When researching the best things to do in Mauritius, most lists focus on beaches and resorts. Yet the island’s real identity lies inland and along its dramatic southern and western edges. Mauritius is volcanic in origin, residing in East Africa but rising from the Indian Ocean around 8–10 million years ago. It became uninhabited land discovered by Arab sailors, later colonized by the Dutch (1598), French (1715), and British (1810), each leaving cultural, architectural, and agricultural marks that still shape the island.

To understand Mauritius fully, you have to leave the shoreline and venture further into the heart of the nation where dense forests, multicolored earth and historic monuments paint a completely different picture.

If you’re looking for the best Mauritius tourist attractions, and off the beaten activities to do there then look no further than below.

Hike the Legendary Le Morne Brabant

Standing 556 meters above sea level on the southwest coast, Le Morne Brabant is one of the most historically significant landmarks in the Indian Ocean. In 2008, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

During the 18th and early 19th centuries, the mountain became a refuge for maroons — escaped enslaved people who fled plantations. Local stories speak of communities forming in its caves and forests. After slavery was abolished in 1835 under British rule, a tragic misunderstanding reportedly led some inhabitants to leap from the cliffs, believing authorities had come to recapture them.

Today, the Le Morne hike is a way to explore Mauritius’s physical beauty while walking historic trails that gave rise to the nation. The climb begins on dry grassland and volcanic rock before becoming steep and exposed in the final ascent. From the summit, the turquoise lagoon reveals intricate coral reef systems protecting the coast. The Indian Ocean stretches uninterrupted toward Madagascar.

The hike typically takes 3–4 hours round trip. Temperatures rise quickly after 9 a.m., making early morning departures essential. To make sure you take the right path and get the historical context that makes hiking Le Morne all the more memorable we recommend getting an experienced tour guide.

Tamarind Falls (Seven Waterfalls)

Located near Henrietta village, Tamarind Falls consists of seven distinct cascades carved into volcanic basalt rock. The region sits at roughly 300–500 meters elevation, where Mauritius feels markedly cooler and greener than the coast.

The falls were formed by erosion over thousands of years as water cut through hardened lava flows. The tallest cascade drops approximately 40 meters.

Soloing through Tamarind Falls is not recommended as getting lost through its forest path can be very easy. This is why we recommend guided hikes to Tamarind falls. This way you’ll be able to navigate the slippery basalt surfaces, stay on trail and even see sights that only a real local would.

With a guide, you’ll encounter guava trees, endemic ebony species, and panoramic viewpoints overlooking sugarcane fields that once drove the island’s colonial economy.

Explore the Southwest

The southwest corner of Mauritius is where volcanic geology, lush highlands, tumbling waterfalls, and dramatic coastal panoramas converge into one unforgettable route. It is the must-visit place for nature lovers who find excitement in exploring the hidden depth of Earth without the touch of man.

In a southwest tour, you’ll be starting inland, and enter Black River Gorges National Park, the island’s largest protected wilderness, home to endemic forests and rare birds like the echo parakeet and pink pigeon.

From elevated lookouts, valleys unravel with a patchwork of greens and deep ravines carved over millennia. Your journey then winds toward Chamarel, where the ground turns into different shade of colors called the Seven Colored Earth. You’ll also get to explore iconic craters, reservoirs and basins.

Nearby, coffee plantations and local rum distilleries offer a taste of rural Mauritian life.

Take a Ride to Port Louis

If the south is full of nature and wildness, then the North is where culture is thick. This is the place of colonial houses, old seaports, beaches, forts and local markets that shows you the modern side of Mauritius and the history that made it what it is today.

Taking a ride to Port Louis is how you experience the city’s most iconic landmarks in all its glory. From the 1830 citadel built under British colonialism and the Victorian Chateau De Labourdonnais, a restored sugarcane plantation manor to the streets and views of the harbor, visiting Port Louis is how you learn about the many pasts of Mauritius while leisurely traveling around.

For those who love a bit of context while chilling, tasting and experiencing what Mauritius has to offer beyond its beaches, then taking a ride to the North is your best bet.

Quad Biking in Mauritius

This 35-kilometer quad excursion in Mauritius’ raw terrain is made for adventure junkies. The ride begins at La Cambuse Beach, where you skim across open sand. From there, the trail cuts inland through the Royal Palms Forest nature reserve, weaving between dense greenery, flowering shrubs, and towering palms that filter sunlight across the track.

The route then loops toward Le Bouchon Beach, where you see both the coastal lines while also seeing the small fishing village of Le Bouchon. The highlight comes at Pont Nature, a volcanic basalt carved into the coastal lines. Riders pause here to take in the scale of the coastline, photograph the formation, and refresh with freshly opened coconut water and seasonal fruits cut open on the spot.

This quad bike delivers access to secluded beaches, protected forest, and geological formations shaped by centuries of ocean pressure. In a few hours, riders cover landscapes most visitors never see, experiencing Mauritius in all its wild glory.

Taste Local Street Food

Mauritius street food captures the island’s layered identity in its purest form. In Port Louis, especially around the lively Port Louis Central Market, vendors roll fresh dholl puri to order, fill them with split peas, rougaille, and pickles, and hand them over still warm. Stalls fry crisp gateau piment by the batch, while Sino-Mauritian vendors steam delicate boulettes dumplings in light broth. Indian spices, Creole techniques, and Chinese influences blend seamlessly on the same street.

Street food here stays affordable, fast, and deeply local and the best way to taste the famous dishes here is via a food tour. This way you’ll be hitting two birds with one stone where you get to go around town while eating its most delicious dishes.

Helicopter Tour Mauritius Underwater Waterfall

In a helicopter ride to the famous surreal water spot, travelers soar over the turquoise lagoons and jagged coastline of Le Morne Brabant, where a natural optical illusion creates the so-called Underwater Waterfall. In reality, there’s no actual waterfall; strong ocean currents push sand and silt over the edge of the underwater continental shelf, making it appear as though water plunges into the depths.

Seen from above, the effect is mesmerizing — shifting shades of blue and white give the impression of a cascading torrent. The view offers a unique perspective on Mauritius’ geology and coastline, delivering unforgettable scenery and perfect photo opportunities for those exploring the island from the sky.

Visit Centuries Old Tea Plantation

Laid out in the cool highlands near Curepipe, this tea plantation of Mauritius offers a glimpse into centuries old practice of tea making. While you can visit it alone, we recommend taking a guided tour to make the best of it.

Make the best of your trip by combining it with a tea plantation tour, visiting its centuries old estates and even sitting down for a local lunch! Walk through rolling tea agricultural marks as well as the iconic buildings that made it what it is today. One of those mansions is the Domaine des Aubineaux, built in 1872 that gave way to the famous Mauritian Tea Route.

From there, you can also visit the Bois Cheri Tea Factory and Tea Museum, the island’s first tea plantation dating back to 1892, where guides explain how the leaves are cultivated, processed, and blended.

Rolling further south, you will encounter Rhumerie de Saint Aubin, an estate with over 200 years of history where sugar cane and rum production reveal another layer of Mauritian colonial and agricultural heritage.

The route also includes a stop at La Vanille Nature Park, a lush 3.5-hectare sanctuary where visitors encounter over a thousand Aldabra giant tortoises, Nile crocodiles, and a diverse array of endemic and exotic wildlife. Along the way, taste freshly brewed teas and enjoy a locally prepared three-course lunch, turning what could be a simple plantation visit into a multi-sensory journey that blends history, nature, and flavor in the heart of Mauritius.

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