Mauritius: where you can dance at ten weddings at the same time
There are these places in the world that I've always wanted to visit. But Mauritius was not one of them for me. Sure, if my friends suggested I go to Mauritius in the evening, I would have immediately exchanged the noisy cocktail bar for a paradise island without batting an eyelid, but otherwise I didn't exactly have Mauritius in my sights as the ultimate travel destination.
- Mauritius: where you can dance at ten weddings at the same time
- Mark Twain's connection with Mauritius
- Mauritius in April: An unplanned trip to paradise
- Mauritius Beaches: The Flic en Flac beach on the west coast of Mauritius
- Weddings on the beach: Not uncommon in Mauritius
- Mauritius - a melting pot of cultures
- Dolphin tour in Mauritius at Flic en Flic Beach
- Discover Mauritius on your own with a rental car
I don't even know why I've never been drawn to Mauritius, because the island paradise is extremely interesting both culturally and geographically. Speaking of paradise: If you open a travel guide about Mauritius these days, you will inevitably come across a famous quote from Mark Twain, which, according to the travel guide, should best describe the island:
First Mauritius was created, then Paradise. But paradise was just a copy of Mauritius.
Mark Twain
Mark Twain's connection with Mauritius
On his trip around the world, Twain also went to Mauritius and there are a number of diary entries from the work "Following the Equator" (Eng. Follow the Equator) about his stay. However, it is often concealed that the quote is only a small excerpt of his original statement. Because the original text goes like this:
Another resident will tell you that this is an exaggeration; that the two chief villages, Port Louis and Curepipe, are far removed from heavenly existence; that no one lives in Port Louis except by compulsion, and that Curepipe is the wettest and rainiest place on earth.
Isla Mauricia
Anyway, Mark reportedly left the island with a smile on his face. If Mark only knew that his quote was now being misused for marketing purposes, he probably would have ensured that his statements weren't simply taken out of context. Or maybe not?
Mauritius in April: An unplanned trip to paradise
Because anyone who has ever visited the Emerald Isle knows that the short version of the quote is not wrong at all. It even describes Mauritius suspiciously well. From where I know this? I seem to have a penchant for visiting places that weren't originally on my bucket list, travel list, or whatever list. And I have to say that these unplanned trips are among the most beautiful experiences of my life. That's what you call leaving your comfort zone and just getting involved in something new.
For me, however, it was more of a journey from the cozy comfort zone at home to an even more comfortable and paradisiacal comfort zone near the equator. Even the long flight with a relatively cheap airline was surprisingly extremely quiet and comfortable. Above all, the time really flew by. When we arrived, I was immediately overwhelmed by the color of the sky in Mauritius.

Mauritius Beaches: The Flic en Flac beach on the west coast of Mauritius
Our accommodation was on Flic en Flac beach, on the west coast of the island. The approximately 6 km long sandy beach is the longest stretch of beach in Mauritius and is ideal for long walks. After arriving at the hotel and having a very tasty, hearty breakfast, we quickly made our way to the beach. By “away” I mean a few meters until the sand massaged my feet.
Although I initially had concerns about the accommodation on Flic en Flac beach because it is a very touristy area, my doubts vanished when the kitschiest and most beautiful panorama I had ever seen spread out in front of me of an accommodation: turquoise, transparent water, tall coconut palms and directly behind it the “Le Morne Brabant”, a mountain like a green lighthouse. From the balcony of our room it was a stone's throw to the ocean. Simply fantastic – this is how your vacation can begin!

Weddings on the beach: Not uncommon in Mauritius
But already during the first walk we noticed something strange: a wedding on the beach! How nice, we thought immediately, because Mauritius is known for the fact that people like to say yes here. And how often! We walk a few meters further and again witness another tropical wedding. On the first day alone we counted four weddings along Flic en Flac beach. One of the most impressive was definitely a traditional Indian wedding, which, if the hotel guests are to be believed, was celebrated for a full four days! For decades, people from all over the world have come to this island in the Indian Ocean to say yes.
Mauritius - a melting pot of cultures
Mauritius is considered a melting pot of cultures. Here Christians, Hindus, Muslims and believers of other religions live peacefully side by side. The Mauritians therefore describe themselves as a “rainbow culture”. This colorful culture can also be found in the Mauritian and in the Creole cuisine again. Typical Mauritian food is a mix of Indian, African and Chinese influences. This special mixture is truly a taste explosion on the tongue. The dishes are always well seasoned and often very spicy. The landscape is just as multifaceted as the different roots of the islanders: from white dream beaches, huge sugar cane plantations to spectacular waterfalls and breathtaking mountain panoramas, everything is there.
Dolphin tour in Mauritius at Flic en Flic Beach
Already at the beginning of our stay we booked a dolphin tour from the hotel. There is a small colony of dolphins near Flic en Flac that keep dropping by because they are most likely being fed. We were pretty excited, although we had seen a few dolphins in America before, it is still an event. Unfortunately, this dolphin tour was more like an embarrassing hunt. The dolphins are "surrounded" by countless boats and catamarans, then one tourist after the other is pushed into the water. Therefore I cannot recommend them. During the tour I had seen more of the buttocks of a Frenchman, who jumped into the water as if stung by a tarantula, overtook me under water again and again to photograph the dolphins and thus blocked my view of the animals. Then I noticed that my snorkel mask was broken and I had to constantly swallow water. Then I only heard from our tour guide: "Madame, under the water! You must go under the water!” Oh no! I almost wouldn't have guessed that. I just didn't quite know whether to laugh or cry.


Discover Mauritius on your own with a rental car
On the fourth day of our stay we rented a car and already knew that we had embarked on an adventure...this was initially due to the left-hand traffic but also to the fact that the locals had to get used to driving. Therefore, I recommend that tourists prefer to use a taxi if they are not too familiar with Mauritius, as it is a much less stressful transport option and, importantly, a safer one. Especially if you only want to do sightseeing for one or two days anyway, it is relatively easy and cheap to take a taxi to the places. Although Mauritius is not considered particularly criminal and dangerous, you should still rely on your common sense. Especially the tours to the waterfalls, such as the Rochester Falls, can prove tricky, as some travelers have reported being threatened or blackmailed by local tour guides. This is not the norm, but you shouldn't go on a discovery tour too naively. Fortunately, we have only had positive experiences personally. On the way to "La Vanilla Nature Park" we got lost and asked a man on his moped for directions. This drove with us through narrow streets and slums, which strongly reminded of India…. We were already a little skeptical and hoped we hadn't fallen into a trap, but he actually took us to the gates of the park. When we thanked him warmly, he was just happy and drove away without expecting a "reward" or anything like that. It was a kind gesture that we always remember fondly...
You can find out where the monkeys are going and what giant tortoises feel when they stroke their shells in the second part of my Mauritius report
Until then, you will get a first photographic foretaste of the beauty of Mauritius.





Beautiful images that bring calm and happiness…
There is only one thought here: I want to get to this island quickly!
Wow, that looks amazing and so beautiful. We have also been dreaming of Mauritius for a long time. It's a pity that the dolphin tour wasn't such a nice experience.
LG
Brini
http://www.brinisfashionbook.com
Dear Brini,
Thank you, I am happy if my article makes you even more interested in Mauritius 😉 We fell in love with the peaceful atmosphere of Mauritius. On the subject of dolphin tours: When we were on a whale and dolphin tour in California, we saw how considerate and animal-friendly such trips can be organized. I think there will be a lot going on in Mauritius in terms of animal welfare soon and hopefully the dolphin tours will then be able to be carried out or designed in a more mindful and animal-friendly manner.
Best regards,
Lina
hi lina,
okay, Mauritius didn't really appeal to me to be honest, but I also have friends who have been there (if not for the wedding, people go there for the honeymoon) and loved it.
Maybe it's worth a trip after all, your pictures are definitely convincing (and the culinary offer too)
Best regards,
Jasmine
Hello Jasmine,
From experience I can say that often the holiday destinations that appealed to you the least turn into the most beautiful trips 🙂 maybe because then there are fewer expectations? Mauritius is definitely worth at least one trip (even without a wedding and honeymoon 😉). We would even like to come back.
Best regards,
Lina
hi lina,
I agree. Expectations are often too high when a country has been on the wish list for a long time. 🙂
Best regards,
Jasmine