Geography
Mauritius is the short name of the Republic of Mauritius. This state represents the several islands among the shining blue of the Indian Ocean, East of Madagascar, and is a popular international resort, one of the most luxurious in the world. The Republic of Mauritius has a composition of the country's largest island of Mauritius with a total area of 1865 sq. miles, a small island of Rodrigues is 104 square meters km Archipelago Cargados Karahoms and the island of Agalega, Mauritius also has a lot of tiny islets, very picturesque and beautiful. The total land area of the island State is 2045 square. km, the country's capital is the city of Port Louis is located on the largest island, Mauritius. This island is surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the coastline in Mauritius is more than 330 km. Almost the entire coast is a white sand beaches and pristine Ocean, wonderful coves, coral reefs. In the middle of the island lies the sublime Plato, overgrown with tropical forests. Its height varies from 600 to 828 metres above sea level. Emerald green forests, picturesque terrain, craters of extinct volcanoes and enchanting beaches make Mauritius an ideal place for tourism.
Vaccinations
The epidemiological situation in the country is prosperous. For a trip to the island of Mauritius does not need any vaccinations. However, it is useful to stock up on cream or procure same common balm oil. In order to avoid trouble better take with you when you travel rubber slippers for bathing, to protect feet from cuts on corals and needles of sea urchins. Need to have Sun block cream. It is not recommended to drink water from the tap. It is not recommended to apply in local hospitals, free for inhabitants of the island, contact the private clinics.
Customs
To visit Mauritius for citizens of the Russian Federation and the CIS visas in advance is not required. 60 day visa issued on arrival airport and will be extended if necessary. To obtain a visa, you must show your Passport with validity at the time of stay in Mauritius, return ticket, travel voucher, medical insurance, the availability of funds for the period of stay.
Import and export of foreign and national currencies on Mauritius and from that State is not limited, you only need to declare the amount. For persons over 16 years, duty-free import of cigarettes-up to 200 PCs. or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco, spirits-up to 1 litre of wine or beer-up to 2 litres, up to 250 ml of Eau de toilette or 1 small bottle of perfume, as well as video-, photo-and other home appliances, one subject of each name. You cannot import drugs and drugs containing medicines, weapons, military equipment and gear, fruits and foods from Africa, East and South-East Asia, as well as seeds, plants and flowers from these countries, automobile tires. You cannot export corals and rose from the bottom of the sea subjects without special permission.
Currency
The unit of currency in Mauritius is Mauritian rupee (MUR), which contains 100 Su.1 USD, is approximately equal to 30MUR. In circulation there are banknotes in 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 2000 rupees coins in 1, 5 and 10 rupees, as well as 5, 10, 20 and 50 Su. Small change coins hardly used, but in the provinces there is still a lot of them. Exchange of foreign currency is unlimited, you can produce at any bank or exchange offices hotels, although banks far more profitable in terms of course. Exchange of rupiah on foreign currency is made only at the airport when leaving the country. Credit cards American Express, Visa, Diner, MasterCard and travelers cheques take in practically all hotels, stores and travel agencies. It is also widely installed ATMs. Banks are open from 9:15 to 15:00-15:30 on weekdays and with9:15 to 11:15 on Saturday. Shops in Mauritius open in 9:00 and work to 17:00 the island's capital Port Louis open from 10:00 to 18:00 in other cities on weekdays. On Saturday shops open later and work with 12:00 to 17:00 in Port Louis, in other cities, they work longer hours. Supermarkets are working and on Sunday — with 9:00 to 12:00. Once a week (usually Thursday afternoon) Mauritian traders arrange a day off for half a day. Shops in the capital on Saturday do not work, but all the outlets on the waterfront Codan open until 18:00-19:30.
Security
Mauritius is a safe Island, you don't need any special vaccinations to stay on it. However, take funds from allergies-suddenly you respond on the mosquito bite. Be very careful in the sea, avoid touching the corals and sea inhabitants, many of them poisonous and very dangerous. Do not engage in diving unsupervised instructor-reefs there are strong undercurrents.
In Mauritius, many police, this always monitors the order. Watch your belongings and never agree to try drug herb that you can offer on the beach. This can lead to trouble with the law.
Tap water in Mauritius is quite decent quality and you can drink, but not to take risks, better still buy bottled water for drinking.
Climate
The climate in Mauritius is a typical subtropical, but the exhausting heat of the island does not happen , as the south- east trade winds bring coolness to the shores of Mauritius all year round. Winter, from October to may is the perfect time to visit this country, but in the period from February to may, heavy downpours are possible on the island-monsoons. However, these rains do not occur every year and usually last 2-3 days. In the summer, from June to September, the temperature in Mauritius happens +24 -26° c, which can be considered rather cool weather to the southern hemisphere. Water temperature throughout the year remained +23 -27° c and is suitable for perfect beach holiday. Mauritius climate moist, here it rains quite a lot. Natural world countries are amazed by the splendor and diversity.
Miscellaneous
Language: the official language in the country is considered English, as in other Commonwealth countries. Widespread variety of Creole dialects and French is French colonial heritage. 90% of the population speaks an entirely distinctive idiom is a French Mauritian Creole language in the same language are published by major print editions of Mauritius and a large part of daily communications occurs. Grammatical framework and vocabulary of the language is of French origin, plus the strong influence of African dialects.
Transport
Taxis in Mauritius can be ordered from any of the hotels and at the airport. But you should in advance with the driver of the cost of travel. The cost of the trip averages around 15-20 MUR per kilometer, but if you want to do a long distance by taxi, you will make a discount. It would be reasonable to bargain with the taxi driver and lower the price, but if you want to make for you agree to contact employees of hotels. In Mauritius, as well as in other countries, it is customary to earn on tourists, so bargain to reasonable prices. If you plan to travel a lot, take a car. Cars rental on the island engaged in branches of major international companies and small local firms. Private firms lower prices, but deal with them is much more difficult in the case of any accident: insurance and miscellaneous here are not guaranteed. To rent a car you must be over 23 years of age and have the right international standard issued not less than one year before the start of the rental period. Some companies reduce the voting age to 21 years and take national law. Rent a car for the day will cost in the amount of 1500 MUR and above, depending on the brand of auto and air-conditioner in the lounge. You should rent a car older than four years (year of release usually indicate the last two digits). The movement in Mauritius, left, in the cities of speed limited to 50 km/h on the road is 90 km/h on roads leading to the capital, there are often traffic jams.
Cuisine
Cuisine of Mauritius the same varied as its population. All ethnic groups have made their contribution to this kitchen, but most influenced the local table habits of Indians, French and Chinese. Mauritian Creole cuisine is rice with seafood and a variety of exotic sauces for fish and meat.
The most popular Indian curry sauce which willingly seasoned rice that is served with fish or meat, or seafood - oysters, shrimp. Mandatory part of this dish is the juicy vegetables. Similar to curries and biryani rice with meat, vegetables or fish, this dish is very spicy. Indian flatbread "Puri" used as the basis for local sandwiches, stuffed into their salads, fish, cold cuts and necessarily usnaŝaût sauce. This is Chutney or Sabayon, reproach, vindaje-all traditions is evident. In Mauritius, you can also enjoy excellent Chinese noodles and lots of authentic local dishes. This, for example , rougalli , a Mediterranean dish of tomatoes , onions, garlic and any kind of meat or fish and Daube - of stewed octopus . Fish and seafood take on a local desktop principal place. The sea abounds in fish, but most of all on the island like tuna, Dorado, sole, red mullet and marlin. The fish is cooked all sorts of ways: it’s smoked, roasted on the fire and coals, eaten raw with lemon juice, stewed and cooked with aromatic additives.
Special delicacy considered freshwater crayfish "kamarony", crabs, crayfish, Octopus with vindaje or Curry, snails, a variety of shells, sea urchins. All this is prepared in different ways, but always with lots of fresh vegetables, which in Mauritius very much, and generously seasoned with spices and herbs. Here you can taste the sweet potato, tomato, eggplant, small green cucumber with adhesive peel "Lalo", manioc, squash, pumpkin, squash, and other, often unfamiliar to us. Fruit on this paradise island there is also a large variety. We offer Indian patties "Samosas" where either baked in puff pastry a variety of vegetables, meat or fish. A sweet often serves light jogrut "Lassie" special "aludu" syrup, fresh fruit.
It is cheap to produce alcoholic beverages in Mauritius, such as rum or beer and wine imported and therefore very expensive. We advise you to try the local delicacies such as "Royal" is at the heart of Palm salad with smoked fillet of blue marlin, the famous Mauritius Green Island white rum and local beer.
