Information listed in alphabetical order.

Monday to Thursday: 9.15 am - 3.15 pm
Friday: 9.15 am - 3.30 pm
Saturday: 9.15 am -11.15 am (some banks only).

Banks are also open to coincide with the arrival and departure of international flights at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (SSR) Airport.

Port Louis is the main business hub of Mauritius. Standard business practice applies to the island: punctuality and politeness is important, handshakes and the exchanging of business cards takes place on meeting and in general business attire is worn. It is however possible to be somewhat more casual in terms of dress and visitors can take their cue from the hosts.

Lightweight materials are recommended due to the tropical climate. English is the official language of Mauritius, though French is also widely spoken. Business hours can vary though are usually from 9 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday, with some businesses are open for a half-day on Saturdays.

Conference facilities are to be found in the large hotels. Freestanding convention centres can accommodate up to 6,000 delegates. International conferences, such as UNESCO are being staged in Mauritius as the entire infrastructure required is in place.

Mauritius is a blend of diverse cultures and religions. The population consists of Hindus, Creole, Chinese, Muslims and Europeans. French and English are widely spoken, and the locals speak Creole.

The currency of Mauritius is the Mauritian Rupee (MRU), which is divided into 100 cents. Travellers cheques and foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and larger hotels. Cash is usually exchanged at a poorer rate than travellers cheques. ATMs are widely available in most towns and most hotels, restaurants and large retailers accept major credit cards.

People in Mauritius drive on the left-hand side of the road and give way to the right.

Foreigners with a driving licence issued by a Competent Authority in their respective countries are allowed to drive during their stay in Mauritius.

Police:            208-7018/20
Ambulance:   999
Fire:                995

Mauritian cookery reflects the culture of the island which is both cosmopolitan and heterogeneous, so a visit to Mauritius automatically implies a gastronomical round the-world tour. The diversity of the Mauritian society is reflected in its food. French, Indian, African, Chinese and Malagasy influences have produced an exotic Creole cuisine with basic flavours of garlic, ginger, thyme, tomatoes and chilli.

Mauritius’ rich multi-cultural heritage has inspired another local speciality - its splendid cuisine. You can put this through its paces in an amazingly wide variety of venues - from the island’s leading resort hotels, rated amongst the world’s finest beach properties, to a host of smaller hotels and informal restaurants. Between them they contrive a host of palate-pleasing choices that range from the sophisticated to the simple, the reassuringly familiar to the deliciously new.

Something to remember is that it is the nearby ocean that lends Mauritian cooking its particular character. Try some crab stock, oysters au gratin, or the countless ways of preparing fish - for instance with vindaye, a spicy sauce with vin d'oil (literally 'garlic wine') which is also served with octopus.

The markets and hotel tables display mountains of fruit: pawpaws, watermelons, pineapples, bananas, guavas, passion fruit, bigarades, and lemons. In summer (November to May) you can take your pick from lychees, mangoes, and longanes.

During your stay do allow yourself the pleasure of eating local food at a table d’ hote or in the various specialised restaurants. Although the food in the hotels is always of a high standard, take time to sample the local restaurants where your taste buds will be pleasantly surprised.

Something you should take into consideration is that some menus' include VAT (15%) and other's don't. It is advisable to drink bottled water.

Mauritius is located approximately 2,000 kilometres to the south eastern coast of Africa and lies east of Madagascar on 20°5, 57.5E. The country covers an area of 1,865 km with 330 kilometres of coastline. Mauritius is 45 km in width and 65 km in length.

On the map tiny Mauritius appears as no more than a speck amid the blue eternity of the Indian Ocean, 1,200 miles off the coast of East Africa.

But into an area the size of an English county Mauritius packs extravagant, ever-changing contrasts that defy geography. At sea level the landscape is carpeted by the luxuriant green of vast sugar-cane plantations. Against the skyline rise the dramatic purple silhouettes of craggy volcanic mountains, amid which verdant tropical forests, waterfalls, gorges and fast-flowing rivers await exploration.

Above all, there’s Mauritius’ long, fretted coastline, fringed by a delicate tracery of waving casuarinas - and 100 miles of exotic, sandy beaches.

The bays and coves that line the island’s shores, protected by one of the world's longest unbroken coral reefs, and the crystal-clear Indian Ocean waters, makes Mauritius a superb holiday choice for the beachcomber and watersports enthusiast.

Mauritius is a democratic state based on the United Kingdom model and enjoys political stability.

Prime Minister, Dr. Navin Ramgoolam, a doctor of medicine and a lawyer, has obtained his degrees from British universities. So have his two Vice Prime Ministers: the Minister of Finance, Rama Sithanen who, some years back, was named Best Finance Minister in the World and the Minister of Tourism and External Communications, Xavier-Luc Duval, a Chartered Accountant who is the son of the late sir Gaetan Duval, QCs who was, as the then Minister of Foreign Affairs of the fledgling independent nation, instrumental in placing Mauritius firmly on the world map of up-market tourism. His Prime Minister then was none other than Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, father of the incumbent.

No vaccination certificates are required for entry into Mauritius, unless travelling from a country infected by yellow fever or where yellow fever is classified as endemic. Typhoid and hepatitis vaccinations are recommended. Stonefish stings are uncommon but can in some cases be fatal. You should obtain urgent medical attention if stung; many hotels stock anti-venom serum.

Visitors should take precautions against mosquito bites as there have been several cases of the Chikungunya virus, which is spread by mosquito bites. Travellers should stick to bottled water. Medical facilities are good and free in public hospitals, but private clinics can be expensive and medical insurance is recommended.

There is no malaria risk in Mauritius.

Its hospitable welcome is another Mauritius speciality. A melting-pot of races, religions and cultures, the island has in the past welcomed Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch, French, British, Indians, Chinese and Africans. The result is that today’s Mauritians today do not see themselves as any of these - but as just a cosmopolitan island people, living in easygoing harmony in this genuinely friendly Indian Ocean setting.

This World Bank agency, which insures investors in foreign countries, has given Mauritius one of its best ratings resulting in the lowest premiums.

Nudism and topless sunbathing are frowned upon on public beaches. No hotel permits nude sunbathing on beaches. Topless sunbathing are sometimes tolerated.

1.2 million (Year 2003)

220 volts and two and three pins and used

There are 15 public holidays every year. Seven of them are fixed holidays: January 1st & 2nd, 1st February, 12th March, 1st May, 2nd November and 25th December. The remaining public holidays are religious festivals whose dates vary from year to year.

A tourist police service has been set up to ensure security in the touristic zones.

Please note the following essential advice to enjoy your stay:

• Keep an eye on all personal belongings at all times.
• Be careful when withdrawing money from a cash point.
• Avoid wearing expensive jewellery.
• Do not leave anything inside your car.
• (For trips or purchases) use only recognised operators or suppliers.
• Keep your passports, plane tickets, jewellery of value and large sums of money in safe custody.
• For sea excursions, do not rent boats with inadequate security standards.
• During individual sea trips, always notify the person responsible for the boat house.
• Do not go swimming in areas where it is forbidden.

A visit to Mauritius is usually trouble free, however petty crime can be a problem. Visitors should be aware of pick-pocketing in the central market in Port Louis. Care should be taken of bags and valuables when visiting popular tourist areas such as Pereybere, Grand Baie, Flic en Flac and Tamarin.

Shopping hours in the main cities varies from 9.30 am to 7.30 pm (Monday-Saturday), and some shops are open until 12 pm on Sundays and public holidays. Please check locally as shopping hours varies across the Island.

The island has a reputation as a shopping paradise and you will see there are excellent shopping opportunities and prices are very reasonable. Mauritius has an enviable reputation for textiles production, namely for sweaters and other knitwear. Leading brands are sold at unbeatable prices all over the island and factory shops offers great bargains in items manufactured for the top international brands. Jewellery, Textile, watches, cellular phones, cameras, paintings, sunglasses amongst other things are Duty Free.

There is something for everyone on this wonderful, diverse island.

GMT +4 / +3 (Winter / Summer).

Mauritius has international direct dialling facilities to most parts of the world as well as high speed fax and internet services.

Mauritius is linked to the major world centres by submarine optic cables and satellites. Mauritius Telecom, which is 40% owned by France Telecom, is launching ADSL TV in March 2006, whilst the government owned, Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) provides analogue and digital TV channels and private operators offer satellite TV (English and French).

A value added tax of 15% are payable on goods and services including hotel and restaurant bills.

No deadly or even seriously harmful pests. Being a sub-tropical island, the occasional bee or wasp sting may occur. In the sea, watch out for sea urchins, stonefish and the lionfish. Uncommon, in most lagoons they can inflict a nasty sting, if encountered.

Private Sector:


Monday to Friday: 8.30 am - 4.15 pm
Saturday: 9am - noon (some offices)

Public Sector:


Monday to Friday: 9 am - 4 pm
Saturday: 9 am - noon (skeleton service).