Tourist Attractions & Monuments Mauritius

This cultural tour of the capital, which lasts about 2 hours and 15 minutes, starts from the beautiful café opened by Claire and Christian in the center of Port Mathurin. Since it all started here, on the spot where the city was later built, this walking tour is one of the best introductions to the country. Like Rodrigues Friendly's other immersive and unique tours (on a day trip), the walk is brilliantly led by Christian who knows how to bring to life every single building and how to make every single reference to the past exciting. Anecdotes and explanations abound throughout the fifteen stops in the alleys of the small pocket capital, built on the water and no bigger than its 2 ^km2. Christian's words bring back to life the men and events that have marked and shaped the destiny of the island. It was in 1691 that François Leguat established the French colony on the banks of a river. Christian recounts the influence of Father Gandy, that of the Creole house "Centre Carrefour" built in 1872 by the Church, the importance of the post office where letters were delivered by auction, the role of the Residence that adorns an object that we all regularly carry in our pockets, the incredible history of the cannon that comes from Mesopotamia or the Rodriguan flag with its nine symbols... and so many other "little stories" that, as the brochure says, "take us far away. Favorite 2023!

Monalysa offers a choice of day trips, both on land and on the sea: South-West tower, from the South, visit the extreme south-east (Mahébourg, Ile aux Crested, Blue Bay…), cruise to the island of Deer in fast boat or catamaran… In general, departure at 8 am and return to 18 pm. The driver is directly looking for customers at their hotel in a 5 km perimeter around Grand Baie. Monalysa also takes charge of booking all local tourist activities (underwater, diving, parachute), rents some cheap cars, as well as simple, functional apartments in the centre of Grand Baie. A serious address.

White and turquoise, a haven of calm and freshness in the bustle of Chinatown, this mosque, the largest in Mauritius, stands at the intersection of Royale and Jummah streets. The recognition of Islamic worship dates back to 1805, when the island was ruled by the French Decaen. Built in the 1850s under the impetus of a group of Muslim merchants established in Port Louis, it was enlarged from 1878 to 1895 following the increase in the number of believers in the city. The materials used were mainly imported from Bombay (stone, wood, lime...) and the construction and extension mobilized a number of specialized workers from India. The latter did not know how to build a minaret, hence the absence of this one. Moreover, as all the workers were not necessarily Muslims and as it was necessary to do well with the men present, certain decorative touches were left free, such as the plant ornaments framing the main door, which belong more to the Hindu than to the Islamic cult! This particularity gives the building an intercultural character which echoes the Mauritian mosaic in terms of worship. One will observe the finishing and the decoration of the spires, the beautiful carved door with copper motifs, the old clock in a tower on the roof... The patio into which one enters and which precedes the prayer room reserved exclusively for men is shaded by a superb bicentennial badamier tree.

Like all the guided electric mountain bike rides organized by DunienZîl, a small Mauritian family company of enthusiasts, the Grand Port ride allows an immersion in the history of Mauritius (here that of the Dutch, the first settlers of the island) and a privileged meeting with craftsmen of the eastern region: basket makers from the active workshop of the village, and also Pop, one of the last marine carpenters of the island. Several stops of curiosity punctuate the stroll, at a leisurely pace, which ends with a typical lunch on the site of Falaise Rouge.

For excursions and cruises at sea, a small dynamic and professional drive, located in the heart of Pereybère. A small price, daily programme of guided circuits in different parts of the island and many nautical activities proposed on request: parachute, initiation to sea kayaking, cruising by catamaran on Plate Island. Also a diving club established within the agency.
The réceptif also rents cars, scooters, bicycles and studios or apartments.