The North of Mauritius During your vacation in Mauritius, go on an adventure and discover the North of Mauritius. You’ll miss a lot if you don’t get out to see what the rest of the island looks like. In this article, we list a few amazing places to visit in the North of Mauritius. Aquarium of Mauritius The aquarium of Mauritius is situated in the village of Pointe-aux-Piments. It is the ideal place to discover the marine fauna of Mauritius. This aquarium is installed in four separate buildings with a large tank with a capacity of 150,000 liters of seawater. It is home to several marine species, including some morays, sharks, sea turtles, lobsters, crabs, clown fish, etc. The aquarium is open from 9:30 to 17:00 Monday to Saturday and from 10:00 to 16:00 on Sundays and public holidays. Chateau Labourdonnais To have a glimpse of what colonial life was like in Mauritius, the Chateau Labourdonnais is the ideal place to visit during your vacation. This property, a former sugar cane plantation, is located around a large and old colonial home of 150 years, that has now been converted into a tourist attraction. You can not only see the mansion reestablished in all its glory and learn about its renovation, but you will also be able to taste the delicious local cuisine at the restaurant. You will also discover an orchard where, not just the endemic trees can be seen, but also numerous varieties of mango trees, spice trees and fruit trees, which are rarely seen in Mauritius today. Horse riding in the North There are two places where tourists can go ride on horseback in the North of the island of Mauritius: the Club Equitation du Nord, which can be found on the former plantation of sugar Mon Loisir Sugar Estate and the Horse Riding Delights which organizes some rides through the former sugar plantation Mon Choisy. L’Aventure du Sucre “L’Aventure du Sucre” is a great place to visit in the North of Mauritius. Situated in the district of Pamplemousses, it is a museum devoted to the history of the culture of sugar cane and the sugar production in Mauritius. It is located in an old sugar factory where most of the machines have been conserved. You will also find a shop where you can buy various products made from local sugarcane, as well as a restaurant serving delicious Mauritian cuisine. It is open all week from 9:00 to 17:00. Nightlife If you want to have a few good nights in Mauritius, there is no better place than Grand Bay where you will certainly feel the heat! Just follow the coast overnight and you will discover the different animated pubs, clubs, bars, lounges and pool halls. At Marguery Exclusive Villas, all these activities can be booked by the concierge service during your stay in Mauritius.

Top 5 most beautiful beaches in Mauritius Mauritius is famous for its beautiful beaches. Here is our list of the top 5 most beautiful beaches in Mauritius:1. Le Morne Beach Located in the South-Western region of Mauritius, Le Morne beach is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful beaches in Mauritius. It offers an exceptional view of the imposing Morne Brabant, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  White sandy beaches, shaded areas and a gorgeous turquoise lagoon await vacationers on the 500-metre stretch of public beach of Le Morne. Sun bathers generally prefer the northern section of the beach, while water sports enthusiasts take to the south of the beach and the lagoon. Le Morne beach is particularly pleasant to enjoy exceptional sunsets.2. Ile aux cerfs On the East coast of Mauritius, Ile aux Cerfs is a must-do excursion when in Mauritius. One must board a boat to access these heavenly white sandy beaches! With warm, crystal clear waters, the Ile aux Cerfs beaches are ideal for swimming and snorkelling.  If you’re looking for a more serene experience, feel free to arrive early in the morning and take a long walk along the shore. You will be quickly rewarded with barely populated beaches, where you can spend time relaxing in complete tranquillity. Do not hesitate to contact the concierge to help you organise this excursion!3. Flic en Flac beachOn the West coast, and a few kilometres from Marguery Exclusive Villas, is Flic en Flac beach. With its 1.5 km of fine sandy beaches, Flic en Flac will delight all vacationers seeking authenticity by leaving the usual tourist hot-spots. Sheltered from the wind, the beach of Flic en Flac is not very touristic and rather deserted during the week. It is, however, overwhelmed by Mauritians on weekends, who come to picnic with their families and enjoy the clear waters of the lagoon. A great opportunity to immerse oneself in Mauritian culture. Early risers can try spot dolphin activity at sea as they walk along the beach as the sun rises!   4. Mont Choisy beach at Trou aux biches To the North-West of Mauritius, and a few kilometres from Grand Baie, lies the beach of Mont Choisy. With its 3 km of fine sand, it is one of the longest beaches on the island. The water is always calm thanks to the coral reef protecting it. It is therefore an ideally suited beach to spend some time family or friends, in the shade of one of the many coconut trees surrounding it. Along the side of the road, you will find plenty of food trucks for small or big appetites.5. Blue Bay  Beach at Pointe d’Esny Located at the tip of the South-East coast, near Mahébourg, the Pointe d’ Esny beach is a real little paradise! Its ultra-fine sand is only sublimated by the enchanting blue-green lagoon, which stretches out over 10 km from the coast.  On land, don’t miss the opportunity to admire Ile des Deux Cocos. On the sea side, snorkelling enthusiasts will be able to enjoy and appreciate the numerous marine species present in the marine park!  

Porlwi by Nature   Porlwi by Nature, a festival of art and contemporary culture, takes place in our country’s capital, Port Louis, from 29th November to 3rd December 2017. Following on from the previous success of Porlwi by Light, which saw thousands descend upon the capital in 2015 and 2016, Porlwi by Nature will take place over 5 consecutive days and will be a celebration of light, art, music and food, but this time all centred on the theme of nature. And what better place to celebrate nature than in one of the most naturally beautiful countries in the world? (Of course, we’re biased!) This year, Porlwi invites Mauritians and travellers from all around the world to come to the capital to breathe, feel and reconnect, as is expressed through the slogan this year, “Respire. Resanti. Rekonekte.” The festival encourages its goers to soak up the unique energy that Port Louis offers, inviting them to share their joy, amazement and wonder with one another for a truly beautiful experience. But arguably the most important aspect of the festival is its invitation to reconnect with nature – reminding us as human beings what a big part nature plays in our lives and that we must respect it and take action to protect it. We’re very excited for the festival this year and everything that it offers and stands for. To celebrate, we have a special offer for anyone booking a stay at Marguery Villas between the dates of 22nd November – 22nd December 2017, of just €319 per villa, per night* with each villa sleeping 6 people. That’s just €53 per person, per night staying in our luxury, private villas on the west coast of Mauritius, with full on-site concierge services, giving you the perfect excuse to visit Mauritius and enjoy Porlwi by Nature. For more information and to book your stay, please contact us today. *must book for a minimum of 5 nights. T’s and C’s apply.

Holi, a unique celebration in a glory of colours Holi, also known as the festival of colours, is a major event celebrated in the Hindu culture all around the world. It takes place every year during the full moon for the month of Phalguna, evolving around the vernal equinox and is, of course, celebrated in Mauritius. In 2018, it will take place on the 1st of March. In addition to marking the arrival of spring, from a religious point of view, Holi symbolises the victory of the good against evil. It draws its strength and origin from the Hindu mythology. Hiranyakashipu, the king of the demons had the capacity never to be killed. He did not favour the fact that Prahlad, his son, venerated the God Vishnu. After, having tried on several occasions to kill him, Hiranyakashipu challenged his sister Holika and son Prahlad to conquer the flames. Not fearing fire, Holika sat down on the pyre with her nephew on her knees. Prahlad then started praying Vishnu and to the contrary of his aunt, he survived. One week before Holi, the merchant’s stalls blooms with powders of coloured pigments, called Gulal. Each colour has its meaning:On the rhythm of the songs, drums and laughter, the Hindu community is generally joined by people of different religious beliefs and curious tourists. In a joyful cacophony, the fun begins, it is when water and coloured powders start to be thrown at each other, followed by this common apology: ‘Bura na mano, Holî hai’ which literally means: ‘Do not be annoyed, its Holi.’ Thus covered up like a rainbow from the head to the toes, the believers celebrate the arrival of spring. Generally the day ends around a good family meal. Holi is an authentic, warm and friendly celebration which you can enjoy along with your friends or family. On this colourful occasion, Marguery Exclusive Villas holds a special offer just for you! Do not forget to bring along clothes, which won’t matter to you if they get ruined.  😉   Illustration : Freepik

Diwali in Mauritius: The Festival of Light   Hinduism is the largest religion in Mauritius with over half the population identifying as Hindu; this means that every year when Diwali comes around, over half of the population and even more are celebrating, making it one of the most spectacular times of the year to be on our humble island. From Sanskrit, Diwali literally translates to “a row of lamps” which explains the tradition of lighting tiny oil lamps and placing them all around the house. But going deeper in, the lamps give light and relate to all that Diwali stands for: spiritually signifying the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance and hope over despair. The ‘Festival of Light’- as it also known – is an official holiday in Mauritius and lights up the entire island and the hearts of its inhabitants. Typically, the Diwali preparations and rituals extend over a 5-day period, with the main festival of Diwali coinciding with the darkest, new moon night. The festival is celebrated with great fervour and passion across the island and around the world through family gatherings, prayer, exchanging of gifts and food traditions. Before Diwali arrives, it is tradition for families to clean their houses and business properties and then elaborately decorate them; this is to honour Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. Other traditions also include ‘rangoli’, a type of Indian folk art created with coloured rice flour, which is used to create intricate patterns on the floor around which tealights or oil lamps are placed. People also buy new clothes in order to dress up and look their best for the occasion, while the ladies sometimes apply henna to their hands and feet – another way of making themselves look beautiful and preparing themselves for the night of celebration. On Diwali night itself, people dress up in their newly bought fancy attire and gather together with family and friends for prayer. Buildings are brightly lit up, draped with sparkling lights; traditional Indian sweets and food are shared and the night sky is emblazoned with firework after firework, making it a magical spectacle for everybody to behold. On the west-coast of Mauritius, the home of Marguery Villas, the experience of Diwali is truly amazing, especially in Tamarin Village. The Hindu folk go all out and certainly go out of their way to ensure that everyone truly feels and becomes a part of the festivities. The lights, the music, the food and the genuine joy among the community is an authentic experience and one not to be missed, whether you are Hindu or not. Diwali this year in 2017 falls on Thursday 19th October and will be a public holiday for the entire island. Make your Diwali one to remember and allow the celebrations on the west-coast of Mauritius to brighten up your soul. Contact us today to discuss Diwali special offers for our beautiful, luxury, private villas in Mauritius and we look forward to sharing our Diwali with you. Happy Diwali to one and all and remember, light will always overcome darkness.

The Jazz Festival of Tamarin hotel Tamarin has a real musical culture that is as strong as it is distinct: several talented musicians live there. Among those, Cyril Michel, jazzman and former hotel director, initiated the Jazz Festival a few years ago, an unmissable event on the cultural calendar of the islanders. Over a one-week period on the small stage of the Tamarin hotel, little concerts bring together various local and international artists to share the same stage. His love for jazz equals the passion he has for surfing; Cyril knew how to inject a unique Tamarin tone, “swept from the spray of the ocean”. Jazz, a music of exchange and discovery, is transformed by fusing Mauritian sega, maloya from Reunion Island and African rhythms. The jam sessions are unique moments of osmosis, which one enjoys, feet burrowed in the sand of the bar. They always honour the memory of Ernest Wiehe, who was the soul of the Festival, the internationally renowned, greatest Mauritian jazz artist and former lecturer at the Berkeley School of Music of Boston. Modern jazz, bossa nova, swing or bebop: make sure not to miss this musical odyssey. Photo credit : Hôtel Tamarin

Mardaye or the gentle lifestyle of Tamarin All the locals of Tamarin will tell you, their voice betraying their nostalgia: Mardaye, was the heart of Tamarin, always associated with Sunday afternoon and the traditional sunset which marks the end of the weekend. Mardaye was this tiny shop, a few steps from the bay, on the main road. Himself, his wife and his daughter worked there, and more particularly on Sunday to the greatest pleasure of the regulars. Mardaye prepared “gato-patate”, sweet potato-based, a variation of rissole whose fried paste concealed the delectable taste of sugar, coconut and sweet potato. Your fingers and mouth would get mercilessly burned as it was impossible to wait until this treat has sufficiently cooled down before biting into it. One would queue on the pavement and the uninitiated who had not reserved ahead of time could only watch, helpless and frustrated, as the more aware customers left with white paper bags filled to the brim. The worst situation was to patiently wait while savouring the heady smell only to be told: “No reservation? There is none left” because Mardaye put more emotion and tenderness into his cakes than in his relationships with the customers. But for the lucky ones setting out again towards the bay with their invaluable treasure, it was nearly impossible to wait to get to the beach to surreptitiously sink their teeth into their “gato-patate” Then, once seated on the beach, one savoured the “gato-patate” which lost some of its searing heat, with a lost gaze directed towards the horizon. Mardaye does not need to cook “gato-patate” any more, his reputation offered him a peaceful retirement, as sweet as his cakes.   Photo Credit : Philippe Online