Then, continue to the craft market. Everyone wants to bring back home a small piece of Mauritius and we understand why! The Craft Market, located at Caudan, will surely help you in finding your piece of Mauritius. Based on a two-storey building within the Caudan Waterfront complex, The Craft Market is known for its unique craft collection. With 36 stalls, visitors will get a wide variety of products ranging from exquisite woodwork to detailed baskets without forgetting beautiful glass souvenirs. You will also find items made from seashells, boxes of ground spics, embroidered linen, handmade jewellery, and the very famous African rag doll dressed in a typical sega outfit. Many of the handicrafts are made by the stalls owners, their families, or sourced from their villages, so you will get the chance of meeting the artists behind the paintings on sale or even witness your name being engraved on a wooden keychain. The location of The Craft Market is definitely one of the best as well.

Then, head to the local market. We know that you will probably never be fed up with beaches but a visit to the Central Market located in Port Louis is a must for anyone visiting Mauritius. Here at the bustling Central Market, you will find shops that fit all your needs, ready-made garments, spices, jewellery, watches, shoes, crafts amongst others. We do recommend tasting the dhal puri, made with split chickpea and flour, and the famous alouda, almost like a milkshake with basil seeds, grated jam, and sometimes a scoop of ice. If you wish to try some of the local snacks, you will find a large choice of samosas, bajas (fritters made with chickpea flour) or gato piment (fritters made with yellow split pea and chilli). The Central Market remains busy as it is one of the main shopping spots for locals and attracts people across the island for shopping. It is definitely worth a visit for you to learn more about how locals live and experience the Mauritian vibe.

China Town is filled with shops, many being over a hundred years old. Some chinese families have been running their businesses for generations and would rarely opt to upgrade to newer building structures. We came across quite a few tiny and dark retail shops. These were the ones that gave us the Chinese- Orient feeling. China Town does have new generation buildings as well where some businesses operate. Trade has always been part of the Sino-Mauritian culture. For long China Town was the trade centre in Mauritius but this declined with the introduction of supermarkets on the island. China Town declined as a commercial hub and lost its former glory- many of the Chinese shops (we lovingly call them “la boutik sinwa”) were abandoned which left China Town desolate.

Afterwards, you'll head to visit The Aapravasi Ghat which is a World Heritage Site located on the Bay of Trou Fanfaron in Port Louis. This historical site served as an immigration depot by the colonial British government in 1849. It has played a pivotal role in the Mauritian history, as it is from this very instance that the Mauritian population became more diverse than ever. It was here that indentured labourers transited before starting a new life on the island or set off to other distant lands. Between 1834 and 1920, about half a million immigrants, mainly from India, some from China, Madagascar or Africa, began working on the various sugar plantations across the island.

continue to the Citadel Fort which is now famous for the 360-degree view of the Capital. Here, you will have a breathtaking view of the Capital and you get it from all angles! You will have views of China Town, Champ de Mars, and mountains all at one place. So pack your things and bring along your camera as panoramic pictures are a must at this spot! The little piece of historical architecture is sure to impress you