Cargados Carajos Shoals
Best months:
March to September

Cargados Carajos Shoals

Mauritius
LAST UPDATED 15/04/2008
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introduction

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Map of Cargados Carajos Shoals in the Indian Ocean

Cargados Carajos Shoals, which is also sometimes referred to as the Saint Brandon Rocks are a group of about 16 small islands on an extended reef in the Indian Ocean northeast of Mauritius.
The reef measures more than 50 km from north to south, and is 5 km wide and has an area of approximately 190 km².

The 16 islands of Cargados Carajos Shoals have a total land area of 1.3 km².
They are classified as a dependency of Mauritius, which is more than 300 km south, and are administered from Port Louis. The islands are part of the Mascarene Islands.

history

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Mauritius, Port Louis: Theatre

In the past, Cargados Carajos was a large, volcanic island (a part of the Mascarenes, caused by the Réunion hotspot). Over time however, the island eroded until it became submerged and a coral atoll was left behind.

travel

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A Scottish Citylink Van Hool double-decker coach.

There are many ways to get around the island.

Foreign licenses are accepted but there is a requirement to be over 23 years old, so if you are planning to drive, just remember that traffic drives, erratically, on the left. There are numerous carhire companies including major international ones.

A coach/bus is an excellent choice as there are numerous bus services available on the island. The main three companies are the National Transport Corporation (NBC), United Bus Service (UBS) and Mauritius Bus Transport (MTB).

where to stay

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View of Port Louis and harbour looking west from the Citadel.

Visitors coming to the island have a large choice of hotels, bungalows, apartments and villas. There is a very large range of accommodation available in Mauritius and there is a large number of high class accommodations which receive important/VIP people from all over the world.

However, all main hotel groups still offer a large number of rooms to the visitors from low budget to luxury with a range of facilities and activities.

Hotels can be found everywhere on the island on the coastal areas but also in the town and cities of the island

what to pack

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feub: Beach Bag, 16 October 2007

Mauritius is a place where you just put on your beach suit, go to the beach and just relax.

Also, bring cash with you incase you can't find an ATM to withdraw money. You would probably find a bank but it will charge you a hefty fee! So be warned.

You may bring some light woollen clothes for cool evenings but no need to bring a lot. If you are in the central part of the island, you may find that it is a little cooler.

One thing to note is that, if you are going into religious areas, such as Indian temples, you should remove your leather belts and shoes before entering the premises.

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