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Port Louis

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In the Indian Ocean, just off the coast of Madagascar lie the two small islands of Reunion and Mauritius. The easternmost of these islands; Mauritius lies some 1000 miles from mainland Mozambique with a diameter of around 25 miles across at its widest point. Mauritius' capital is the district of Port Louis, where Mauritian gastronomy, great shops, idyllic beaches and a menagerie of historical attractions prevail.

While Port Louis is the smallest of all 9 districts of Mauritius, it is one of the most densely populated with over 145,000 residents spanning 18.9 square miles. The economy of this district is led by its port, on the western coast of the island where a large number of container vessels are traded each day. Port Louis became a popular choice for international trading when the French recognized that it was well sheltered by the Moka Mountains just to the south. After Johannesburg, Port Louis is also the most important financial district in the whole of Africa.

The primary language spoken in Port Louis is English, much like the rest of the island, while French, Hindi, Telugu Tamil and English all make up Mauritian Creole; a language derived from all of the aforementioned languages. This helps the tourism industry in this district to thrive as visitors from the UK, France and the US experience no language barriers.

As well as Port Louis being adorned with historical architecture such as Fort Adelaide and the Saint Louis Cathedral, the district is also surrounded by the Moka mountain range with reaches 800 meters above sea level at its highest point. Together with its coastal location, these factors make Port Louis an ideal tourist destination, with a lot to offer its visitors.

Areas

Moka Mountains

The Moka Mountains are those which surround the district and Mauritian capital of Port Louis. Traveling to the top of the Mokas will provide you with spectacular views over the Indian Ocean to the east and the rest of Mauritius to the south west.

The Harbor

As with any coastal town the harbor at Port Louis is the center of where everything happens. Not only is the trade industry focused on this area but boats and ferries welcome tourists into the district and onto Mauritius. The Caudan waterfront shopping and leisure center is located just opposite the harbor and the Port Louis market isn't far away.

Weather

The few months before winter starts (January, February and March) marks a time when Mauritius experiences high winds, heavy rains and even cyclones so this is probably the only time not to visit. November to April is summer time for Port Louis with temperatures reaching 34ºC and strong sunshine.

Average Temperatures

F/C	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
F	80	80	79	77	75	72	71	70	71	74	76	78
C	27	27	26	25	24	22	22	21	22	23	24	26

Average Precipitation/Rain

In./CM	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
In.	8.8	9.8	9.6	7.8	5.5	3.7	3.9	3.2	2.2	2.3	3.1	7
CM	22.4	24.9	24.4	19.8	14	9.4	9.9	8.1	5.6	5.8	7.9	17.8

Getting There

By Plane

The nearest airport to Port Louis is 26 miles southeast of the district and is known as the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam international airport (or Plaisance international airport if you can't handle the first mouthful!) in Plaine Magnien. The airport is on the opposite side of the island to Port Louis so you will need to either take a bus or hire a car from the airport, but the drive is not a hard one.

By Car

There are plenty of places to rent a car in Mauritius, particularly near the Plaisance international airport. The roads across the island are very well established and UK drivers will be pleased to learn that Mauritians drive on the left hand side of the road.

By Boat

Because Port Louis is right on the coast and has a harbor it is possible to hire a boat or catch a ferry right to the heart of your destination from Madagascar or Reunion Island. Please note, however, that the services are not always regular and air travel is a more reliable way to arrive.

Getting Around

By Car

Again, car rental in Port Louis is an easy process with many of the larger car rental companies such as Hertz offering their services. You may, however, find the traffic in Port Louis itself a little hectic. If you are planning to travel around the island and not just around the Port Louis district then it may be a good idea to hire a car just to get past the Moka mountain range.

On Foot

Mauritius is just 25 square miles wide at its largest point and Port Louis itself covers little over 5 miles in diameter. Therefore with so many attractions and amenities packed into such a small place it should be possible for visitors to see them all on foot. If you have particularly young children or limited mobility then there is a taxi service available.

Sights & Activities

Champ De Mars Racecourse

'The oldest racecourse in the southern hemisphere'; Champ De Mars is a great day out for the whole family and has been ever since it was built in 1812. Located right in the heart of Port Louis it isn't hard to find and all the best amenities are right next door.

Caudan Waterfront

Facing the harbor is Port Louis' shopping district and number one destination for visitors looking to shop, watch films, drink and eat at some of the islands finest boutiques, restaurants, cafés and bars. As well as being a great hangout for the younger generations, the Caudan Waterfront acts as the ideal location for families for a fun and relaxed day out.

Port Louis Market

This district is well known for its great value clothing but visitors mustn't forget the Port Louis market near the harbor which brings fantastic traditional Mauritian handmade crafts, alternative medicines, coffee and tea, meats, seafood, fruit and vegetables.

Volunteer Beach

No Mauritian holiday would be complete without a trip to a white, sandy beach and Port Louis' Volunteer beach is the ideal location for just that kind of trip. Not only is the sea warm and the sand soft here, but the wildlife is abundant too with flocks of King Penguins who come to the shores to breed.