Sugar made Mauritius. For more than two centuries the island was covered in cane, and the story of how it was grown, cut and boiled, by enslaved Africans and then by indentured labourers from India, is the story of the island’s people. L’Aventure du Sucre tells it inside the old Beau Plan sugar factory in the north, which closed in 1999 and opened as a museum in 2002. It has welcomed more than 100,000 visitors a year since, and after a two-year refurbishment during which it never closed, it relaunched in April 2026 with a more immersive, interactive route. The tour now covers about 5,000 square metres and nine themed areas, with the factory’s giant machines, big screens, animated models and sound installations tracing the history of sugar from the island’s volcanic birth to slavery, indenture, independence and today’s cane-based energy, plus a new space on the New Grove distillery. At the end, the Village Boutik offers tastings of more than thirty cane products, including unrefined sugars, New Grove rums, vanilla and jams. This page links to The Sugar Adventure visit with sugar and rum tastings on Viator, rated 4.8 from more than 40 reviews. It sits next to the Pamplemousses botanical garden, so the two make an easy half-day together.
How it works: the museum is open Monday to Saturday, including public holidays, from 10:00 to 16:00, with last entry recommended at 15:00, and is closed on Sundays and around Christmas and New Year. A visit takes from 45 minutes to three hours depending on how much you read and watch. Entry includes the tastings, and a guided tour and a Wednesday cane-cutting experience are offered at extra cost with limited places.
What you see: the route leads through the old factory halls, past crushers, boilers and centrifuges, with displays on the island’s history, its peoples and the sugar trade, then into the newer spaces on rum and renewable energy. It is thoughtful, well presented and honest about slavery and indenture.
Making the most of it: come in the morning, take your time on the history sections, then taste the sugars and rums and have lunch at Le Fangourin, the restaurant in the gardens, which serves Mauritian dishes. Drivers should go easy at the rum tasting. Combine the visit with the Pamplemousses garden a few minutes away, or with Port Louis, about twenty minutes south.
What to expect
The experience
A self-paced museum visit through a restored sugar factory with interactive displays on the island’s history, ending with sugar and rum tastings.
Best time
Weekday mornings from 10:00, and any day when the weather rules out the beach; it is closed on Sundays.
How long
From 45 minutes to three hours, plus lunch at Le Fangourin if you stay.
Tips
Arrive well before the 15:00 last entry, allow time for the history sections, and plan a driver if you want to enjoy the rum tasting.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Anyone who wants to understand the history and people of Mauritius beyond the beaches.
- Families
- Older children enjoy the big machines and screens, and under-sixes go free; the tastings include sugars and jams as well as rum.
- Couples
- A relaxed morning of history and tasting, finished with a long lunch in the gardens.
- Pair with
- The Pamplemousses botanical garden next door, or the Port Louis food tour.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours, or half a day with lunch and the garden.
Good questions
When is L’Aventure du Sucre open?+
It is open Monday to Saturday, including public holidays, from 10:00 to 16:00, with last entry recommended at 15:00. It is closed on Sundays and around Christmas and New Year.
Is the tasting included in the ticket?+
Yes, entry includes tastings of more than thirty cane products at the Village Boutik, including unrefined sugars and New Grove rums. Guided tours cost extra.
What changed at the museum in 2026?+
After a two-year refurbishment, the museum relaunched in April 2026 with an immersive route across nine themed areas. It stayed open throughout the works.
Is there somewhere to eat?+
Yes, Le Fangourin restaurant in the gardens serves Mauritian dishes. There is also a shop selling sugars, rums and local products.
Where is L’Aventure du Sucre?+
It is at Beau Plan, Pamplemousses, in the north of the island, a few minutes from the botanical garden. Parking is available at the entrance.
