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Port Louis Mauritius Cruise Port Guide
Location:
The brand new, recently opened Christian Decotter Cruise Terminal can accommodate the largest ships in the world.
There are two access bridges for passengers and vehicles and plans are underway for a walkway between the jetty and the heart of town.
Most ships run a shuttle to the downtown shopping center or you can take a water taxi for $2.00. No safety standards on these water taxis whatsoever, and the step up from the boat to the pier at low tide is nearly impossible. This is not a trip to take if you are mobility impaired in even the slightest way.
Printable map to take along.
Cruise calendar for this port.
Watch a destination video.
Live Nautical Chart with Wikipedia Markers
Monthly Climate Averages for Port Louis Mauritius
Sightseeing:
The capital and largest city, Port Louis (pop. 143,000) consists of charming and threadbare Victorian buildings.
Plan a day of touring to see the bazaars, spice/vegetable market and the Place d'Armes (a square surrounded by colonial French architecture).
Other attractions include the very modern Caudan Waterfront with its numerous boutiques and restaurants; the Penny Museum with the Blue Penny stamp; the 19th-century Citadelle Fortress with an all-round view of Port Louis, and the Mauritius Institute with its Natural History Museum featuring the dodo.
A horse-racing track is open May-November. For inveterate gamblers, there's also a Chinese-style casino called L'Amicale at La Chaussee. Also visit Chinatown around Royal Road with its numerous restaurants.
Tours Excursions Transportation:
By metered taxi. These are regulated and metered (though meters are almost never used) and linked to provinces or hotels, printed on a yellow panel on the drivers' door. Tips are not customary for taxi drivers, but appreciated.
Third party shore excursions.
Nearby Places:
North of Port Louis are many beautiful beaches such as Pointe aux Piments, Mon Choisy, Pereybere, Cap Malheureux (with its red-painted chapel on the beach; service on Sundays), and Trou aux Biches.
Shopping and Food
There is also a large local crafts market that is worth a visit. A few blocks past the new shopping area, is an underground passage that takes you to the local's market that provided plenty of photo ops and lots of exotic spices for purchase.
Currency:
Mauritius Rupee
Communication:
Languages English (official), French, Hindi, others
Plenty of free wi-fi spots.
Opening Hours and Holidays:
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