3 Days in Mauritius: A Day-by-Day Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Day one is in the north, with the giant water lilies of the Pamplemousses garden and the capital Port Louis, where Aapravasi Ghat marks the arrival of indentured labourers from India. Day two heads south-west to Chamarel's seven coloured earths and waterfall, a rum distillery, and sunset beneath Le Morne mountain. Day three is for the east coast lagoon, with a boat to Île aux Cerfs and an afternoon on Belle Mare beach.
Good to Know
Estimated total per person: ₹18,000 to ₹33,000, excluding flights and hotel
Weather: Tropical: warm and humid from November to April, with a cyclone risk from January to March, and drier, cooler days from May to October.
Pack:
Swimwear and a cover-up
Reef-safe sunscreen and a hat
Water shoes for coral and rocks
A light jacket for cool winter evenings
Local tips:
Hire a car or a driver for the day; the island is small, but buses are slow between the coasts.
Driving is on the left, as in India.
Hindi and Bhojpuri are widely understood, and many temples and festivals will feel familiar to Indian visitors.
Booking tips:
Book Île aux Cerfs boat trips a day ahead, and confirm what lunch and transfers include.
Book a hire car or driver in advance in peak season.
Getting there (from India):
flight: Nonstop with Air Mauritius from Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai, or one-stop via the Gulf - About 6 hours nonstop from Mumbai
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport is in the south-east; allow about an hour by road to the west or north coast hotels.
Nonstop flights do not run daily from every city, so check the days before booking.
Day 1: Pamplemousses garden and Port Louis
The giant water lilies of the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden, then Port Louis: Aapravasi Ghat, the Central Market and the Caudan Waterfront.
Pamplemousses Botanical Garden (morning): Start at the botanical garden at Pamplemousses, one of the oldest in the southern hemisphere, laid out in the 18th century. Its pond of giant Amazon water lilies, avenues of palms, spice trees and giant tortoises make an easy morning walk. Entry fee at the gate; guides are available for hire Why visit: Giant Amazon water lilies; Rare palms and spice trees Know before you go: Go early, before the heat; Use insect repellent
Aapravasi Ghat (afternoon): Drive to Port Louis, about 25 minutes, to Aapravasi Ghat, the immigration depot where about half a million indentured labourers, most of them from India, arrived between 1849 and 1923. The steps and buildings are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a small museum telling their story. Free Why visit: Where Mauritius's Indian story began; A UNESCO World Heritage Site Know before you go: Hours are shorter at weekends; check before you go
Port Louis Central Market (afternoon): Walk to the Central Market, a few minutes away, a busy covered market with fruit, vegetables, spices and souvenirs, and stalls selling dholl puri and other street food. Free Why visit: Local life and street food; Spices and souvenirs Know before you go: Bargain at the souvenir stalls; Busiest in the morning
Caudan Waterfront (evening): Walk to the Caudan Waterfront, about 10 minutes, a harbourside promenade with shops, cafés and the umbrella-covered lane, and views of the mountains behind the city. Free Why visit: Harbour views and an easy evening stroll; Restaurants and shops in one place Know before you go: Shops close earlier than the restaurants
Eat: Dholl puri at the Central Market - Mauritius's favourite street food, thin flatbreads filled with ground yellow split peas and served with curry and chutney, sold from stalls in and around the market.
Evening: Stay at the Caudan Waterfront for dinner by the harbour.
Budget for the day: ₹3,100 to ₹6,300 per person, excluding hotel
Day 2: Chamarel, the rum distillery and Le Morne
The seven coloured earths and Chamarel Waterfall, lunch and a tour at the rum distillery, and sunset beneath Le Morne Brabant.
Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth (morning): Drive up to Chamarel in the south-west hills. Its seven coloured earths are dunes of volcanic soil in bands of red, brown, violet, blue and yellow that have not washed away. The same park ticket covers the viewpoint over Chamarel Waterfall, which drops about 100 metres into a forested gorge, and a pen of giant tortoises. MUR 600 (about ₹1,200), non-resident adult, includes Chamarel Waterfall Why visit: Rare dunes of coloured volcanic earth; Chamarel Waterfall in the same ticket Know before you go: Go early, before the tour buses; The dunes are fenced off; view them from the path
Chamarel Waterfall (late morning): Walk to the waterfall viewpoint inside the park, where the river drops over basalt cliffs into a deep green gorge. Free, included in the park ticket Why visit: The tallest single drop on the island Know before you go: Best after rain, when it is fullest
Rhumerie de Chamarel (afternoon): Drive a few minutes to the Rhumerie de Chamarel, a rum distillery among sugar cane fields. Tour the distillery to see cane turned into rum, taste a few, then eat at its restaurant. Distillery tour with tasting is paid at reception Why visit: See how Mauritian rum is made; Lunch among the cane fields Know before you go: Do not drive after tasting; have a driver
Le Morne Brabant (sunset): Drive down to the coast at Le Morne, about 30 minutes. The mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sheltered escaped slaves in the 18th and 19th centuries. Walk on the beach below it and watch the sun set over the lagoon. Free Why visit: The island's most famous mountain view; A beach sunset on the west coast Know before you go: The summit hike needs a guide and starts early in the morning
Eat: Rhumerie de Chamarel restaurant - The distillery's restaurant serves Mauritian and French dishes made with local produce, on a terrace looking over the cane fields.
Evening: Watch the sunset from Le Morne beach, with the mountain behind you and the lagoon in front.
Budget for the day: ₹7,500 to ₹13,000 per person, excluding hotel
Day 3: Île aux Cerfs and Belle Mare
A boat across the east coast lagoon to Île aux Cerfs, then a quiet afternoon on Belle Mare beach.
Île aux Cerfs (morning): Take a boat from Trou d'Eau Douce across the lagoon to Île aux Cerfs, about 15 minutes, an island ringed by white sand and shallow turquoise water. Swim, snorkel or try parasailing, and many boat trips stop at a small waterfall on the way. Boat trips are sold as packages with lunch; compare what each includes Why visit: The island's most famous lagoon beach; Water sports and snorkelling Know before you go: Book with a licensed operator; Bring cash for water sports
Belle Mare Beach (afternoon): Drive up the coast to Belle Mare, about 20 minutes, a long public beach of fine white sand with casuarina trees for shade and calm water inside the reef. Free Why visit: One of the island's longest and calmest beaches; Shade under casuarina trees Know before you go: Busier at weekends, when local families come
Eat: Grilled lunch on Île aux Cerfs - Most boat packages include a barbecue lunch of grilled fish or chicken on the island; otherwise there are restaurants near the landing point.
Evening: Have a seafood dinner at a beach restaurant on the east coast.
Budget for the day: ₹7,500 to ₹13,500 per person, excluding hotel
Want a Different Pace?
Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao): The sacred crater lake and Hindu temples in the central highlands: Mauritius's holiest Hindu site, with a giant Shiva statue nearby. (Trade-off: Very busy during Maha Shivaratri. - Fits on the way to Chamarel)
Blue Bay and Gris Gris: Snorkelling in Blue Bay Marine Park and the wild cliffs of Gris Gris in the south: The island's best easy snorkelling and its most dramatic coast. (Trade-off: Gris Gris is not safe for swimming. - Costs about the same)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 3 days enough for Mauritius?
A 3-day Mauritius itinerary like this one works well for Couples and honeymooners, Families, Beach lovers. It's not the best fit if You want a city break with lots of sights or You don't want to hire a car or a driver.
How much does a 3-day Mauritius trip cost per person?
Budget about ₹18,000 to ₹33,000 per person for entry tickets, food and local transport on this 3-day Mauritius itinerary. Flights and hotel are extra.
What's the best time to visit Mauritius?
The best time to visit Mauritius is May to December.
How do I get to Mauritius from India?
Common options are flight (About 6 hours nonstop from Mumbai). Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport is in the south-east; allow about an hour by road to the west or north coast hotels.
What are the must-see places in Mauritius in 3 days?
Day 1: Pamplemousses Botanical Garden, Aapravasi Ghat, Port Louis Central Market and Caudan Waterfront. Day 2: Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth, Chamarel Waterfall, Rhumerie de Chamarel and Le Morne Brabant. Day 3: Île aux Cerfs and Belle Mare Beach.
Which Mauritius attractions are free?
On this itinerary, Aapravasi Ghat, Port Louis Central Market, Caudan Waterfront, Chamarel Waterfall, Le Morne Brabant and Belle Mare Beach are free to visit (some charge for special exhibitions or inside visits).
How much are entry tickets in Mauritius in rupees?
Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth: MUR 600 (about ₹1,200). Prices are adult tickets, converted to rupees and rounded; check the official site before booking.
What is Aapravasi Ghat in Mauritius?
It is the immigration depot in Port Louis where about half a million indentured labourers, most of them from India, landed between 1849 and 1923. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a free museum.
How do you get around Mauritius?
Hire a car or a driver for each day. Driving is on the left, and the island is small, but buses between the coasts are slow.