Mauritian Ti' Punch (page 6 of 7)

I just realized I completely forgot about the hiking scene in Mauritius.

I think you're not the only one! 😉 Apart from Le Morne, there really weren’t many people on the trails—mostly locals.

Congrats on making it to the top—the hike is pretty demanding, but what a view!

Thanks for the applause! 😉

The fact that you can stop and turn back whenever you want makes it easier to keep going. Plus, I’m the stubborn type once I’ve set my mind to something...

We were lucky it wasn’t crowded. If it had been packed, I’m not sure I would’ve made it all the way for fear of others making mistakes.

Physically, it’s not the hardest hike I’ve done. This one was way more exhausting.

But it *is* the most dangerous. 🤪

Personally, the Le Morne area—and really the whole southwest quarter of the island—is by far my favorite part of Mauritius.

I also preferred the southern part of the island over the north. It’s a bit wilder.

The sky is gray, rain is threatening.

We had planned to go canoeing-kayaking this morning, and we're sticking to it.

Either way, we won’t be staying dry!

The rental place is located in Tamarin, by the river of the same name.

We rent a two-seater for a couple of hours, and off we go for a workout!

First, we paddle up the Tamarin River to get the hang of the gear.

The clouds are drizzling a bit, and we’re surrounded by water.



A perfect U-turn, and we head toward Tamarin Bay.

We leave the canoe-kayak on the sand for a short walk along the shore.

Then it’s back for another workout—this time, paddling up the Rivière du Rempart.





We pass by beautiful villas before the river disappears into the forest.





A great vibe despite the gloomy weather!



We return our boats right on time—just in time for lunch, too...

Food stalls on Tamarin Beach offer snacks.

Soon, we’re each enjoying a *mine frite* while watching the surfers.









At just a few euros for two portions, this will be the most budget-friendly meal of the trip! 😊

A little stroll in the forest to wrap up the day?

We head to the nearest entrance of the Black River Gorges National Park and take the first trail that comes our way.









It must be so nice to take refuge there during the hot season!

Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to enjoy here, given the variety of hikes available!

There’s something for every level.

For our part, we’ll only go as far as the Kiosk Cave, an easy 3-kilometer round-trip walk.

After burning all those calories paddling and then walking, we’ve earned a good dinner, right?

So we head back to Pakbo to devour a carry and some chili fritters.





Enjoy your meal...

Looks like you had pretty gloomy weather overall 😕 Is that usual for this season? (I thought it’d be nicer with cooler temps, sure, but still plenty of sun... seems that wasn’t the case.)

Definitely a great vibe during your sporty stroll along the river! 😊

I really wasn’t expecting this weather at all.

I knew it wouldn’t be scorching hot, but I thought it’d be sunny since it’s the dry season.

I feel like the climate’s gone haywire on this side of the planet too!

The lack of warmth and blue skies changed our plans a bit. We didn’t do any sea outings.

The riverside of Rempart is really nice. We saw birds and you can also spot monkeys there.

The trip is almost over.

We’re handing back the keys to the villa and then driving to our final stop, Blue Bay.

Along the way, we stop at Le Morne beach for a long swim/walk break.

The sky is finally blue, and the sun is lighting up the sand.













This beach, already pretty under mixed weather, is absolutely stunning!

After that, we make a stop in Souillac for lunch.



Still under glorious sunshine! !

I then check Google Maps to find one last tourist spot along the way.

Why not Le Souffleur?

A good and bad idea at the same time...

Bad because the track to get there is really rough. With a high-clearance car, why not, but a more classic model requires some skill to avoid damaging the undercarriage!







Good because the site is incredibly wild: lava cliffs, a tumultuous ocean, and a festival of waves crashing at our feet.













We reluctantly leave this fascinating spectacle to cover the last few kilometers to our lodging.

We booked a studio with a lagoon view in the small seaside resort of Blue Bay, which has the advantage of being only about fifteen minutes from the airport—perfect for an early morning flight!

This studio, the most expensive accommodation of our trip, is only worth its price for its location and view.



Not bad, right?

However, the apartment’s interior could really use a renovation...

We drop our bags, put on our swimsuits, and go for a dip in the water.

An ideal spot for families—this lagoon has waters as calm as they are clear!

Temperature-wise, though, it’s still pretty chilly...

This day under the big blue sky will end at the area’s one and only restaurant, the Bamboo Restaurant & Bar.

It’s lively, and it’s best to book a table!

The clientele is a mix of locals and expats, which makes a nice change from the restaurants in Flic-en-Flac.





We had such a great time that we immediately booked a table for the next day! !

I don’t think it’s possible to ever get tired of a view like this!



Needless to say, we’re taking our time with our toast and coffee.

Anyway, the day is all about relaxing, and luckily, the weather is gorgeous.

We eventually leave our terrace mid-morning to go for a dip at Pointe d’Esny.









Here, the ocean has forgotten how to be calm, and the swim is pretty wild.





A strong current sweeps the snorkelers away, and I get caught in it.

I panic a little and try to reach the rocky ridge that seems so close.

Come on! One last push, and you should be able to touch the bottom!

Phew...

The craziest thing that’s ever happened to me while traveling wasn’t a face-off with a lion or an elephant, it wasn’t a vertigo-inducing hike, it wasn’t even a walk through a sketchy part of Latin America—it was just a swim in the Indian Ocean! !

To recover from our emotions, we have lunch on the terrace of a restaurant in Mahébourg before taking a quick tour of the town.

The streets are deserted, the quays are deserted, the market is deserted...









Only the bus station shows any sign of life!







We’re now heading back home for one last dip in the sea.

This time in the calm lagoon of Blue Bay...

The terrace turns out to be just as pleasant in the evening as it is in the morning.

It’s gonna be tough going back to work soon!

We drown our sorrows in one last Savannah Dry before heading off to dinner.





Don’t stay up too late—tomorrow we’re waking up at the crack of dawn!

The alarm goes off before dawn.

We enjoy our sublime terrace one last time before leaving Blue Bay for the airport.

We were originally supposed to leave in the evening with Air Mauritius, but the airline canceled its flight, leaving passengers more or less in the lurch.

Sure, customer service rebooked us on a flight scheduled for the middle of the night, but they refused to provide accommodation or handle the connection to Lyon...

In short, an airline to avoid—one that’s also teetering on the brink of bankruptcy since Covid.

Thanks to email exchanges with Air Mauritius, Air France transferred us to their flight. We had, in fact—and very fortunately—booked our tickets with them!

Too bad the Air France flight left in the morning; our trip was cut short by a day!

We now return our rental car. It’s a bit chaotic, but no hidden fees will be charged.

Well, since the employee forgot to take a deposit at check-in, it would’ve been hard...

The flight leaves on time and goes smoothly.

Long live the selection of movies and series, plus my Bose headphones!

A quick connection in Paris, and here we are in Lyon, where the Sandero is waiting for us.

I forgot to tell you about the new parking system at this airport!

You arrive in front of what looks like garages right next to the shuttle.

You scan your reservation, a door opens.

You park your vehicle, making sure to keep your wheels on the white lines, then leave the small hangar.

The door closes, and the screen tells you that you have 5 minutes to reopen it and retrieve any forgotten luggage.

Five minutes later, the opposite door opens, and a robot (a sort of tow truck) comes to pick up your vehicle and parks it in an outdoor lot.

Amazing!

On the way back, the robot brought the car a little before the indicated time.

All you have to do is scan your reservation, a door opens, and you can leave!

Super convenient for avoiding the hassle of finding a parking spot, quick for catching the shuttle, and no walking required!

But not great if you need to change your pickup time...

The process isn’t automated, so you have to email the airport services...

What conclusion can we draw from this foray into the Indian Ocean?

The good and the not-so-good!

Mauritius is a financially accessible destination—except for airfare. The food is great, the change of scenery is real (you could almost believe you’re in India), some beaches are dreamy, and there are enough hiking routes to enjoy for a good week.

The big downside is the weather (and also the traffic)...

Even though September is the dry season, it wasn’t great...

Neither in terms of sunshine nor temperatures.

The water was chilly, hardly inviting for those sensitive to the cold.

This was supposed to be a beach vacation, and from that perspective, it was a bit of a miss.

I wouldn’t recommend this destination during the austral winter but rather during the shoulder seasons.



See you soon for a new destination—European this time! 😊

Thanks for this refreshing travel journal. Can’t argue with that—the sun really does change everything, especially the colors of the water 😎. And how did you end up feeling about Réunion in the end?

le soleil ça change tout

It’s true that the latest photos match the idea we have of Mauritius much better!

And compared to Réunion, what did you think in the end?

Hard to compare.

First of all, these two islands are different, but I also didn’t visit them under the same weather conditions...

The bad weather kind of ruined this trip for me, whereas the weather was much nicer in Réunion—warmer!

If you want a more relaxed, beachy vacation, Mauritius is the place to go (just pick a warmer season...). You can enjoy the beach and still do a few hikes. The change of scenery is total with that very Indian vibe.

If you’re not into beaches but prefer landscapes and long hikes, Réunion is the way to go. The coastal areas aren’t as nice as in Mauritius, but the landscapes are more breathtaking (which doesn’t mean Mauritius’ are bad!). Réunion also feels less exotic in terms of population.

Money-wise, if you exclude the flight, Mauritius is cheaper, I think.

In short, the ideal combo is both! One-third Mauritius for the ocean, two-thirds Réunion for the inland!

I highly recommend staying in the southern part of Mauritius. Morne Beach is gorgeous, and it’s close to the wild coast (Gris Gris, Le Souffleur, etc.) as well as Black River Gorges National Park.

I think it's impossible to get tired of a view like that!

I think it's possible 🙂

Thanks Agnès for this report—I followed it without much enthusiasm. I’m not really into the sea, and on top of that, if the weather isn’t nice . Still, I did spot 2 or 3 bottles that looked particularly interesting! And what an adventure: the Devil’s Hike, Agnès going with the flow—watch out, you’re becoming a daredevil! 🙂😉

You’re talking about the new parking lot at LYS, is it P1?

Thanks for your feedback, Agnès! I enjoyed revisiting some spots and had a few regrets about others we missed. But it’s always the same—you can’t do it all!

We were there in March and April, and while the temperatures were nice in the air and water, we also had some unpredictable weather, especially in Rodrigues! The only places where it was really sunny were the most touristy areas (northwest of Mauritius, then).

Anyway, I loved Rodrigues because you also take a trip back in time there, but while I liked Mauritius, I wouldn’t go back. Have a great evening! 😊

Thanks Agnès, personally, I wasn’t too keen on it, but your travel journal suggests other really nice spots… not sure I’d put this destination back at the top of my list 😅

True, if you're not great with the sea, this destination isn't for you! 🙂

The parking lot in Lyon is the automated P5. I had booked it without noticing the "automated" part! I only saw what it meant once I got there.