Mauritius Airport

Not all beaches in Mauritius require a long drive from the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport.  Mere minutes away are the stunning white sand beaches of Blue Bay and Pointe D’Esny in the beautiful district of Plaisance.  With a variety of hotels and guest houses to choose from, almost no need for airport transfers and some of the best snorkelling in the country, these are dream locations for those on a short stop over in Mauritius and are ideal places to unwind and recover from the jet-lag of a long flight.

About eighty percent of the coral in Blue Bay is still alive and there are over seventy two different species, some of which are more than eight hundred years old, which can be found at a depth of no more than five metres.  Snorkelling equipment is usually available for hire and the water is deliciously warm so there is nothing to stop you from spending hours gazing in wonder at the plethora of life beneath the waves.  Surely there is nothing quite as relaxing as floating in clear tropical waters, feeling the heat of the sun on your back, with nothing but the sound of your own breathing to disturb the silence as you watch myriads of brightly coloured fish darting in and out of the living coral?

In addition to snorkelling activities there are also glass-bottom boats available for excursions and, of course, scuba diving.  Although it is necessary to have a diving certificate, a couple of lessons with the local divers will qualify you for this and once you have proved your competency the world, or more exactly the ocean, is your oyster.  You can leave the sheltered waters of the coral reef and dive down on the ocean side of the reef to spy on the larger fish, the dolphins, the crustaceans and the shy members of the Cephalopoda family, such as octopus and squid.

Although anyone would enjoy the sun-soaked pleasures of Blue Bay and Pointe D’Esny, the numerous offers of accommodation close to the airport would be of particular interest to people in transit or those with just a short stop-over before having to catch a connecting flight.  Transport to and from SSR Airport can always be arranged by the hotel or guest-house so there is nothing to hinder your relaxation process as you disembark from the airport terminal and start on your holiday.