Lonely Planet Mauritius, Reunion & Seychelles , livre ebook

Mauritius, Réunion & the Seychelles

Contents

PLAN YOUR TRIP

Welcome to Mauritius, Réunion & Seychelles
Mauritius, Réunion & Seychelles’ Top 17
Need to Know
Accommodation
If You Like
Month by Month
Itineraries
Diving
Hiking in Réunion
Islands at a Glance

ON THE ROAD

MAURITIUS
Port Louis
Central Plateau
Moka
Curepipe
The North
Balaclava to Pointe aux Piments
Trou Aux Biches & Mont Choisy
Grand Baie
Pereybère
Cap Malheureux
Grand Gaube
Pamplemousses
The West
Flic en Flac
Tamarin & Black River
Chamarel
Black River Gorges National Park
La Gaulette
Le Morne Peninsula
The Southeast
Mahébourg
Pointe d’Esny & Blue Bay
Vieux Grand Port
South Coast
Souillac
Bel Ombre
Around the South Coast
The East
Trou d’Eau Douce
Belle Mare & Palmar
Poste de Flacq & Roches Noires
Understand Mauritius
Mauritius Today
History
Culture
People of Mauritius
Religion
Arts
Architecture
Food & Drink
Environment
Survival Guide
RODRIGUES
Port Mathurin
Around Rodrigues
Understand Rodrigues
Survival Guide
A Glimpse of Paradise
Outdoor Adventures
History & Culture
Idyllic Beaches
The Ultimate Honeymoon
RéUNION
St-Denis
The West
St-Paul
Dos d’Ane
Les Hauts de St-Paul
Le Maïdo
Boucan Canot
St-Gilles-les-Bains
L’Hermitage-les-Bains
La Saline-les-Bains
St-Leu
Les Hauts de St-Leu
Étang-Salé-les-Bains
Entre-Deux
Les Makes
The Cirques
Cirque de Cilaos
Cirque de Salazie
Cirque de Mafate
Les Hautes Plaines & the Volcano
Plaine-des-Cafres
Grand Bassin
Piton de la Fournaise (The Volcano)
Plaine-des-Palmistes
St-Pierre
The Wild South
St-Pierre to St-Joseph
St-Joseph
Les Hauts de St-Joseph
St-Joseph to Grand Coude
St-Joseph to St-Philippe
St-Philippe
Le Grand Brûlé
The East
Ste-Suzanne
St-André
Bras-Panon
St-Benoît
Ste-Anne
Ste-Rose
Understand Réunion
Réunion Today
History
Culture
Arts
Architecture
Food & Drink
Environment
Survival Guide
SEYCHELLES
Mahé
Victoria
Eden Island
Ste Anne Marine National Park
Beau Vallon & the North Coast
Morne Seychellois National Park
East Coast
West Coast
Praslin
La Digue
Other Inner Islands
Silhouette
North Island
Denis
Bird Island
Frégate
Félicité
Outer Islands
Alphonse Island
Desroches
Understand Seychelles
Seychelles Today
History
Culture
Arts
Food & Drink
Environment
Survival Guide

UNDERSTAND

Health
BEFORE YOU GO
Planning
Health Insurance
Medical Checklist
Useful Resources
IN MAURITIUS, RÉUNION & SEYCHELLES
Availability & Cost of Health Care
Infectious Diseases
Diving Health & Safety
Environmental Hazards
Language
Behind the Scenes
Our Writers
Welcome to Mauritius, Réunion & Seychelles

Blessed with superlative landscapes and idyllic beaches, rich in activities and culinary experiences, Mauritius, Réunion and the Seychelles offer the best cure for the blues.

From Beach to Adventure
Believe it or not, a day will come during your stay when you decide you’ve had enough with the beach lounging. Mauritius, Rodrigues, Réunion and the Seychelles aren’t just about pampering and relaxation; when it comes to recharging adrenaline levels, they have big surprises up their sleeves. Hike the footpaths that criss-cross the islands, ranging from meandering trails to trudges up mountains; scuba dive in enticing warm waters, marvelling at more than 300 species of fish (and the odd shipwreck or two); catch the wind and waves on a kiteboard; take a boat tour; explore magnetic canyons; or discover the countryside on horseback.

Life’s a Beach
The Seychelles (and, to a lesser extent, Mauritius) is home to perhaps the sexiest beaches in the world. From intimate, hard-to-reach coves to mile-long crescents of white sand, the choice is endless. They’re so consistently perfect that it’s hard not to become blasé about them. That’s why people come here to spend days on the beach under the bright tropical sun, swinging in hammocks, splashing in the sea and sipping a cocktail. Even Réunion, which doesn’t fit the cliché of a sun-soaked paradise, has a few good stretches of sand.

To Luxe or Not to Luxe
It’s hardly surprising that the Seychelles and Mauritius are choice destinations for honeymooners: here the world’s most exclusive hotels compete with each other to attain ever-greater heights of luxury, from personal butlers and private lap pools to in-room massages and pillow menus – not to mention sensuous spas. But if this is not in your budget, don’t let that dissuade you from buying a ticket to these destinations. Small, family-run hotels, bed and breakfasts and self-catering establishments offer a closer-to-the-culture experience at prices that won’t require you to remortgage the house.

Cultural Gems
Don’t for a second assume that these islands are for beach holidays, nature and adrenaline only – there’s so much more to each destination that any trip will be an unforgettable and exciting experience. Across the region, you can explore a fascinating colonial past in myriad mansions and museums, attend a music festival or a fire-walking ceremony, visit an old sugar factory or a restored Creole villa, or simply soak up the atmosphere of a picturesque village. One thing’s for sure, culture buffs won’t be disappointed.

Le Morne Peninsula , Mauritius | MYROSLAVA BOZHKO/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Why I Love Mauritius, Réunion & Seychelles
By Anthony Ham, Writer
I’m with Mark Twain: Mauritius may have been the model for heaven. The first time I laid eyes on the place, I fell in love with the beaches, but I also love the melting-pot cultural mix, beautiful forests and wildlife, and the opportunities for hiking the mountainous interior, all on one small island. Rodrigues, with its refreshingly retro lack of development, is another favourite – a real Mauritius-as-it-once-was experience. And the Seychelles, even down to its name, carries echoes of luxury and superb natural beauty, its islands dropped like pearls into a remote, tropical corner of the Indian Ocean.
For more, see Our Writers
Mauritius, Réunion & Seychelles’ Top 17

Reaching the Summit of Piton de la Fournaise (Réunion)
Piton de la Fournaise is Réunion’s crowning glory. Seen from the viewpoint at Pas de Bellecombe, le volcan (as it’s known to locals) broods black and beautiful, its shapely form towering over the island. Even though this is an active volcano, it’s still possible to climb up to the crater rim and stare down into the abyss – a seriously memorable sight. Hiking and horse trails lead to the summit, while a scenic helicopter flight offers the ultimate bird’s-eye view down into the caldera.

ERIC VALENNE GEOSTORY/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Top Experiences
Anse Lazio (Seychelles)
On the northwest tip of Praslin, Anse Lazio is a reminder of just why the Seychelles has become one of the most alluring destinations in the Indian Ocean. The beach here is near perfect, a stereotype come to life, with golden sands, granite boulders at either end, palm trees and unbearably beautiful waters somewhere between turquoise and lapis lazuli. Ideal for hours spent lying on the beach, snorkelling or eating in the beachfront restaurant, Anse Lazio is the sort of place you’ll never want to leave.

HAVESEEN/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Top Experiences
The Northeastern Coastal Walk (Rodrigues)
There are few finer trails in the Indian Ocean than the coastal path on east-coast Rodrigues between Graviers and St François. There are no roads in this corner of the island, and you’ll want to linger at Trou d’Argent, one of the prettiest beaches anywhere in Mauritius. At the end of the trail (or the beginning, depending on where you start), St François has some fine informal restaurants, such as the fabulously fishy and breezy Chez Robert et Solange for lunch, and the tranquil St François beach.

RICARDO STEPHAN/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Top Experiences
Diving for Wildlife Treasures (Mauritius)
Some of the Indian Ocean’s best dives are found off the west coast of Mauritius . The architecture of the underwater rock formations and the substantial schools of fish make the waters off Flic en Flac in particular a world-class dive destination and there are numerous dive schools on hand to take you out, regardless of your level of experience. The best sites are the walls and drop-offs on the edge of the turquoise lagoon, and La Cathédrale, near Flic en Flac, is simply marvellous.

ARCO IMAGES GMBH/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO ©

Top Experiences
Trekking the Cirque de Mafate (Réunion)
Perhaps the finest set of multiday hikes anywhere in the Indian Ocean, the Cirque de Mafate feels like you’re traversing the end of the earth. Wild and remote, watched over by fortress-like ridges and riven with deep valleys, this is an extraordinary experience. A four-day hike through the Haut Mafate can be combined with the four-day, even-more-secluded Bas Mafate. Best of all, these hikes take you through quiet mountain hamlets where you’ll find lodges where the welcome is warm and genuine.

SIMEON/GETTY IMAGES ©

Top Experiences
Île aux Aigrettes (Mauritius)
Lying offshore from the dramatically beautiful southeastern coast, Île aux Aigrettes is one place where time has moved in reverse. With an ancient ebony forest and extensive programs to restore to the island wildlife species that were, in the not-too-distant past, in danger of extinction on the mainland, the nature reserve can feel like a return to the precontact time before Dutch sailors arrived in 1598. Highlights include the rather lovely pink pigeon, the vivid Mauritian fody and free-ranging wild tortoises

BENNY MARTY/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Top Experiences
Chambres & Tables d’Hôtes (Mauritius)
Whether on Mauritius’ west coast or in the quiet highlands of Rodrigues, staying in a chambre d’hôte is a wonderful way to learn about local life. Rooms in these family-run gu