Mauritius - Tourist Information |
Statistics
Population: 1.2 million
Area: 2.040 km²
Capital: Port-Louis
GDP per capita: US$ 12 800
Languages: English, French, Creole, Bhojpuri |
Climate
Mauritius has sunny holiday weather all year round, with daytime coastal temperature varying from 22ºC/72F in winter (May to November), to 31ºC/88F in the summer months (December to April).
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Currency and Credit Cards
The monetary unit is the Mauritian Rupee (Rs) which is divided in 100 cents (cs).
Notes: 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 25 Rs.
Coins: 10, 5 and 1 rupee; 50, 20 and 5 cents.
Credit cards are generally...
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Visas and Entry Requirements
No visa is needed for citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies & the Commonwealth, the European Communtiy and USA. A visitor must me in possession of a valid passport and a return or onward ticket.
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Public Holidays
There are 15 public holidays every year. Seven are fixed holidays:
01 & 02 January - New Year
01 February - Abolition of Slavery
12 March - National Day
01 May - Labour Day
02 November Arrival of...
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History
Mauritius is a volcanic island, well known for the extinct bird the Dodo, and has since long been a dream destination. The island was known to the Arabs around the 10th century but was officially...
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Economy
The economy is based on agriculture (mainly sugar cane), textile, tourism and financial services. Most parts of the economy sectors are privately owned. |
General
Mauritius is a small island located in the South West Indian Ocean. Mauritius forms part of the Mascareignes which consists of the neighbour islands Reunion and Rodrigues. The Island is located 855 km...
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Geography
Mauritius us a volcanic island covering 1.865 km²; 64 km in length and 47 km in width.
Position 57º35' East, 20º15' South.
The total coastline is about 177 km. Mauritius owns large areas of its...
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Physical Features
Mauritius is a volcanic island. The last volcanic eruption took place about 100 000 years ago and today, Mauritius has no active volcanoes.
The highest mountain on Mauritius is 828 metres high, Le...
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Political Features
Mauritius became an independent country on 12 March 1968. The island is a Westminster-style democracy whereby the members of parliament (MPs) are elected every 5 years.
The President is the Head of...
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Accommodation
Accommodation in Mauritius varies from exclusive beach hotels to self-catering chalets. |
Banks and Foreign Exchange
Banking hours:
Monday to Thursday: 09.15 am - 03.15 pm.
Friday: 09.15 am - 03.30 pm.
Saturday: 09.15 am - 11.15 am (some banks only!)
Foreign bank notes and travellers cheques can be converted...
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Dining and Drinking
Mauritian cooking is in a class of its own: it is a combination influenced by people of different cultures and cooking traditions. Tap water in the hotels is safe to drink. Bottled mineral water is...
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Tipping
Tipping is not compulsary and is not generally expected. It is at the discretion of the customer whether to tip or not. |
Media and Television
Besides local newpapers, various European and American newspapers are available. Satellite TV, local TV and various local radiostations are available in most of the hotels. |
Medical Care
Free public medical facilities are widely available. Private clinics provide medical services for a fee. Most of the times, this fee is to be paid in cash, regardless of whether you have travel...
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Telephones
The telephone code for Mauritius is: 00230.
Mauritius has 2 mobile phone networks which travellers can use to phone worldwide if their telephone is dual band or supports the GSM 900 standard.
Phone...
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Value Added Tax (VAT)
Value Added Tax of currently 15% is payable on goods and services including hotel and restaurant bills. |
Road Travel and Public Transport
Driving in Mauritius is according to the British driving system, on the left hand side. To drive in Mauritius, travellers need an International Drivers Licence.
Although the roads are generally in a...
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Security
Crime levels in Mauritius are low and a visit to Mauritius is usually trouble free, however petty crime does sometimes happen. A tourist police service ensures security in tourist zones.
General...
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