Entry Requirements
Visa requirements for Mauritius depend on which passport you hold. Check the Traveller visa tool to see whether your passport needs a visa and, if so, how long you can stay.
Check if you need a visa for MauritiusEmergency Numbers
- Police
- 999
- Ambulance
- 114
- Fire
- 115
Currency
- Name
- Mauritian Rupee
- Code
- MUR
- Symbol
- ₨
ATMs throughout Port Louis and tourist areas. EUR and USD exchanged at banks. Cards widely accepted at hotels and restaurants. A practical mid-price destination compared to the Seychelles.
Power Outlets
- Outlet types
- Type C, Type G
- Voltage
- 230V
- Frequency
- 50Hz
Time Zone
MUT (UTC+4) — no daylight saving
Best Time to Visit
May–October is the dry, cooler season — ideal for beaches (Belle Mare, Flic en Flac, Le Morne), diving, kite-surfing, and exploring the interior (Chamarel Coloured Earths, Black River Gorges). November–April is cyclone season with heavy rainfall. Le Morne Brabant (a UNESCO site) was a refuge for escaped enslaved people and is historically powerful.
Tipping Customs
| Venue | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants | 10% | Service charge often included at hotels |
| Taxis | 10% | — |
Dress Code
- Casual beach wear at resorts
- Smart casual for Port Louis and evening dining
- Modest dress at temples and mosques
Social Etiquette
- Mauritius has an extraordinary cultural diversity — Hindu, Muslim, Catholic, and Creole traditions coexist on a small island; it is a genuinely multicultural society
- The dodo (extinct since the 1660s) is the national symbol — the island where humans first encountered, and then wiped out, a species
- Indian food in Mauritius (dholl puri, roti, biryani) is genuinely outstanding — the island has a huge Indian diaspora
- Chamarel's Coloured Earths (seven distinct colours of volcanic soil) and rum distillery are unmissable
Local Laws
Laws change. Verify current rules with your country's official travel advisory before departure.
- LGBTQ+ same-sex activity is technically illegal under colonial-era law but prosecutions are extremely rare; attitudes are generally tolerant
- Drug trafficking carries very harsh penalties — never carry substances across borders
Common Phrases
| English | Local | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello (Mauritian Creole / Morisyen) | Bonzour / Bonswar | bon-ZHOOR / bon-SWAHR |
| Thank you (Morisyen) | Mersi | MER-see |
| How are you? (Morisyen) | Kouma ou ete? | koo-MAH oo EH-teh |
| No problem (Morisyen) | Pa ena problem | pah EH-nah proh-BLEHM |
| Cheers! (Morisyen) | Santé! | sahn-TAY |
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