Packing list for Mauritius, travel insurance for Mauritius and taking your belongings

What to bring to Mauritius: brief

To pack and check

• Documents and money: a passport valid for the entire duration of your stay or for at least 6 months, depending on your nationality. For many travelers (including EU citizens), a free visa for up to 90 days is issued upon arrival. Before departure, you are required to complete the digital All-in-One Travel Digital Form, and upon arrival, you may be asked for a return ticket, accommodation details, and sufficient funds. The local currency is the Mauritian rupee (MUR). You can withdraw cash and pay by credit card almost everywhere in cities and resorts, but some cash is handy for local markets and street food.
• Clothing: light, airy clothing for the tropical heat. A thin cardigan or light sweater can be useful during the winter or for higher altitudes. Many hotels and restaurants have a dress code in the evenings where men must wear long trousers and closed shoes. For temples and sacred sites (such as Grand Bassin), covering clothing (shoulders and knees) is mandatory. A lightweight raincoat for the rainy season also comes in handy.
• Shoes: flip-flops or sandals for the beach and for villages. Water shoes are an absolute must on many beaches due to sharp dead coral, sea urchins, and camouflaged stonefish. Good walking shoes or sturdy sneakers are nice for walks inland.
• Personal care and hygiene: reef-safe sunscreen with a high protection factor to protect the fragile lagoons and corals.
• Medicines and travel first-aid kit: a basic first-aid kit with plasters, blister plasters, ORS, painkillers, anti-diarrhea medication, and possibly motion sickness tablets for the winding mountain roads inland.
• Outdoor gear and practicals: sunglasses, quick-drying towel, reusable water bottle, and a good sun hat or cap. The sun is strong, even on cloudy days.
• Packing and protection: a waterproof bag for boat trips and a rain cover for your backpack for the rainy season.
• Insects and animals: a set of mosquito repellents, especially for when you go into nature or stay near dense vegetation.
• Technology and equipment: a universal adapter for a Type G socket (British model), although you will also find Type C (European) in some more modern resorts.

To consider

• A snorkel set; the lagoons around the island are beautiful to explore directly from the beach.
• UV-protective swimwear or a rashguard for long days on the water.
• A folding umbrella for sudden tropical showers.
• Binoculars for birds and whales.

Are there mosquitoes on Mauritius?

• Mosquitoes are present on Mauritius all year round, with significant peaks during and just after the rainy season.
• They are particularly active near forests, sugarcane fields, stagnant water, and during the morning and evening hours.
• Mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue occur occasionally on Mauritius, particularly after heavy rainfall. The risk of malaria, on the other hand, was eliminated years ago!
• More about protection against mosquitoes and insects.

Are there sandflies on Mauritius?

• Sandflies aren't a problem on Mauritius.
• More about sandflies and sand fleas.

Can you buy DEET, or other mosquito repellents, on Mauritius?

• Mosquito repellents are readily available in larger supermarkets (such as Super U or Intermart) and at pharmacies in tourist areas such as Grand Baie and Flic en Flac.
• There is a good selection of local and international brands, often at reasonable prices.

Can you buy a joint or weed, or bring it to Mauritius?

• Mauritius has an extremely strict zero-tolerance policy regarding drugs.
• Cannabis is illegal, and the legislation makes no distinction between soft and hard drugs.
• Customs strictly inspects incoming baggage, and possession, use, or attempting to import weed, hash, or CBD oil can result in severe penalties or high fines.