When you book cheap flights to Mauritius, you open the door to a tropical paradise unlike any other. An island nation off the southeast coast of Africa, Mauritius offers blissful white beaches and serene turquoise waters, exotic landscapes, exciting cultural fusion and centuries of colonial history. With a few clicks, land yourself with cheap tickets and start your Mauritian adventure.
After you book your airline tickets, brush up on your Mauritian history to get the most out of your trip. First discovered by Arab sailors, the island was uninhabited until the Dutch settled on the island in the late 16th century. The Dutch couldn’t make it stick, but the French came soon after and established the island as a center for sugarcane agriculture and ship building.
When the British gained control in the 19th century, abolishing slavery, the island’s cultural flavor changed rapidly as plantation owners began hiring labor from India and Africa. Chinese immigrants also arrived in large numbers, and the resulting mix of ethnicities and nationalities gave Mauritius its own unique culture and traditions. When you book flights to Mauritius, you’ll be greeted by friendly locals speaking Mauritian Creole and English and numerous other languages and dialects. Mauritian cuisine is a riotous fusion of Indian, Asian, French and African you won’t find anywhere else.
A great place to kick off your trip and get in touch with Mauritian history and heritage is L’aventure du Sucre. A museum on the site of a former sugar plantation, visitors can learn about the origins and development of the sugar industry on Mauritius in vivid detail. The museum’s restaurant, Le Fangourin, offers a spectacular introduction to the island’s Creole cuisine and the gift shop carries sugary sweet souvenirs.
Another fascinating site to check out after your flights land is The Chateau de Labourdonnais. The bright yellow, colonnaded 19th century home has been restored and converted into a museum with exhibits on island history and development and the family who ran the estate. Venture into the orchards and gardens to see exotic spice and fruit trees and grazing giant tortoises. Visit the estate’s rum distillery and tasting bar, or sample some of the estate’s fruits and vegetables at the restaurant, La Table du Chateau.
Many visitors head to Grand Baie for a full range of maritime delights. Swim or sunbathe at popular La Cuvette Beach. Charter a yacht and do some snorkeling or scuba diving. Mauritius is surrounded by coral reefs and shipwrecks, making it a world class diving destination. Can’t scuba? Enjoy the views from a glass bottomed boat or a submersible operated by one of the many local tour companies. For a really unique way to view the reefs, check out Captain Nemo’s Undersea Walk. Exactly what it sounds like, visitors take a walk on the sea floor with an oxygen-supplied diving helmet and a weight belt. You’ll also find options for deep sea fishing, water skiing, sea kayaking and even swimming with dolphins.
For those seeking adventures on dry land after their flights to Mauritius, the island won’t disappoint. Black Gorges National Park offers almost forty miles of hiking trails and much of the island’s indigenous plant and wildlife. Nearby Chamarel is a definite must see attraction. Chamarel is home to the “Seven Colored Earths,” a rare volcanic phenomenon: ripples of exposed sand and rock, separated into distinct ribbons of color. If you buy a vial of the mixed colored earth, it naturally separates into colored layers. The site of the colored earths is renowned for its unearthly beauty and is one of Mauritius’ most popular attractions.
Book tickets to Mauritius today and take your pick of the island’s pleasures. Cheap flights to Mauritius arrive daily, make one of them yours.