Practical Information for visiting Mauritius

The currency is the Mauritian rupee, MUR, divided into 100 cents and, as the tourism board notes, used nowhere else; it advises waiting to exchange cash on the island for a better rate, and there are ATMs and exchange desks at the airport as you exit baggage reclaim. Both advisories warn that theft is frequent at or near street ATMs, so use those inside banks and hotels. Card acceptance and tipping are not summarised here until they have been read on an authority's page; a high-income island economy takes cards in its resorts and towns, and cash in its markets.

Canada advises normal security precautions in Mauritius, and Britain that most crime is non-violent: burglaries from tourist villas and theft of unattended bags, with petty crime common in the tourist areas of Port Louis, Grand Baie and Flic en Flac, especially at night, in markets and on public beaches, in hotel rooms and at or near street ATMs. Violent crime is rare and tourists are usually not its target, but there have been some reports of sexual assaults on tourists. The steps both advisories give: a secure room with the passport in the safe, no walking alone after dark, care at ATMs, accommodation registered with the Mauritius Tourism Authority, no business with street or beach vendors, and any incident reported to the tourist police on 999.

The sea: certain coastal waters are prone to riptides, beach equipment may not meet international safety standards, and stonefish stings can be fatal. Cyclones from November to May, mostly January to March. Terrorism has no recent history but cannot be ruled out. Drugs including cannabis carry sentences of up to 25 years, and even cigarette papers are illegal.

The health risks the advisories name are dengue, chikungunya and schistosomiasis in fresh water; mosquito protection is the practical measure, and arrivals from countries where malaria is common may be asked for a blood sample at the border. Stonefish stings are rare but can be fatal -- get urgent medical attention, and many hotels stock anti-venom serum; reef shoes prevent most. Healthcare: good private care is available but can be expensive, and more complex cases may need evacuation to Réunion or South Africa, so insurance must cover it; medical assistance is on 114. Some prescribed medicines -- tranquillisers, hypnotics, narcotics and strong painkillers -- need prior authorisation from the Ministry of Health to bring in, and some pharmaceutical drugs are prohibited outright.

Drugs: possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs, including cannabis, carries heavy fines and jail sentences of up to 25 years, and an accused must stay in the country until the case ends; pack your own luggage and carry nothing for anyone. Cigarette papers and rolling machines are illegal to possess or import. Pornography is prohibited to import or possess.

Identification: police may occasionally ask for it. Driving: on the left, zero tolerance for alcohol, licence valid four weeks then a permit. Same-sex activity was decriminalised in October 2023; the society is relatively conservative and attitudes vary, and Canada records that some acts remain punishable, so discretion is the rule.

Dress modestly away from the beach and in temples and mosques; ask before photographing people; behave discreetly in public. Tipping, beach vending and drone rules are not summarised here until they have been read on an authority's page.

Emergency numbers: police 999 or 112, medical assistance 114, firefighters 995 or 115. The tourist police are reached on 999; road accidents are reported to the police on 230-208-1212.

Cyclones: the Mauritius Meteorological Services issues phased warnings in the November-to-May season; follow the government information service and the hotel.

Consular: there is no Canadian government office in Mauritius; the British High Commission is in Port Louis. Serious medical cases may be evacuated to Réunion or South Africa.