Watersports
Mauritius’s dive sites are the best in the Indian Ocean, ranging from canyons to submerged wrecks teeming with tropical fish, eagle rays, turtles, sharks and moray eels. The best dive sites are found in the west and the islands off the north coast, while Rodrigues is just as inviting, with colourful coral and virgin sites to be found in the east. There are around fifty dive centres registered with Mauritius Scuba Diving Association (MSDA;454 0011,msda.mu), of which many are PADI and CMAS certified. Most are based in hotels and resorts with access for non-residents, and cater for novice to experienced divers, with good equipment and English-speaking instructors. December to May is the best time of the year for diving as waters are clear, calm and warm; June to July is best avoided. All decent-sized hotels arrange snorkelling trips, with masks, breathing tube and fins provided; the island’s top spot for snorkelling is Blue Bay Marine Park in the southeast. Most hotels and resorts offer glass-bottom boat trips, while independent operators run trips in Blue Bay Marine Park. More unusual underwater adventures include undersea walks and enclosed underwater scooters available from Grand Baie.
Kitesurfing is possible year-round – although seasoned kiters come from May to October, when winds are strongest – and this is one of the best and safest spots to learn. The world’s third best kitesurfing spot, “One Eye”, is on the Le Morne Peninsula, while the area around La Gaulette, Île aux Benitiers, Bel Ombre and Le Morne has become a mecca for kiters. Marouk, on the southeast coast, is the epicentre on Rodrigues. Local kiteboarding schools offer group and private lessons for beginners. Recommended operators in Mauritius certified by IKO (International Kiteboarding Organization) are Airswitch, Club Mistral Prestige and Kiteglobing. In Rodrigues, the kitesurfing king is Jérôme Branellec of Osmowings.
Surfing is popular from June to September at Tamarin on the west coast. Lessons, equipment rental and surf trips are offered by Tamarin Bay Surf School. Mauritius’s east coast, which gets the southeast trade winds remains a favourite with windsurfers; most luxury hotels have boathouses with windsurfing equipment and many offer instruction. Stand up paddleboarding (SUP) is an emerging scene in Mauritius, with lessons and board rental at Tamarin. Mauritius also has great conditions for sailing, whether you want to sail yourself in the lagoon near a hotel, take a catamaran cruise or push the boat out with a private charter.
Many hotels offer kayaking from the beach, but the only formal sea-kayaking expedition is run by Yemaya Adventures to Île d’Ambre. River kayaking along Grande Rivière Sud Est is offered by Otentic and Nativ Lodge & Spa offer a kayak excursion along the River Chaux in Mahébourg.
The island’s latest craze, sea-karts are like a jet-ski, only safer and more comfortable, with a 110 horsepower engine. Escorted trips are offered by Fun Adventure from Grande Rivière Noire. You can also parasail at Grand Baie in the north and on Île aux Cerfs in the east.
Adventure activities
Adventure courses include the army-style obstacle course at Parc Aventure in the highlands near Chamarel and the new Le Parcours Aventure course across the treetops of Île aux Cerfs; both are family-friendly. Sugar estates have also opened up vast tracts of land to ecotourism, with activities ranging from guided nature walks to quad biking, horseriding, mountain-biking, ziplines and archery. Some of the best eco-adventure operators include Frederica Nature Reserve on the south coast, Casela Nature & Leisure Park in the west and Domaine de l’Etoile in the east. The island’s biggest thrill is the five-minute tandem skydive from 10,000ft offered by Skydive Austral. The best canyoning spot open to tourists, meanwhile, is Tamarin Falls in the centre of the island.
Hiking and running
Mauritius offers hikes for every age and ability. The main hiking spot is Black River Gorges National Park, while other top hikes include the guided trek to Tamarin Falls, nature walks on Île aux Aigrettes, treks in La Vallée de Ferney and the hike on pristine ÎIle Plate. Nature lovers should hop over to Rodrigues, where the most famous walk passes spectacular wild coves in the east.
Mauritius’s 28 mountain peaks may be miniature, but most can be climbed. They range from easy, well-marked climbs such as La Pouce in the Moka Mountains to technical climbs such as Pieter Both and private trails like Le Morne in the southwest. Held in July, the annual mountain trail run, The Dodo Trail (5985 1584,dodo-trail.com), includes four trails from the 5km Dodo Fun Run to the 50km Xtreme Dodo Trail and raises money for the Mauritius Wildlife Fund. Trail Rodrigues (trailrodrigues.com) is the equivalent across the water, held every November.
Horseriding
A few stables offer horse rides, including Domaine L’Etoile and the small and rustic La Vieille Cheminée in the interior. Mauritius’s most exciting, and expensive, rides are on Le Morne Peninsula with Haras du Morne.
