Visiting Mauritius soon? Here’s what you need to know before you go.
If you dig a hole straight through the earth’s center from the west coast, you end up in the ocean just south of Mauritius Island. Mauritius hadn’t been on our radar until recently, and after booking our trip, we realized there was much to learn about the island on the other side of the world. If you’re planning a trip to Mauritius Island, here is everything we learned during our time here to help you make the most of your visit.
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Last Updated: February 23, 2023
Where is Mauritius?
Mauritius is off of the southeastern African coast in the Indian Ocean. Sixteen islands and islets comprise the Republic of Mauritius, including Mauritius Island, along with Rodrigues, Agalega, St Brandon, and many others.
Time Difference: It is +4 hours Greenwich Mean Time (12-hour difference from PST)
See More: 15 Best Things to Do in Mauritus + How to Plan the Perfect Vacation
Things You Must Know Before Visiting Mauritius
1. English is the Official Language
The three main languages are English, French, and Creole. English is the official language, but the majority language used is French-Mauritius Creole, which was accurate on our trip. Many hotel employees also speak German, Italian, and Spanish. If you plan on venturing outside the resorts and popular tourist attractions, learning some basic French will help you.
Most Mauritians are bilingual, and many are skilled in three or four languages, which makes them a popular recruit for cruise ships. It is also worth noting that 70% of the population can speak “Morisyen.” They also speak Indian languages such as Bhojpouri (31.4%), Tamil (3.5%), Hindi (2.8%), and Urdu (2.7%).
2. It’s Far! (From the US)
If you’re visiting Mauritius from the US, be prepared for two twelve-hour flights, especially from the west coast. Give yourself an extended layover (at least 6 hours) to clear customs and stretch your legs. You can make it even longer if you want a rest day or to visit a layover city. We planned to walk around Paris on our layover, but our flights got delayed.
3. Who’s Visiting Mauritius
Because of Mauritius’ location, we noticed most tourists were…