Port Louis
© OpenStreetMap, CARTO
"Mon péi, mon Lorè" | "My country, my Lorè (treasure)" (in Mauritian Creole)
Why visit
Port Louis offers a fascinating multicultural Indian Ocean capital, walk the central market for vanilla. Spices. Visit the Aapravasi Ghat UNESCO site (where indentured Indian laborers arrived 1849 to 1923). The Blue Penny Museum (home to the world's most valuable stamps). Champ de Mars racecourse (the oldest in the southern hemisphere), and Caudan Waterfront for shopping and views. May to October is the cooler dry season. Use Port Louis as a stop in a wider Mauritian tour, the beaches and reefs are mostly outside the city.
When to avoid
Cyclone season (November to April) can produce serious storms. Check forecasts. Petty theft happens at the central market and waterfront after dark. Tap water is usually safe but bottled is preferred. Driving in central Port Louis is congested. The public bus system or Mauritian taxi is easier. Avoid swimming at the polluted port. Head to the north coast beaches.
