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Family outings

Family outings in Mauritius

In Mauritius, weekends are spent outdoors: a lagoon in the north or east, a hike in the Black River Gorges, giant tortoises in the south, a free museum in Port Louis when it rains. The island is small, but you quickly cross several climates: always pack a jumper for the central plateau and keep an eye on the weather during cyclone season. Here are our landmarks, checked at the source.

Verified on 30 October 2026

Parks and fresh air

Native forests, historic gardens and wildlife parks: the island lends itself to nature outings at any time of day, ideally in the morning in summer.

Good to know

  • The Pamplemousses botanic garden opens daily from 8.30am to 5.30pm, public holidays included. Entry is free for children under 5, and foreigners holding a residence permit pay the Mauritian rate (25 rupees) instead of the visitor rate. Source
  • Black River Gorges National Park is the largest in Mauritius, with more than 50 km of marked trails, waterfalls and viewpoints. Source
  • La Vanille Nature Park is home to the world's largest captive herd of Aldabra giant tortoises; it opens daily from 9am to 5pm, public holidays included. Source
  • At Chamarel, the Seven Coloured Earth visit starts with the waterfall, then leads to the coloured dunes where Aldabra tortoises rest. Source

Addresses

  • Jardin botanique Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam

    Park

    Pamplemousses

    The island's historic garden, about ten kilometres from Port Louis: palm avenues, ponds, the Pont des Soupirs.

    Website Source

  • Parc national des Gorges de Rivière Noire

    Park

    Ouest de l'île

    More than 50 km of trails, with deer, monkeys and endemic birds. Pick a trail suited to your children's age.

    Source

  • Casela Nature Parks

    Park

    Royal Road, Cascavelle

    A 350-hectare park on the west coast: bus safari, a playground and petting farm for little ones (Pangia Kids Park), animal encounters. Open daily 9am to 5pm, closed 25 December and 1 January.

    Website Source

  • La Vanille Nature Park

    Park

    Rivière des Anguilles

    Giant tortoises, Nile crocodiles (fed at 11.30am and 2.30pm), a mini farm and a fossil museum, in a southern valley.

    Website Source

  • Terre des Sept Couleurs de Chamarel

    Park

    7 Coloured Earth Road, Chamarel

    Seven-coloured dunes, Chamarel waterfall (the island's tallest) and giant tortoises. A visitor app can be downloaded at the entrance.

    Website Source

  • Ebony Forest Reserve

    Park

    Chamarel

    A restored native forest reserve near Le Morne: walks, endemic birds, views over the south-west coast.

    Website Source

Go further

Beaches and lagoon

Children love the lagoon, but the Mauritian sea calls for care: currents, swell and frequently no lifeguards.

Good to know

  • In the north, flat sandy beaches with calm water; in the east, large lagoons; in the south, strong currents and coral reefs call for caution. Source
  • Follow no-swimming signs: strong currents regularly cause drownings, and hotels do not always have a lifeguard. Source
  • The Mauritius Meteorological Services issue high-wave warnings, usually about twelve hours in advance; the impact is greater at high tide and during spring tides. Source

Addresses

  • Plage de Mont Choisy

    Park

    Nord-ouest, à une trentaine de minutes de Port-Louis

    A long white-sand beach with calm, clear water, popular with Mauritians.

    Source

  • Plage de Belle Mare

    Park

    Côte est

    About ten kilometres of white sand shaded by casuarina trees, for swimming and snorkelling.

    Source

  • Parc marin de Blue Bay

    Park

    Blue Bay, sud-est

    Very clear water: a glass-bottom boat trip or snorkelling to spot angelfish and clownfish.

    Source

Go further

Museums and sites

The national museums are free and child-sized. Two sites are UNESCO World Heritage: Aapravasi Ghat in Port Louis and the Le Morne cultural landscape.

Good to know

  • The Mauritius Museums Council's museums (natural history in Port Louis, Frederik Hendrik in Old Grand Port…) are free to enter. Source
  • The National History Museum in Mahébourg has been closed for renovation since 15 December 2025. Source
  • At Aapravasi Ghat, entry is free and a full visit takes about an hour; guided tours are available on booking. Source

Addresses

  • Musée d'histoire naturelle

    Museum

    Mauritius Institute Building, Chaussée, Port-Louis

    The dodo, the extinct giant tortoises and the island's marine life, in four galleries. Free entry; closed on Sundays and public holidays.

    Source

  • Aapravasi Ghat

    Museum

    Quay Street, Port-Louis

    A former immigration depot from 1849, the memory of indentured labour, a World Heritage site. Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm, Saturday 9am to noon.

    Website Source

  • Paysage culturel du Morne

    Museum

    Le Morne, sud-ouest

    The mountain that sheltered runaway slaves, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2008.

    Source

  • Musée Frederik Hendrik

    Museum

    Royal Road, Vieux Grand Port

    Remains of the Dutch fort and French-era buildings by the bay. Free entry, closed on public holidays.

    Source

  • Blue Penny Museum

    Museum

    Le Caudan Waterfront, Port-Louis

    The famous Post Office stamps (on view ten minutes each hour) and the Paul et Virginie statue. Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 4pm.

    Website Source

  • Odysseo Oceanarium

    Museum

    Port-Louis

    An aquarium with 300 species: sharks, rays to feed, 3D projections.

    Source

  • Eureka House

    Museum

    Moka

    An 1830s colonial house turned museum, with gardens and small waterfalls.

    Source

Libraries and books in French

French is everywhere in Mauritius, but to borrow picture books and comics in bulk, the Institut français library in Rose Hill is the place to go.

Good to know

  • A family card lets you borrow up to 60 items per visit, for one month, renewable once. Source
  • On the first Saturday of each month, the library hosts 'l'Heure des petits' and 'l'Heure des filous', story sessions for parents and children. Source
  • With an account, Culturethèque gives access to tens of thousands of online resources, including a children's section. Source

Addresses

  • Médiathèque de l'Institut français de Maurice

    Library

    30 avenue Julius Nyerere, Rose Hill

    Books, audiobooks, DVDs, magazines and video games. Open Tuesday to Saturday (from 1pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays).

    Website Source

Go further

Activities and workshops

The Institut français de Maurice is the island's main French-language cultural venue; leisure parks take over during the holidays.

Good to know

  • During school holidays, the Institut français runs children's workshops designed by age group: video games, dance, theatre, design, architecture. Source
  • All year round, art classes (dance, singing, theatre, painting, Mauritian Creole) change from term to term. Source
  • Every Wednesday at 6.30pm, the Institut's film club screens a French or French-language film with English subtitles. Source
  • Casela offers 4 to 14-year-olds a half-day 'zookeeper' programme (9am to 2pm, lunch included). Source

Addresses

  • Institut français de Maurice

    Activity

    30 avenue Julius Nyerere, Rose Hill

    Holiday workshops, classes, film club, shows and exhibitions; see the cultural calendar on the website.

    Website Source

  • Pangia Kids Park (Casela)

    Activity

    Royal Road, Cascavelle

    Casela's children's area: farm train, mini golf, bumper cars and a summer toboggan.

    Website Source

Seasons and festivals

Two seasons shape the year: a hot, humid summer from November to April, which is also cyclone season, and a mild, dry winter from June to September. Every community's festivals are public holidays and are celebrated in the streets.

Good to know

  • January and February are the hottest months, July and August the coolest; February and March are the wettest. In winter, the central plateau gets much less sunshine than the coast. Source
  • During cyclone season, from November to April, follow the bulletins: the authorities may order a lockdown of two to three days. At a Class II warning, check your emergency kit and water supplies. Source
  • The official public holiday calendar includes Chinese Spring Festival, Thaipoosam Cavadee, Maha Shivaratree, Ugaadi, Eid-ul-Fitr, Ganesh Chaturthi, Divali, the Abolition of Slavery (1 February) and the Arrival of Indentured Labourers (2 November). In 2026, Divali falls on 8 November. Source
  • Every year around 9 September, thousands of pilgrims of all faiths walk to Father Laval's tomb in Sainte-Croix. Source

Addresses

  • Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao)

    Sud de l'île

    The sacred lake, a major Hindu site on the island.

    Source

  • Sanctuaire du père Laval

    Sainte-Croix, Port-Louis

    The tomb of the 'apostle of Mauritius', destination of the big September pilgrimage.

    Source

Go further

Islets and day trips

On an island this size, everything is a day trip: an islet by boat, an easy summit, a crater in Curepipe.

Good to know

  • Île aux Aigrettes, a reserve run by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, can only be visited on a guided tour (about 1.5 hours), leaving from Pointe Jérôme near Mahébourg; book ahead. Source
  • Le Pouce takes about two hours to climb, with a view over Port Louis; Pieter Both is best done with a local guide. Source
  • For hikes and boat trips, choose outings led by professionals and insurance that covers water sports. Source

Addresses

  • Île aux Aigrettes

    Park

    Au large de Mahébourg (départ de Pointe Jérôme)

    Ebony forest, Aldabra giant tortoises and the very rare pink pigeon.

    Source

  • Îlot Gabriel et Coin de Mire

    Au large du nord, en bateau depuis le nord de l'île

    White sand on Îlot Gabriel, snorkelling at Coin de Mire.

    Source

  • Île aux Bénitiers

    Au large de la côte ouest

    An islet for a lazy day, with snorkelling towards Crystal Rock.

    Source

  • Trou aux Cerfs

    Curepipe

    A volcanic crater right in town, on the central plateau.

    Source

  • Château de Labourdonnais

    Museum

    Nord de l'île

    A fine mansion turned museum, surrounded by gardens.

    Source

Go further

A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Mauritius will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority : l'ouest de Maurice
  2. 2 Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority : activités en famille
  3. 3 Jardin botanique SSR de Pamplemousses : informations visiteurs
  4. 4 Mauritius Museums Council : musée d'histoire naturelle
  5. 5 Aapravasi Ghat : préparer sa visite
  6. 6 Institut français de Maurice : médiathèque
  7. 7 Mauritius Meteorological Services : climat de Maurice
  8. 8 France Diplomatie : sécurité à Maurice

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