Mauritius or The Republic of Mauritius is a group of volcanic islands and archipelagos situated in the Indian Ocean. Mauritius belongs to the Mascarene group of islands. This beautiful island country is situated at an altitude of 270 meters above sea level. Mauritius is a great tourist destination and attracts tourists from all over the world. Mauritius is so beautiful that Mark Twain even titled the country ‘The Heaven on Earth’.
Although this island country is geographically part of the African continent, much of its population is Indian. There are a variety of animals that are exclusive to Mauritius. As we mentioned above, Mauritius is a group of islands. It’s made up of Rodrigues, Agalega, Tromelin, Cargados Carajos and the Chagos Archipelago. Here are the top 12 islands in Mauritius:
Best Islands in Mauritius
Here is the list of the best islands around Mauritius:
1. Rodrigues Island:
Rodrigues Island is one of the best islands to visit in Mauritius. This island is the only island in the Mascarene group with extensive limestone deposits and caves. You can get to the island in two ways: by plane or by boat. The name ‘Rodrigues’ means great power. The island is tiny with an area of just 108 sq. km or 42 sq. mi. Rodrigues island is all about peace. There’s not much to do apart from water sports, chilling on the beach, and visiting churches. But the tranquillity is worth it.
2. Ile des Deux Cocos:
This island is easily accessible as you can reach there by car, bus, or even through ferry. The place is as tranquil as Rodrigues Island. The island is rich in natural vegetation. The main highlight of this island is the Follies Villa which was built in the 1920s. It’s a mixture of British, Mauritian, and Moorish architecture. Just like Rodrigues Island, there are a plethora of water-based activities are awaiting you.
3. Le Souffleur:
Le Souffleur is that rugged piece of land every adventurer craves. Apart from its rough and sporty terrain, this island is also very popular for its hot springs. The creation of this terrain was done when rough seas crashed the red-hot lava rocks. There’s even a natural bridge formed due to the water-rock combination that goes by the name of Pont Naturel. You can’t afford to miss this beauty if you are here.
4. Gunner’s Quoin:
Now this one’s unique. Only if you get the required permissions, will you be able to set foot on this island. The island is known for its amazing underwater life. You can even spot sharks here, which makes the place risky and hence is not open to the public. But if you get the chance to reach here, you will be shocked about the extremely clear water.
5. Diego Garcia:
Have you ever felt the rush of seeing any military base in person? If yes, then you are in luck, there’s an entire island by the name of Diego Garcia that hosts the US military base in the British Indian Ocean. Diego Garcia is a group of 60 small islands. It is situated at around 2200 kms from Mauritius but is a must-visit.
6. Hermitage Island:
Just south-west of Rodrigues island can be found Hermitage island. The island is reputed to have a buried treasure hidden anywhere on its land. Apart from the treasure, there’s a good amount of coral life. If you love hiking, you are in luck. There are short hiking spots for you to conquer. The island is worth a thousand photos. And the island is proud of it.
7. Z’ile Beach:
This is yet another fabulous place to be. The concept of the beach is unique and very out of the box. Z’ile Beach is a floating beach amidst the huge ocean. Even though the concept of the beach is unique, it’s just a beach. You can go and enjoy sunbathing there. If you have a little bit of spare time, you can enjoy having dinner with your loved ones under the magical roof of stars. The main attraction about the place is its concept and peaceful environment.
8. Ile Ronde:
Literally meaning ‘Round Island’, Ile Ronde is an uninhabited islet with a mere area of 1.69 sq kms. The max elevation of the place is 280 meters. The islet is well known for the countless varieties of rare plants and reptiles. It is situated at a small distance of 22.5 kms North of Mauritius. The scarce varieties of plants and reptiles attract a lot of nature lovers from all around the world.
9. Point Bernache:
Unlike all the other rough terrain islands of Mauritius, Point Bernache is a small, but peaceful island perfect for day picnics with the family. Its main attraction apart from the soothing environment is the enormous pine trees. These trees are all over the place. It is located North East of Mauritius. Reaching it is very easy, you can take a bus or a ferry ride to reach there.
10. Tromelin:
The trip to Mauritius is incomplete without visiting Tromelin. This place is a heaven for bird lovers. For our geographers, there’s a weather station here. Apart from this, there’s a wildlife reserve too. Tromelin is a low-lying island situated about 450 kms east of Madagascar. You can reach the island via flight.
11. Ile D’Ambre:
This is one of the largest and best islands in Mauritius. The island has a ton of activities ranging from kayaking, lagoons, numerous picnic spots. Mangrove forests along with kayaking are the two most important things that you should have on your bucket list if you are visiting the island.
12. Ile du Phare:
Ile du Phare is one of the first islands that were discovered by the Dutch in the 15th century. This island is also known as Ile aux Fouquet’s. The landscape of the island is worth a photo-worthy. There’s also a national park on the island. The terrain of the island is rocky.
Read More, List of Best Places To Visit In Mauritius
Mauritius is a small yet beautiful island nation that is worth visiting during vacations. Mauritius is a perfect getaway from all the hustle and bustle of city life. The best thing about the island is the interconnectivity to other small islets. You can visit Mauritius any time of the year but the optimum best time for visiting Mauritius is during October and November.
