Mauritius
Most visitors to Mauritius choose package-tour holidays and stay at one of the island’s magnificent resorts. The capital, Port Louis, is the tourist hub of the island, but there are literally hundreds of excellent beach resorts lining the Mauritian coast. The pick of the bunch, The Royal Palm Hotel, has been hailed by Forbes as one of the best beach resorts in the world. Most of the resorts sport luxury amenities such as golf courses, spas and watersports like diving, snorkelling, windsurfing, sailing or fishing.
The one drawback to a holiday in Mauritius is the long flight time for British and American visitors. This is a shame, because those who do brave the gruelling trip will be richly rewarded by one of the world’s true island paradises, a place that somehow manages to be both comfortable and exotic, luxurious and pleasantly ‘off the beaten track’.
Of course, most travellers in Mauritius have been lured by the beautiful stretches of coastline, the warm ocean, plentiful sunshine, numerous watersports, and high-quality resorts. However, things to see and do in Mauritius extend far beyond it’s white sand beaches and clear turquoise waters.
See a replica of the legendary Dodo at Port Louis’ Natural History Museum, and explore the Central Market, a bustling hub of culture, colour and bargains. Visit the impressive and historic manor houses in Moka and take in Chamarel’s rainbow of coloured sands, the ‘Seven Coloured Earth’. Black River Gorges National Park is great for picnics, hiking and scenic drives and is home to wonderful waterfalls and wildlife, while La Vanille Reserve des Mascareigne is home to thousands of crocodiles and giant tortoises.
It is well worth taking excursions inland to learn about the island’s interesting history and culture, and to see how local Mauritians live outside of the fancy beach resorts. Learning the local Sega dance is a delight for visitors, and it is particularly special to seek out night spots frequented by locals rather than just sticking to the resort entertainment. Its lovely weather makes Mauritius a perfect year-round holiday destination.
