A Very Brief History
A democratic republic situated south west of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean Mauritius is generally thought to have been discovered firstly by Arab traders who never settled there. However, history shows that Mauritius was on a map produced by an Italian cartographer who went by the name of Alberto Cantino in 1502.

Cantino’s map clearly shows three distinct islands which are thought to represent the Mascarenes (islands made up of La Reunion, Mauritius & Rodrigues). He called them Dina Margabin, Dina Harobi and Dina Morare. Mauritius was first inhabited by Portuguese sailors but they failed to settle on the island and left in 1513. The Dutch followed in 1538 and stayed until 1637 having failed miserably to settle down either through natural causes or through sheer maladministration.

The French arrived in 1710 and made a go of it by building a shipbuilding yard and naval base in the current capital Port Louis. However, all was not well as French pirates based in Mauritius had taken to raiding British merchant ships. This spurred the British to mount an attack on the island which they finally took control of in 1810. The British remained on the island until Mauritius became a republic in 1968.

What's Mauritius All About
Sun worshippers will be more than pleased to know that with its constant year round warm sunny weather and a restriction on the number of visitors allowed onto the island the atmosphere you'll encounter in Mauritius will very much be one of calm and tranquility as it's the perfect haven for those wanting to get away from it all at short notice. And with strict government controls ensuring that the island retains its charm no building can rise higher than the indigenous palm trees thereby adding to that almost mystical allure.

It goes without saying that the island also boasts some of the most enviable, memorable stretches of beautiful golden sandy beaches, waterfront restaurants, resorts, hotels and beach houses anywhere on the planet and to accommodate the most demanding of holidaymaker most hotels and beach house owners will ensure that those thrill-seeking holidaymakers are fully catered for from diving, scuba-diving, surfing, kite-surfing, deep-sea (big game) fishing to jet-skiing, day and overnight catamaran & trimaran cruises, skippered or fully crewed charters, self-sail yachts and inland sightseeing tours to a truly vast variety of duty free shopping that would keep the most fervent shopper happy for an eternity.

Here are some helpful tips for true sea lovers; I'd recommend that diving enthusiasts head to the island between December and March when the sea is clearest as during other months the sea 'cleanses' itself of unwanted seaweed and the likes which makes the sea not as lucid as it would normally be. Surfers should go between April and September and stay along the west of the island to catch some of the best waves in a area of Black River Gorge called Tamarin and though big game fishing is great all year round to get the best results anglers should set off to Mauritius in between October and April when fishes like tunas, sailfish, wahoo and sharks are normally found in significant numbers.

At the end of the day I guess one measures a country by its culture and heritage and without a hint of bias I reckon Mauritius has plenty of both in store for the holidaymaker. It hasn't resorted to any the more excessive aspects found in some of the great coastal vistas around the globe by building vast holiday complexes along its shoreline instead it has preferred to blend its resorts into the islands seafronts natural beauty thus retaining a fine balance between nature and commerce.

What's The Weather Like
Being a tropical island Mauritius only has two seasons, summer (October to April) and winter (May to September) which as mentioned before makes it a perfect year-round destination for all sun worshippers. The temperature in the coastal areas of the island varies somewhere between 22°C in winter and 34°C in summer while the sea temperature varies between 22°C and 27°C, hmm, nice enough even in their winter to have a little dip in the clear blue Indian Ocean.

In Curepipe which is situated on the central plateau the daytime temperature varies from about 19°C in August to about 26°C in February. The western & northern regions of the island are warmer and relatively drier than the east and the south. It's mostly humid between December to April but never really unbearable particularly along the coast where there is a constant sea breeze to keep things cool.

Cyclones usually carry strong winds and heavy rain and normally occur between November and April and although cyclones rarely happen, they usually occur way out at sea and normally bring days of squally rain, Mauritius normally experiences anywhere between two to three cyclones a year usually lasting a couple of days each. My advice is to listen to all cyclone related warnings and take any directions or advice as needed oh and bring along if you want a windcheater just in case, well it rains even in paradise.

When packing I recommend that you take your best beach and casual wear as in summer its hot while in winter it may be advisable to pack some light woollen clothing just for those cool evenings.

Getting To Mauritius
Depending on your budget you can fly economy, business or first class to Mauritius via a myriad of airlines such as; Aeroflot, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Condor, Air France, Air Austral, Air Madagascar, Malaysian Airlines, Air Mauritius, Air Zimbabwe, South African Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air India, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Corsair, Emirates, Lufthansa.

There are some things that you'll need to check before heading off and two off the top of my head that would head any list is whether you'll need a visa, to find out more check out The Mauritius Passport website where you can get all the latest information on visa requirements to the island and the other is ensuring that your health insurance is up to date as you'll be charged if you require medical assistance. Okay onto matters more akin to actually getting there; the current average return fare to Mauritius is around £620 but bear in mind that there are seasonal variances to this fare so if you want to head off during the Mauritian summer (November to April) be prepared to pay extra for your flight whilst jetting off during the Mauritian winter (May to October) will see your airfare drop somewhat.

Cheap Tickets To Mauritius
I found that Air Seychelles, are currently offering a really great return price to Mauritius of £540 (Oct 2009) with a 2 hour stop-over on its main island of Mahe, check out Air Seychelles. This deal is more than competitive given that most other airlines are offering return prices of around upwards of £620. I'd shop around for the cheapest return ticket and would recommend that you check ebookers out as they are one of the foremost UK travel search engines along with Travel Supermarket and Southall Travel. If enquiring from the US check out Air Fare Watchdog as they offer worthwhile discounts with generous savings. Just a note of caution, passengers are normally asked to complete an International Embarkation and Disembarkation Card on board the plane before arrival in Mauritius. Keep the duplicate for presentation at departure otherwise you'll have to fill in another card. Passengers from Europe and North America do not have to complete section 2 of the card which is reserved for the local Health Authority or unless you've been to countries outside the said regions noted on the card during the past 6 months.

Courier Flights To Mauritius
Air couriers seems to be a well kept cheap form of travel secret. Basically an air courier is someone that carries shipping documents on international flights for a courier company in exchange for a reduction in the price of the ticket. The idea is that you pick the documents up prior to boarding the flight and then drop the documents off at the other end, simple as that. Savings can be as much as 80% depending on where you're travelling to. A really great source of information for this type of travel covering everything from how old one needs to be to whether you can trust the item being sent is not drugs related is over at air courier international here they also list the airlines and contact details of those travelling not only to Mauritius but the world over. Alternatively for our Stateside cousins they can always try Courier Org who have a vast amount of information on courier flights from the US. I've listed below the the pros & cons of being an air-courier, please note that the list is far from complete but gives you an insight into what to expect, they are:

Pros:
• Heavily discounted prices, you can typically save up to 80% from the standard fare. • You get fully fledged tickets for the flight & not just standby tickets thus you’re guaranteed that seat.

Cons:
• There’s typically only one ticket available per flight so anyone wishing to tag along will need to pay the full fare for their ticket, still a saving though if going as a couple.
• After the ticket's been booked there is zero flexibility in changing flight times or cancelling etc.
• You may find yourself hanging around at the arrival airport waiting for the local courier but that's a small price to pay.

Plane Sailing
What if you’re looking for something different, something of an alternative to flying, something just that little bit more flamboyant? Well you could do worse than cruise around the various exotic Indian Ocean islands. Departing from Port Louis the MS Ocean Odyssey is a liner that cruises between Mauritius, Reunion Island & Madagascar. With its 125 cabin's able to sleep an intimate 250 passengers and a compliment of 120 cabin crew able to see to the passengers every whim the liner also boasts ample teak deck space, swimming pool and two Jacuzzi’s, more than enough to satiate even the most demanding of guests. Bookings can be made through Freighter Cruises. The liner is famed for her superb service and as one passenger wrote in a review, 'It has to be said that the waiters and the entire corps of stewards aboard were, to a man, an utter tribute to their ship; they simply could not do enough for their guests, predicting most of our whims and jumping to comply with those they had not foreseen'. Further information can be obtained from the Cruise Company.

There are also freight liners that set sail on a regular basis to nearby Rodrigues or Reunion Island. The MS Mauritius Pride sets sail from Port Louis to Rodrigues and Reunion Island twice or three times monthly. The MS Mauritius Trochetia has a more adventurous itinerary sailing to Rodrigues, Reunion Island, Madagascar and other Indian Ocean Islands as well as some of the African coastal ports. For more information check out Mauritius Shipping this site offers all the latest information on travelling to and from the nearby islands from Mauritius and is an excellent place to look into sea travel to nearby Indian Ocean islands.

Rather surprisingly there are several good travel agents offering competitive cruise prices starting from £650 per person for a 14 night Indian Ocean cruise stopping off along the way at some of the most desirable exotic islands in the world, check out dreamticket or a 14 night cruise with Costa Cruises which leaves Savona in Italy to Mauritius starting from £1400. However, and the big however is where money is really no object at all there is always the 104 night, 38 port, 22 country cruise leaving from Southampton with prices starting from £9,000 which can be purchased at p & o cruises.

The Cheaper Option
How about that cheap option, you know the one that won't bust your bank account while you're trying to get to this island paradise. Well for the more adventurous of you out there there's always the odd merchant vessel sailing to and from Mauritius. There are several shipping companies that may do this, check out the excellent Freighterman site its a real info centre for those thinking of travelling by freight liners and I noticed that one of the, if not, the most asked question on this site is 'will I have to work on the freighter' the answer seems to be a resounding NO! So do check out this invaluable website as it has a vast array of info for the traveller wanting to try something a little bit different, and the prices seem competitive as well!

Getting Around The Island
Although there's talk of either a metro system linking the Capital with the interior of the island or a monorail being built there was though a time when Mauritius had a thriving rail network covering 111 miles of line. However all that ended in 1956 with the last journey made between Curepipe and the south of the island. With so many sights to explore on the island what is the best way to go about it? Well the cheapest and most obvious way to get around anywhere is surely by foot! Hiking can be fun and can take you to places you'd probably have never encountered and encounter scenes that may well be etched in your mind forever. The pre-eminent part of Mauritius for free hiking is undoubtedly in the west where the Black River Gorges National park where there is a teeming wildlife and from which several short and long hikes are easily accessible.

There are though plenty of wonderful tracks on the island that are sometimes wholly or partially owned by private properties and they're usually open for guided hikes. There are a number of excursion companies in Mauritius catering for such a holiday activity, check out Yemaya Adventures who are an adventure company offering hiking, sea kayaking and mountain biking amongst its roster of activities & Trekking Ile Maurice who offer an eco-friendly hiking and treking tour of the island.

If you want to trek around the island on your own or within a group then you really should check out Fitsy. Fitsy's site not only gives you a refreshing approach to trekking in Mauritius but its all centered on GPS routes. With fantastic photos presenting Mauritius in a manner most holidaymakers may never get the chance of seeing or savouring along with detailed route exchanges I cannot underline how totally impressed I was by this site's innovative approach to those wishing to trek and its willingness to openly share with others some of the known and unknown trekking routes in Mauritius, do definitely check this site out, a must read site!

If still intent on trekking around Mauritius on your own but without the aid of 21st century technology then you could always buy a tourist map from Maps 2 Anywhere who have a variety of road and tourist maps of Mauritius but if anyone out there knows of a site where you can download tourist maps of Mauritius for free then please let me know and I'll include it in my blog for everyone.

If cycling is your thing then it couldn't get any better. You can either buy a bike very cheaply then sell it on or give it away after you've finished with it, prices start from as little as RS1200 for a bike or alternatively you could rent a bicycle for as little as RS100 per day but you could go one better and see the real island up close and on a more personal level by checking out this prominent travel agent Ward Travel & Tours, offering cycling excursions throughout Mauritius with a guide. These excursions usually run through sugar cane fields and small roads to avoid major traffic routes and are run over 5 nights taking in 5 different overnight stays in 4 or 5 Star hotels dotted about the island. The exciting thing about cycling around the island is that you'll definitely get a taste of the real Mauritius and get to meet real Mauritians whose hospitality knows no bounds. If you are interested in cycling around Mauritius but along the main routes then ensure you wear a crash helmet and be aware of motorists as they can be undisciplined.

Next up is one of the most overlooked ways of getting around the island, let alone anywhere else, and that is the bus. Mauritius has a widespread bus service covering most of the island. An incredibly inexpensive alternative to renting a car (rather expensive) or taxi, not only do bus tickets start from as little as 70pence for half an hours odd journey time but you also get to interact with Mauritians, get to see some of the best parts of the island that you'd not normally see and if really adventurous get off at towns and villages that are off the beaten track. To get an idea of one of the principal towns bus schedules I've included Rose Hill's, check it out here Rose Hill Transport. Regrettably not all of the islands bus companies have websites as yet so if anyone has any current information on Mauritian bus websites please let me know for me to include in this blog.

Here's a little tip for you; if you're thinking of heading by bus into the capital Port Louis there are two bus stations there, one is for buses going to the south of island from the Victoria Terminal and the other is for buses going to the north of island from the Immigration Terminal. Buses always arrive at the south terminal so if you want to travel to the north of the island you'll have take a short bus ride within Port Louis from Victoria bus terminal to the Immigration terminal where you can take your bus to the north of the island. To find out more of the islands bus schedules you can though call the major bus companies on the below numbers:

National Transport Corporation (NTC), ☎ +230 426 2938.
United Bus Service (UBS), ☎ +230 212 2026.
Mauritius Bus Transport (MTB), ☎ +230 245 2539.
Triolet Bus Service (TBS), ☎ +230 2616725.

The islands buses normally operate from 5.30am to 8.00pm in built up areas and 6.30am to 6.30pm in the countryside. Buses are still manned by a driver and a bus conductor, just tell the conductor where you want to go and he'll tell you the fare and upon paying he'll give you a bus ticket. When in paradise please try to remember one simple code and that is time goes by slowly there. This is an island and not a metropolitan European city so be patient as buses tend to stop frequently picking up and dropping off passengers at scheduled and unscheduled stops and they may well run over their allotted arrival times but that's the beauty of using the transport system in Mauritius and a small price I feel to pay for seeing Mauritius in the flesh so to speak. Whatever though riding a bus will really give you the opportunity to savour the atmosphere and meet ordinary Mauritians and without bias I must say they are some of the friendliest people on the globe but then again I would say that wouldn't I.

If you're visiting the island by yourself or with a partner and want to speed through the island why not hire a scooter. A cheap and inexpensive way of getting around the island rental prices can start from RS400 per day. Drivers should be 18 years old and over with a valid driving licence. A deposit is normally required usually in the region of RS5000. Scooters can be driven along all main roads

Okay next up is the taxi as a means of sightseeing. Now then some of you out there may well be thinking it's going to be very expensive but not so. Taxis can be found on most of the island roads and short hops can cost from as little RS25. For a day's sightseeing tour of Mauritius starting at 9am and finishing at 5.30pm for up to 4 people expect to pay from as little as RS1400 for the group, at today's exchange rate (Oct 2009)that works out to approximately £30 to take in the whole island for the day. However, bargaining is key so before setting off check the price of your destination, if you feel it's too high (the locals will tell you what the price should be) start haggling, the taxi drivers usually drop their prices by about 20% to 30%, they need the money more than you need to part with it.

I've taken the liberty of listing below some of the most used taxi companies in each part of the main towns in Mauritius, they are:

CARMALLY A.R.
Adresse : Margéot Square ROSE HILL
Tel : (230) 464.37.38
Service de taxis

DIGITAX LTD
Adresse : BELL VILLAGE
Tel : (230) 234.45.33 / (230) 234.49.36 (230) 234.58.66
Service de taxis.

FADARKHAN A. GAFFOUR
Adresse : Royal Road BEAU BASSIN
Tel : (230) 454.92.93
Service de taxis

RAPID TAXI SERVICES
Adresse : Theodore Sauzier Str CUREPIPE
Tel : (230) 697.97.97 / (230) 208.07.06 (230) 208.65.89
Service de taxis

TAXI GARAGE IDRIS RUMMUN
Adresse : 12, Coriolis Avenue ROSE HILL
Tel : (230) 464.41.12
Service de taxis

TAXI MERCEDES
Adresse : Place d'Armes PORT LOUIS
Tel : (230) 212.03.76
Service de taxis

TAXI SERVICE
Adresse : Place d'Armes PORT LOUIS
Tel : (230) 212.54.78 / (230) 212.01.05
Station de taxis.

Renting a car in Mauritius like anywhere else can be expensive. Although the cost seems to start from RS3600 per day DH Car Rental seems to be onto a winner with their start up rental fee of around RS92 per day after which Rental Direct Mauritius' rental fees start from RS1200. In all instances you will need an international drivers licence. You'll need to be above 23 years of age and have an existing valid drivers licence on you at the time of application. Most of the agencies seem to offer a full tank and also have a fully comprehensive all risk insurance and third party cover. Other popular car rental firms can be found at Avis Mauritius and ABC Car Rental.

The contact details of the major hospitals of Mauritius are provided below:

AG Jeetoo Hospital Volcy Pougnet Str.
Port Louis
Mauritius
Tel: +230 212 3201

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam National Hospital Pamplemousses
Mauritius
Tel: +230 243 4661

Victoria Hospital Candos
Quartre Bornes
Mauritus
Tel +230 425 3031

Brown Sequard Hospital Pope Henessy Str.
Beau Bassin
Tel: +230 454 2071

Medical & Surgical Centre Ltd. Georges Guibert Street
Floreal
Tel:+230 686 1477

Moka Hospital Moka
Tel: +230 433 4015

The address of the topmost medical school at Mauritius is as follows:

University of Mauritius Medical School Reduit
Mauritius
Tel: +230 454 1041
Fax: 454 9642.