The volcanic island of Mauritius is located east of Madagascar and about 1,250 miles off the African coast. Geographically the country is part of Africa, but book a flight to Mauritius and you'll think you've landed in Martinique. The island is heavily influenced by British and French cultures and most of its workforce is of Indian descent. The island boasts grand adventure for travelers booking Mauritius flights and resorts.
Mauritius flights arrive in a beautiful area almost entirely surrounded by coral reef and is bordered by three mountain ranges – the Black River Range, the Grand Port Range, and the Moka Range. Take a hike through the mountains and view some of the rarest birds and wildlife in Africa. After a trek through the mountains and a lounge by the blue lagoons, take part in some of Mauritius' culture. When you step off your flight to Mauritius, make a point to enjoy the local food on the terrace of a French café, and sip wine while relaxing to the music that drifts through the streets.
Make sure to introduce yourself to the locals. Often referred to as the friendliest and welcoming to tourists, immediately after arriving on your Mauritius flight you'll feel like you've been here forever.
Mauritius has two, vaguely defined seasons. Summer lasts from November to April with high humidity in December and temperatures ranging from 90 to 95 degrees. The constant coastal breeze helps cool the air, and cyclones can strike several times a year. Winter temperatures are slightly lower, but the skies remain sunny. The sea is warm, averaging temperatures between 75 and 80 F.
Book flights to Mauritius for the winter holidays to celebrate in a relaxing new way.
Peak Season: Most travelers book flights to Mauritius between May and November because of the warm temperatures and lack of humidity. Snorkelers and divers especially love this time of year for the cool, calm waters and perfect underwater conditions.
Off-peak Season: Fortunately, even Mauritius' off season is unfailingly wonderful. Despite the rare cyclone (which can bring heavy rains and drive locals indoors) each day on the island is another day in paradise. It's hard to book cheap flights to Mauritius with much strategy in avoiding the cyclones, since they are so few and infrequent.
Once your flight to Mauritius arrives, you'll be itching to see the rest of the island, and with good reason. Its tiny land mass allows for visitors to see every nook and cranny if they're serious about sightseeing.
Taxis in Port Louis and Grand Baie can be hired, hailed, and shared, and it's common to negotiate the fare with the driver, since meters are rarely used. Be smart about your Mauritius travel by making sure you always have a map on you so you can gauge how far apart your destinations are. Beware of drivers advertising for future business: if you're not careful, you could end up taking an entire island tour – and paying by the minute – so make it very clear that you're not interested. Some taxis charge more at night, but not exorbitantly.
For budget minded travelers booking cheap flights to Mauritius, a bus network runs all over the island. It's known to be painfully slow, but easy to figure out, and very reliable. If you're going farther distances, stick to express buses (standard ones stop every block).
The following chart gives approximate journey times from Port Louis (in hours and minutes) to other major cities and towns in Mauritius.