Port Louis & Central Plateau
The capital’s markets and heritage sites, and the cooler towns and sacred lake of the uplands.
Hero image: Arne Müseler, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons.
Port Louis is the capital and main port of Mauritius, with the Central Market, the Caudan Waterfront, the Citadel and the Aapravasi Ghat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a busy working city rather than a resort.
Behind the capital the land rises to the Central Plateau, where Moka, Rose Hill, Quatre Bornes, Vacoas-Phoenix and Curepipe form a band of towns that are noticeably cooler and wetter than the coast. Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao), a crater lake and the island’s most important Hindu pilgrimage site, lies in the southern uplands.
Port Louis & Central Plateau at a glance
- Main places
- Port Louis, Curepipe, Moka, Quatre Bornes, Ebène, Grand Bassin
- From the airport
- North-west via the M1 motorway
- Suggested stay
- Day trips, or one to three nights
- Best time
- Year-round; the plateau is cooler and wetter
- Landscape
- Harbour city, mountains, upland towns and crater lakes
- Signature drive
- From Port Louis up through the plateau towns to Curepipe
Where to stay and what to book
Places to stay
In this Port Louis & Central Plateau guide
Why visit the Port Louis & Central Plateau
This region is where most Mauritians live and work, and where the island’s history and multicultural society are easiest to see: markets, temples, mosques, churches, colonial buildings and the memory of indentured immigration at the Aapravasi Ghat.
Most visitors explore it on day trips from the coast. Staying here makes sense for business, for exploring the city’s food and culture in more depth, or for a base between coasts.
Our Port Louis & Central Plateau destination guides: Port Louis.
Main towns and places
Port Louis
The capital and main port, with the Central Market, the Caudan Waterfront, the Citadel and the Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site.
Curepipe
An upland town on the Central Plateau, cooler and wetter than the coast, known for the Trou aux Cerfs crater.
Moka
A town in the hills behind Port Louis, home to the colonial house at Eureka and close to Le Pouce mountain.
Quatre Bornes & Ebène
Residential and business towns on the plateau, including Ebène’s office district, with Rose Hill and Vacoas-Phoenix nearby.
Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao)
A crater lake in the southern uplands and the island’s most important Hindu pilgrimage site.
Culture and pilgrimage
Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao) is a crater lake surrounded by temples and statues, including a very large statue of Shiva, and is the focus of the annual Maha Shivaratri pilgrimage, when large numbers of pilgrims walk to the lake. Visitors are welcome at other times; dress modestly and remove shoes where asked.
Getting there and around
The M1 motorway links Port Louis with the airport, and the M2 continues north. The Metro Express light-rail line runs between Port Louis and the plateau towns, including Rose Hill, Quatre Bornes and Curepipe.
Buses serve the whole island from Port Louis. Traffic is heavy at peak hours around the capital.
Best time to visit
The capital is hot and humid in summer; the plateau towns are cooler year-round and receive more rain. Weekday mornings are best for the Central Market; Sundays are quiet in Port Louis.
Destination guides
- Port Louis — The capital: markets, waterfront, history and the Aapravasi Ghat.
Nearby regions
North CoastSheltered lagoon beaches, Grand Baie’s restaurants and boat trips to the northern islets.Explore North Coast 
West & South-WestCalm lagoons and sunsets from Flic en Flac to Le Morne, with Chamarel and the Black River Gorges inland.Explore West & South-West 
South-East CoastHistoric Mahébourg and the Blue Bay lagoon, the closest coastal base to the international airport.Explore South-East Coast Read next
- Where to stay in Port Louis & the Central Plateau
- Things to do in Mauritius
- Mauritius travel planning
- All Mauritius destinations
Official sources
Opening hours, entry fees, boat and transport schedules, access rules and park conditions change; check the official source before you travel.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Aapravasi Ghat
- Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) — official visitor information
- Metro Express — light-rail routes and timetables
Plan your Port Louis & Central Plateau trip
Choose a base, then use the destination guides to plan your days.
Where to stay, and what to book
Read where to stay in the Port Louis & Central Plateau to choose an area, then browse Port Louis & Central Plateau accommodation and Mauritius tours and activities.