest level of service. The territory is not large, practically corresponds to the area of \u200b\u200bMoscow, in the longitudinal direction the island can be reached in a day.

Since Mauritius is of volcanic origin, the relief is a plateau, but tectonic activity has long ended, and all sharp irregularities have smoothed time, in Mauritius the terrain is now almost flat, and most of the island is covered with a picturesque green carpet of vegetation.

Snow-white beaches, turquoise water, asleep volcanoes, exotic plants and rare animals - all this is the island of Mauritius. A revived fairy tale, a waking dream!

Rest here is suitable for lovers of noisy parties with dances until the morning, and families with children. Here you can enjoy excellent beaches, try extreme types of relaxation, take part in exciting excursions and just admire incredibly beautiful landscapes.

Mauritius for a long time was a colony: it belonged to the Portuguese, then the Dutch, then the French, after which the British conquered it. Only in 1968, Mauritius became independent. Therefore, on the island you can observe a real mixture of nationalities, cultures and languages.

Climate and weather

The island has a tropical marine climate. From February to March, because of cyclones, strong winds blow on the island and there are heavy rains that cause flooding.

The most suitable time to relax in Mauritius is May, October and November. These months are not as hot as the rest, and the water in the ocean is very warm - its temperature ranges from + 22 ... + 26 ° С.

There are strong, but short-term tropical rains.

Nature

The island of Mauritius is of volcanic origin. Although volcanoes have not been active for a long time, the nature here is still beautiful: numerous plateaus are surrounded by mountains with many rivers and waterfalls. The largest rivers of the island are the Grand River North West and Grand River South East.

It is difficult to convey the beauty of mountain rivers and lakes on the slopes of extinct volcanoes - this must be seen with your own eyes!

The mountains here are distinguished by their funny names: Cat, Mouse, Thumb, Three Nipples.

The southwestern part of the island is covered with purple and red volcanic sands, Canadian pines and eucalyptus trees grow here. In the eastern part of Mauritius, mangroves have been preserved. Coconut groves stretch along the beaches.

There is a nature reserve in Mauritius - Black river goge. Rare bird species such as parakeets and pink pigeons live there.

sights

Most of Mauritius's attractions are of natural origin. Excursions on them are offered on the island everywhere.

Port louis   - The capital of Mauritius. This is the main port of the country. The city was founded by the French. A picturesque bay extends on one side of the city, and mountains rise on the other. Port Louis preserved fort adelaide, erected by the colonialists, which is now used as an observation deck and venue for colorful shows.

Pay attention to the architecture of the city: in the center of the capital is Arms Square and many administrative buildings in the colonial style.

Interest will be caused by visiting the Chinese and Muslim quarters.

Be sure to check out Museum of Natural History, because only there you can see the only surviving effigy of the dodo exterminated in the 16th century - the famous dodo birds.

In the northeast of Port Louis you can explore tomb of Pera Laval. He founded Catholicism on the island. They say that touching the plaster statue of Laval brings good luck.

In the vicinity of the capital is a village Pamplusand in it are the botanical gardens. It collected just an incredible amount of rare plants.

Surely you will be impressed by the local aquarium, which is located near the mountains Tru-au-Beach and Point-o-Pimentos. The aquarium is simply gigantic - 1 million liters of water! In it you can watch sponges, mollusks and more than 200 species of exotic fish. A visit to the Crocodile Park in Maeburg on the southeastern coast of the island will be fascinating.

In the south-west of the island is located tamarin waterfall   - the largest of the existing on the island.

Another attraction of the city is Lion mountain, which rises above the bay and really resembles a lion.

Nutrition

The mixture of peoples, their traditions and cultures could not but affect the local cuisine. Mauritian cuisine is a unique combination of French, Indian, Chinese and African cuisine.

The main feature of the local menu is its many spices. Very often, curry sauce and Creole sauce, which is prepared on the basis of tomatoes, are added to dishes.

National cuisine abounds with seafood. Do not miss the opportunity to try the freshwater cams "camaron".

Residence

A budget vacation on the island will not work: Mauritius positions itself as a luxury vacation destination. Hotels here are divided into three categories: Super Deluxe, Deluxe, Superior. The level of service is very high. The resort has long been popular with wealthy people.

You can rent a villa on the coast. True, cheaper than $ 3000 per month, you will not find anything. It is also worth considering that during the holidays the rental price increases significantly.

Fun and relaxation

How to entertain yourself on the island, except for excursions and beaches? Here tourists are offered horse riding, tennis, parachuting, golf, cycling and, of course, all kinds of water sports!

Mauritius has a water theme park Leisure village. For lovers of gambling in many hotels open casinos.

Diving is available throughout the year in Mauritius. And there is something to see under water! Here you can meet many species of tropical fish, see sunken ships and swim with dolphins. Thrill-seekers can set off to dive east of Mauritius and swim with sharks.

And if you don’t want to dive, but also want to see the underwater world, you can just book an excursion on a boat with a transparent bottom.

Purchases

The best place to shop is craft market   in port louis. This is a real paradise for lovers of handmade! Here you can buy many handmade souvenirs at reasonable prices.

In memory of the trip, it is worth bringing from Mauritius a strikingly accurate layout of the handmade craft of local craftsmen.

Also, souvenirs can be charms with seven-color sand. In addition, all kinds of souvenirs are popular in the form of the Dodo bird - the symbol of Mauritius.

Transport

The most convenient way to get around the island is by taxi. However, it is worth considering that you can and should bargain with local taxi drivers. You can also take a taxi here all day if you decide to go sightseeing.

There are buses, but they rarely and irregularly.

You can rent a bike or scooter. And if you want to rent a car, then you must be at least 23 years old and you must have international rights. By the way, do not forget that in Mauritius left-hand traffic.

Communication

In today's world, you can’t do without mobile communications and the Internet. Even on vacation. Russian operators provide roaming services in Mauritius according to the GSM 900 communication standard.

You can also purchase a SIM card of a local operator. Cards are sold everywhere in stores and require a passport to purchase them.

You can also make a call from a pay phone using a special card or small coins. Cards can be bought in stores, at gas stations, in cafes and restaurants, in Mauritius Telecom offices.

You can order a call at a call center or at a hotel (the latter will be a bit more expensive).

Major cities in Mauritius have internet cafes, while hotels have Wi-Fi.

Security

Mauritius is one of the ten safest places to stay: crime is practically absent here.

The only thing that can ruin your vacation on the island is ... marine life. In coastal areas it is better to swim in special shoes - the spines of sea urchins and sharp corals can ruin your vacation. If you decide to swim outside the coastal reefs, then it is worth using the services of instructors so as not to fall into strong currents.

Business climate

Have you decided to do business in Mauritius? This is a great idea! The economic activity of this country is one of the most successful in Africa. The government promotes business, welcomes foreign investment.

In recent years, many economic reforms have been carried out here, which helped to avoid the impact of the global financial crisis.

The main directions are tourism, light industry, and services. In recent years, ICT and real estate markets have become popular with investors.

Mauritius has free trade agreements with the USA, Pakistan, 33 countries of Europe, Asia and Africa. The main trading partners are India, the UK, France and the USA.

The business climate of Mauritius can be described in a few words: favorable, but very competitive.

The property

The economy of Mauritius is constantly evolving. This affects the whole life of the island, including the real estate market. Real estate in Mauritius is a great investment! The dream of your own villa on the ocean is getting closer.

True, the prices here correspond to the level of the resort - very high. For example, the cost of a villa in coastal cities starts at 500,000 €. There is no upper limit. At the same time, real estate continues to rise in price.

Mauritius is a small island that is lost in the Indian Ocean. It is he who offers his guests a magnificent vacation of a high level. Consider how much to fly to Mauritius, because this information is always of interest to tourists, especially when you have to choose the most optimal and profitable flight option.

Direct flight time to Mauritius

In order not to make a mistake in the correctness of our choice, we first find out how much to fly a direct flight to Mauritius. The approximate duration of the flight will be somewhere around 10 hours 30 minutes, while checking the flight schedule in advance in order to get to the island on the scheduled days. Although in many cases the flight will not be direct, which means that it is necessary to look for options with transfers.

As a rule, transfers are made in cities such as Paris, London and Dubai. If approximate figures are given, then the flight time will be from 14 to 27 hours.

Connecting flights are mainly operated by European airlines in cities such as Frankfurt, Milan and Rome, and they will have to fly to them for 4 hours. How long to fly with transfers to Mauritius, in general, depends on how long the stop itself takes. However, if we talk about the flight duration itself, which is typical for connecting flights, then it varies from 15 to 27 hours. The flight time to the island also depends on the route that is selected in this particular case.

international Airport

The following companies are currently engaged in air travel to Mauritius:

1. Transaero - offers charter flights;
2. Emirates Airlines - daily scheduled flights;
3. Air Mauritius, together with Aeroflot and Air France, operate flights with transfers in Milan or Paris.
4. KLM and British Airways with transfers in Amsterdam or Paris.

They make their arrival at the island's only airport - Plaisance Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, which also bears the second name - Plaisance. It is located 45 km from the city center and serves the capital of Mauritius - Port Louis. In 2013, a new terminal D was opened on the territory of the terminal, the construction of which went to 300 million dollars. It was he who increased the capacity of the air gate to 4 million passengers.

The airport also does everything in order to provide its passengers with decent service and a comfortable stay. These are comfortable waiting rooms with TV and fresh newspapers, free Wi-Fi and catering areas. There are also shops with a variety of products, ATMs, post office, currency exchange and so on.

Mauritius Airport on the map

Below is a map showing the international and only Mauritius airport in Russian:

Air ticket price

It is in December, October and January that the price of a ticket to Mauritius from Moscow begins to grow rapidly and reaches its maximum level of $ 1,645 - this is a direct flight by the middle class. In the low season (June, May, April), prices fall slightly, but not by much until $ 1,550.

You can save a little more on a flight with a transfer in Dubai - here the price of a ticket will cost you from $ 1,200 to $ 6,257 in both directions, with the minimum figure being an economical flight, and the maximum is a business class. Also, a flight to Mauritius from Moscow can be carried out in other cities of Europe.

A tiny but incomparably beautiful island, nourished by the luxury of the tropics, Mauritius is a small country in East Africa, located a few hundred kilometers east of Madagascar. Read our article on the Tour Calendar, where we explain why the best time to visit it is from November to April-May.

Touristic season in Mauritius

Waves quietly rush to the shore, gently rolling tiny grains of sand, slender rows of stately palms sway to the beat of a light wind, and in the gaps of the mangrove forest where the sun rises, purple tops of gigantic mountains are visible. The style of rest in Mauritius in a nutshell can be described as follows: away from civilization and worldly concerns, closer to the origins of pristine nature, but at the same time - maximum comfort. Hundreds of kilometers of the white sandy coast are lined with luxurious resorts, which are a separate world where there is everything for a true delight - restaurants, pools, spas, golf courses and much more. This tourist destination today is one of the most expensive in the world, however, from year to year the volume of tourist flow to Mauritius is only gaining momentum: people resting here are not at all inclined to complain about high prices, and for many this island becomes favorite. Wealthy travelers choose tours to Mauritius first of all for bathing and sunbathing bliss, a considerable number of couples in love rush here to play a wedding, divers are attracted by the underwater world of rare beauty, but fishermen, of course, have great opportunities for ocean fishing. Thanks to the warm climate, the tourist season on the island lasts all year round.

High season in Mauritius

Peak influx of holidaymakers is observed from November to April. This is an active season, when about 1 million tourists arrive on the island. The key countries providing the main foreign flow are Great Britain, China, France and Germany. Russia takes not the last place in this list: the number of our compatriots this year has reached 19.5 thousand people. All of them are united by a weakness for impeccable service, comfort and elite relaxation. During the New Year's Eve, the island's airport operates in an intensive mode. There are a lot of people who want to celebrate winter holidays on the ocean under the rays of the tropical sun, despite the fact that the prices for tickets during this period of time soar to sky-high heights, and periodically it rains. As a rule, the greatest density of holidaymakers is observed on the northern and western coasts of Mauritius, where the most luxurious hotel complexes are based, and the sun shines year-round.

Low season in Mauritius

The policy of Mauritius does not provide for the construction of budget hotels or boarding houses on the island, the main goal of the government is to preserve the island’s ecology and make tourists not rest in the crowd. The rooms in luxury hotels never stand idle. However, you can still relax with a more modest budget. For example, planning a trip for the low season. In June and July, the weather is overshadowed by gusty winds, but May, August and September are a great time for small savings, because there are not many tourists on the island during this period, and hoteliers give some relaxation in prices. And if, in addition, you do not tolerate the heat and general turmoil, consider these dates to be your only ideal option.

Best time for excursions

Theoretically, the island can be crossed on foot in 24 hours, but the sights of Mauritius are so impressive that it can take several days to visit them: colorful churches and Hindu temples, ancient castles and ancient ruins, botanical gardens and protected areas. And this is not the whole list of what the island boasts of. The best time for his research is from September to December and from April to May, when the most calm climatic conditions are here. Bottled water, a hat and durable shoes to protect your feet from shards of coral on some beaches are something without which an excursion to Mauritius cannot be comfortable.

Beach season in Mauritius

Beach holidays are the main component of package tours to Mauritius. And for good reason, because thanks to its protection along the entire coast with coral reefs and an excellent climate, the swimming season here can last all 365 days a year. The minimum water temperature in the African winter is +23 ° C, while the air warms up to +25 .. + 27 ° C during the day. In climatic summers, the ocean becomes even warmer - within +27 .. + 28 ° C. The tides are not significant, their schedule changes every time, the exact schedule can be found in every hotel on the island. The best time for a “seal” holiday on the coast is from November to January and from April to May, during this period the weather is quite hot, but due to the constantly blowing southeast trade winds, it is not at all exhausting. If you prefer silence and tranquility, you can safely take tickets for the first half of the calendar autumn or the last month of spring. At the same time, it is worth knowing that privacy can also be found in the high beach season, just go to the western part of Mauritius.

Diving season

Diving in Mauritius is truly fascinating. A wide variety of tropical flora and fauna is represented in the turquoise strata of the Indian Ocean: barracudas, blue marlin, sea eagles, giant turtles, white feather sharks, overgrowth overgrowth, coral gardens, etc. A continuous ribbon of coral reefs forms safe lagoons for diving not only in the daytime, but and at night. Diving from the outside of the reefs, behind the so-called "perimeter", is no less exciting. There are huge marble caves, rocky plateaus and underwater grottoes, but the currents in such places are very strong, so without an instructor, dives can end in failure. In total, the island has up to 30 specialized dive centers. The most popular dive sites should be sought in the southeastern and northern parts of the island. By the way, the east coast is interesting for fans of wreck diving. The most favorable time for diving is from September to January, when the water temperature is from +23 ° C to 27 ° C, and visibility reaches 20 m. In some years, this period is sometimes extended due to December and March, but sometimes during this period time storms happen.

Surf season

Mauritius has quite a few “tidbits” for surfers. For example, Tamarina Bay in the south-west of the island facing the winds. For foreigners and Russian-speaking tourists from time to time special camps are organized. In principle, newcomers to the “training waves” can surf, kite and windsurf all year round. However, it is best for experienced athletes to travel to Mauritius from November to April and from June to July (wetsuits may be needed). It is safest to ride during high tide, provided there are no strong undercurrents.

Fishing season

Deep sea fishing is probably the most popular activity in Mauritius after swimming and languid reclining on silk sands. The exotic catch is always impressive: blue marlin, gray-blue shark, yellowfin tuna, barracuda and many other "trophy" fish. In principle, fishing is possible at any time of the year, but the best bite is from September to April / May. Especially for gambling tourists, it is possible to participate in mini-tournaments for the fastest deep sea fishing, in which up to 4 teams are usually involved. Well, you can only enjoy professional competition as a spectator: in December-March, the Marlin World Cup is held here - the most prestigious international competition.

Wedding season

Probably not a single couple in love would refuse a wedding package to Mauritius. The newlyweds come here to spend an unforgettable honeymoon, and the “experienced” spouses - in order to refresh the relationship, having arranged for themselves a romantic in the form of a symbolic wedding ceremony. The wildest fantasies are fulfilled here: registration under water, where as dumb witnesses giant fish, a wedding on top of a mountain or on a snow-white yacht in the open ocean - everything your heart desires. The largest number of ceremonies is held from September to December, when the island has relatively dry weather. If you still decide on this pleasant adventure, try to book these services at least 3-4 months before the hour “X”.

It's time for holidays and festivals

Despite the fact that Mauritius is actually a small point in the Indian Ocean, this compact island has a very rich culture, so its holiday calendar is full of various events throughout the year. Moreover, each village has a number of its local celebrations. The ubiquitous holidays of the island include the following: January-February - Chinese New Year and the Tamil holiday of Qazadi (the festival of purification); March 12 - Mauritius Independence Day; March-April - the Hindu spring festival "Holi"; end of March - May - Catholic Easter; night from September 8 to September 9 - Memorial Day of the French missionary Laval; November-December - International Creole Culture Festival. Magnificent celebrations in Mauritius are also held on the occasion of Memorial Day of Mohammed Imam Hussein and the Night of Shiva / Maha Shivaratri, for Muslims the most sacred holiday of the year is Ramadan.

Climate in Mauritius

Mauritius has a typical tropical climate characteristic of the island countries of the Southern Hemisphere. The annual temperature variation is fairly even, the only thing is that from April to November the average daily indicators are a couple of degrees lower than from October to May. The humidity level is very high, especially during the rainy season from December to May and from June to August. Heavy rainfall is strong enough, but their duration is short. At this time, cyclones come to the island, which often cause storms. The weather tends to change several times a day, but in general the island’s climate is quite favorable, if only because there are no active volcanoes here, the prevailing cyclones do not have destructive power, and tsunamis do not occur at all.

Mauritius in the spring

Until mid-late April, rainy weather prevails in Mauritius. The western and northern regions of the island, unlike the southern ones, are least affected by tropical cyclones. The humidity level is as high as in winter, but air temperatures are becoming more restrained, and the UV index drops slightly. Nevertheless, one should not think that overcast prevails on the island in spring. The nature of the weather is very unstable, so in one day you can witness rain, and gray clouds, and a clear blue sky with a piercingly bright sun.

Temperature and weather in Mauritius in spring

Mauritius in the summer

The calendar summer on the island is the Mauritian winter, as the air temperature at this time of the year becomes slightly lower than usual - from +17 .. + 18 ° C at night to +24 .. + 26 ° C in the afternoon. The first two months are not very pleasant weather. Reigning cyclones provoke strong winds, which are pretty cool. And getting into the water can be very difficult. Basically, all swimming is reduced to jumping on the waves. However, this is not only why most of the beaches of the island are empty. The temperature of the water drops to +23 .. + 24 ° C, and with high windiness it’s chilly to leave the ocean. Not without "winter" and without precipitation, the smallest portion of which falls in August. As a rule, in a larger volume "goes" to the central mountainous plateau and south of the island.

Temperature and weather in Mauritius in summer