Long live the ocean!
In addition to the activities organized by the hotels' nautical offices (pedal boats, windsurfing, dinghies, snorkeling, etc.) or by private providers (water-skiing, wakeboarding, towed buoys, parasailing, etc.), numerous water sports and leisure activities are available all over the island.
Sailing. It's possible to embark on day cruises on large, multi-seater catamarans. These ocean-going monsters can accommodate up to 45 people and generally travel to the islets surrounding Mauritius: Gabriel Islet/Plate Island (North), Ile aux Cerfs (East), Ile aux Bénitiers/Tamarin Bay for dolphins (West), South-East Islets/Blue Bay Marine Park (South-East). In general, the cruise follows the same schedule: the boats leave the harbor around 9/9:30 am, sail to their destination, drop anchor for a swim-snorkel-apnea-bronze-break and barbecue, and leave again mid-afternoon to dock around 4/16:30 pm.
Speed boats and outboards. For hire with skipper by the hour, 1/2 day or day, from nautical outfitters (hotels) or specialized service providers. Generally speaking, despite its high cost, speedboating is a very pleasant activity that allows you to discover many more landscapes and cover longer distances than a catamaran. No pre-determined itinerary, but the same must-see sites as on a sailboat: Tamarin Bay, Le Morne white cliffs, Grande Rivière Sud-Est (waterfall), various islets..
Glass-bottom boats. Sailing at shallow depths close to the coral reef, these boats, also known as glass bottoms, allow you to discover the life-size aquarium that surrounds almost the entire island. Don't miss the glass-bottom boat trip through the Blue Bay Marine Park in the southeast.
Kitesurfing - Surfing. Thanks to its internationally renowned One Eye spot at Le Morne (South-West), Mauritius is considered a kiteboarding destination in its own right: a vast lagoon, omnipresent wind and a regular, powerful wave. The place attracts champions, particularly from June to November, at the height of the season. But beware: the site is reserved for experienced sportsmen and women, as the currents are strong and the rollers huge. Beginners will have to make do with the lagoon or better-protected learning areas such as the North and East. For surfing, the best spot is Tamarin, to the west.
Kayaking - Canoeing. In Mauritius, kayaking is practiced at sea. You can either take a guided half-day or full-day trip to explore the Mauritian coastline and mangroves, or simply paddle around the hotels.
Underwater walking. Very popular with tourists, undersea walking is the only way to go underwater without a mask or fins. Wearing a diving helmet over your shoulders and a small lead belt around your waist, you walk at a depth of three meters, surrounded by coral and fish.
Deep-sea fishing. Mauritius is a top destination for big-game fishing. In all seasons, you can battle against dream fish, starting with the world's largest blue marlin, but also tuna, blue shark, tiger shark, hammerhead shark, bonito, dolphinfish, wahoo, barracuda, sailfish and other ocean "lords". Peak season runs from November to April and from September to November for sharks; the bad months are June and July for all fishing. The island's big clubs are equipped with powerful launches manned by a crew. The boats fish just a few kilometers from the coral reef: this is Mauritius' strength and uniqueness, as the big predators come to feed 1.5 km from the mainland, where the sea floor drops to 600 m. The best zone for big-game fishing is the south-west, from Rivière Noire to Morne Brabant.
Stand-up paddle. The Mauritian lagoon lends itself particularly well to this easy discipline, which has become a runaway success in just a few years. Equipment: a thick, wide surfboard on which to stand, kneel or sit, and a paddle to move forward. The idea is to surf the waves, or to go for a "cool ride" on flat water - and thus strengthen your balance while working the muscles of your body.
Submarine and underwater scooter. Offered by Blue Safari, this is one of Mauritius's flagship activities, original and exclusive since fewer than 10 bases operate worldwide. Discover the beauties of the sea at a depth of 35 metres in a 10-seater submarine with portholes. Also available: two-seater underwater scooters, the only ones of their kind in the world, which you ride like a moped covered by a transparent dome. So much fun!
Assaulting the interior
Hiking - Trekking. Mauritius may not be Reunion Island, but it's a great place for hiking and even trekking. There are many peaks in the interior of the island, offering panoramic views in addition to the pleasure of the excursion. The most interesting ascents are those of Le Pouce (812 m, a 2-hour climb with a beautiful panorama over the sea and Port Louis), Morne Brabant (558 m), Pieter Both (the island's highest peak at 823 m, topped by a characteristic ball that can be reached by rope), Montagne du Lion (fairly difficult: walking and climbing) and Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire (easy). Hikers can also enjoy beautiful walks in the Gorges de la Rivière Noire National Park, where a number of trails have been marked, linking Pétrin (inland) to Grande Rivière Noire (on the west coast). Still in the south, a number of footpaths perpendicular to the asphalt road between Pétrin and Chamarel are indicated by small markers.
Trail - Raids. The development of green tourism in Mauritius, and the exponential appreciation of the beauty and variety of the island's inland areas, has led to the creation of high-level sporting events in the heart of the island's wildest areas, which are made up of hills, valleys, plateaux, forests, steep slopes on dry ground, and flush descents on wet ground... This diversity of terrain is ideal for trekking and trail running, and the island has all the facilities needed to accommodate groups.
Canyoning. This activity is becoming increasingly popular. A number of sites, of varying levels, have been professionally developed to enable canyoning enthusiasts and novices alike to test their skills against Mauritius's beautiful cliffs and waterfalls. The best time to go canyoning is from September to November, when the waterfalls are at their best. From December to April, the hottest period, the activity is subject to the vagaries of the weather.
Tyroliennes. Mauritius is no exception to the trend, with several courses at Lavilleon Adventure Park (south), Vallée des Couleurs Nature Park (south) and Casela Nature Parks (west).
Golf. Mauritius is a golf destination in its own right, thanks to its pleasant year-round climate, unrivalled hotel facilities and wide variety of courses. Apart from the Gymkhana Club (a private golf course), the island offers a wide range of more or less technical courses, often affiliated to major hotels that offer their guests preferential rates. In the west: Golf du Paradis, Tamarina Golf Club. In the East: Legend Golf Course, Links Golf Club, Île aux Cerfs Golf Club, Four Seasons Golf Club Mauritius at Anahita, The Nine (9 holes). In the South: Heritage Golf Club, Avalon Golf Estate, La Reserve Golf Links (new). In the North: Mont Choisy le Golf.
Excursions by 4X4. As soon as you leave the coast, there are plenty of trails, particularly in the south, where private estates have been transformed into leisure centres, allowing you to discover the wealth of our natural heritage (landscapes, fauna, plants, etc.) by 4 x 4. As the vehicles are easy to climb, you'll often find yourself on top of hills, with superb views over the lagoon and surrounding land.
Quad - Buggy. They can be ridden on private leisure estates, or, supervised, in the mountains or on sugarcane plantations - a great way to explore the diversity of the Green Mauritius. For families or young children (aged 6 and over), the buggy is preferable to the quad - an all-purpose machine that's just as manoeuvrable, but safer and more comfortable because it has real seats.
The island from the sky
Helicopter. In Mauritius, it's from the air that the island reveals all its wild, multi-faceted beauty. What a surprise it is for holidaymakers who have never left their flat, white beach to discover just how hilly, gullied and rugged the island is... From above, you can embrace the variety of the country and the intense palette of colors. Unforgettable!
ULM - Seaplane. We generally fly aboard a two-seater ultralight equipped with floats. This allows the aircraft to take off directly from the lagoon and land on the way back. You're immediately in the mood for this aquatic flight, operational in the north, east and especially south, where the famous underwater waterfall visible from the sky alone attracts the curious. ULM flights are available at very low altitude, giving the impression of floating in the air.
Parachuting. This is perhaps the most sensational activity in Mauritius: 25 minutes of panoramic overflight at an altitude of over 3,000 m, followed by 45 seconds of tandem freefall and 5 minutes of floating in a parachute. Powerful!
