Mauritius

Is Mauritius safe to visit?

Yes. Mauritius ranks 18th of 163 countries on the 2026 Global Peace IndexGlobal Peace IndexAn annual ranking of 163 countries by how peaceful they are, based on conflict, crime, militarisation and political instability.More in the glossary, the best in sub-Saharan Africa, and has no recent history of terrorism. UNODC recorded 2.3 homicides per 100,000Homicide rateThe number of people killed on purpose each year for every 100,000 residents. It is the most comparable crime figure between countries.More in the glossary people in 2022, a little above the 1.7 in Morocco and well below most of Africa. For most visitors the risks are ordinary ones: a crash on a narrow road, a bag stolen from a beach, a mosquito bite during an outbreak, or a cyclone warning that keeps you inside for a day or two.

We score Mauritius 78, a little below the Maldives and far above Madagascar, its large neighbour to the west.

Why the US says "increased caution"

The US advisoryUS travel advisoryThe US State Department's rating of each country from Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) to Level 4 (do not travel).More in the glossary has been at Level 2 since December 2025, which surprises people. It is about crime, not unrest, and the detail is mundane: pickpocketing, bag snatching and petty theft in crowded shopping areas, on beaches and near ATMs, with break-ins and some serious assaults also listed. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary, which advises against no part of the country, describes the same pattern: most crime is non-violent, such as burglaries from tourist villas or theft of unattended bags, and it is concentrated in Port Louis, Grand Baie and Flic en Flac.

Villas and self-catering apartments are the weak point. The FCDO advises renting only places registered with the Mauritius Tourism Authority, making sure doors and windows lock, and keeping passports in a safe. On the beach, do not leave phones and bags while you swim. Women travelling alone report verbal harassment, and the FCDO notes some sexual assaults on tourists, so avoid empty beaches and the backstreets of central Port Louis at night.

The roads are the bigger risk

Statistics Mauritius counted 124 road deaths in 2025, down from 134 a year earlier. That is about 10 deaths per 100,000 people, roughly double the EU average. The victims show where the danger lies: 52 were motorcyclists or their passengers and 30 were pedestrians. The fleet keeps growing, to almost 747,000 registered vehicles at the end of 2025, a third of them motorbikes and scooters.

The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says accidents are common. Roads are narrow and often have no pavement, and pedestrians and cyclists use main roads, including the motorway, at night. Motorbikes often ride without lights. Traffic drives on the left, and the drink-driving limit is about a quarter of England's. If you hire a car, avoid driving after dark on rural roads, and do not rent a scooter unless you ride regularly at home.

Health: no malaria, but outbreaks happen

Mauritius has no malaria and CDC does not recommend a yellow fever vaccine. Mosquito-borne viruses are another matter. The country had its first large dengue outbreak in 2023–24: by March 2024 WHO counted 3,311 cases on Mauritius and 1,363 on Rodrigues, with four deaths. In 2026 the problem was chikungunya, with 2,816 local cases between January and 11 May, while dengue had almost disappeared. The health minister also reported 21 cases of leptospirosis and six deaths in the same period, a reason to avoid wading in rivers and floodwater.

Use repellent day and night, especially in the wet season. Private clinics in the main towns are good but expensive, and the FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says complex cases may need evacuation to Réunion or South Africa, so get insurance that covers it. Stonefish stings are rare but can be fatal; wear reef shoes in the lagoon.

Cyclones and the sea

The cyclone season runs from November to May. Direct hits are not annual, but heavy rain causes flash floods and landslides. Mauritius Meteorological Services issues phased warnings, and once a higher-class warning is in force you may not leave your accommodation. Car insurance often stops covering you during a cyclone.

Most resort beaches lie inside a reef-protected lagoon and are calm. Currents get strong near the passes through the reef, where boats go out, and on the exposed south coast, where there is no reef. Use only boat and water-sports operators with a Ministry of Tourism permit, and check there are life jackets for everyone.

How to stay safe in Mauritius

• Lock villa doors and windows at night and use the room safe.
• Take taxis after dark in Port Louis and Grand Baie.
• Drive slowly on rural roads and watch for unlit motorbikes and pedestrians.
• Check the cyclone warning class each day from November to May.
• Do not carry anything through customs for others; drug sentences are long and bail is rare.
• Call 999 for police, 114 for an ambulance.

How we scored it

Conflict (92) and violent crime (84) are the strongest factors, backed by a top-20 Global Peace IndexGlobal Peace IndexAn annual ranking of 163 countries by how peaceful they are, based on conflict, crime, militarisation and political instability.More in the glossary rank and a homicide rateHomicide rateThe number of people killed on purpose each year for every 100,000 residents. It is the most comparable crime figure between countries.More in the glossary in the 1–3 band. Road safety (68) is the weakest, based on Statistics Mauritius' 2025 count of about 10 deaths per 100,000. Petty crime (70) reflects theft in the main resort areas. Confidence is medium because the latest homicide figure is from 2022.