Passport/Visa Requirements: Citizens of Canada and the U.S. need passports, proof of onward passage and sufficient funds. Reconfirm onward plane tickets with your carrier before departure.
Population: 1,220,481.
Languages: English, Creole, French, Hindi, Bhojpoori..
Predominant Religions: Hindu, Islamic, Christian (Roman Catholic and Protestant)..
Time Zone: 4 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+4 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is not observed.
Voltage Requirements: 220 volts.
Telephone Codes: 230, country code;
| Currency Exchange | Top  |
The local currency is the Mauritian rupee (RS) and is divided into 100 cents. All banks have the same exchange rate. Credit cards such as VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club are widely accepted, though an ID is sometimes required. ATMs are also available at locations throughout the island.
Visitors to Mauritius are allowed up to RS 700 in notes on arrival and may take out RS 350 when leaving.
| Banking Hours | Top |
Monday-Friday 9:30 am-2:30 pm, Saturday 9:30-11:30 am. ATMs are widely available.
There is a VAT of 15% on almost all products, except food.
Waiters at better restaurants expect tips of 10% if no service charge is added to the bill. Don't tip taxi drivers.
The best times to visit are April-June and September-November. Day temperatures will be warm (75 F/24 C) along the coast and about 5 degrees F/3 C cooler in the interior. During June-September, temperatures can drop to as low as 50 F/10 C. The hot, rainy and cyclone season all overlap—November-April. Be prepared for high humidity year-round, and take a sweater (for evenings) and rain gear no matter when you go.
| What to Wear | Top  |
Mauritius has a tropical, agreeable warm climate year-round, except in winter when the evenings can be cool. Take shorts and T-shirts to wear during the day and a sweater or light jacket for the evening. Most of these items can be bought inexpensively in Mauritius.
| Communication | Top |
Public telephones are coin- or card-operated. Dial 020 for overseas calls from Mauritius. All local numbers have seven digits. For international directory assistance, dial 190 or 10090. Local directory assistance is 150.
| Transportation | Top |
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) is 18 mi/29 km southeast of Port Louis.
Traffic moves on the left. We prefer to rent a self-drive car, but cars with drivers, taxis and local buses are all available for touring. Rent a yellow-plated car. They are called "contract cars" and are insured. Taxi fares are supposed to be based on odometer mileage, but it's best to agree on a price before getting in. (Note that when you make a one-way trip by taxi from one town to another, you'll be charged for the return fare as well, making it fairly expensive.) Buses may be slow and sometimes overcrowded in the evening, but they are inexpensive and a very good way of meeting and talking to the local people.
There are two ships that ply the route between Mauritius and Rodrigues Island: The Trochetia makes the trip to Rodrigues Island once a month and the Mauritius Pride two to three times per month.
| For More Information | Top |
Tourist Offices
Mauritius: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, Air Mauritius Centre, Grand Floor, John F. Kennedy Street, Port Louis. Phone 208-6397. Fax 212-5142. http://www.mauritius.net.
Mauritius does not have tourist offices in North America.
Embassies of Mauritius
The Embassy of Mauritius in Washington, D.C., handles inquiries from Canada.
U.S.: Embassy of Mauritius, 4301 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Suite 441, Washington, D.C. 20008. Phone 202-244-1491. Fax 202-966-0983.
Embassies in Mauritius
The Canadian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, has consular responsibility for Mauritius: 1103 Arcadia St., Hatfield, Pretoria 0083. Phone 27-12-422-3000. Fax 27-12-422-3052.
U.S. Embassy, Rogers House, Fourth Floor, John F. Kennedy Street, Port Louis. Phone 230-208-2347. Fax 230-208-9534. http://www.usembassymauritius.com.
| Additional Reading | Top |
Golden Bats and Pink Pigeons by Gerald Durrell (Fontana, U.K.). A good book on island wildlife, now out of print.
Mauritius, Reunion and Seychelles by Joe Bindloss, Sarina Singh, Deanna Swaney and Robert Strauss (Lonely Planet).
Subtropical Rambles in the Land of the Aphanapteryx by Nicholas Pike (Ayer Publishing). First published in 1873 and now out of print, this book records Pike's experiences, adventures and wanderings around the island of Mauritius.
