The island of Mauritius has long been synonymous with exotic beachfronts and luxurious hotels; a place where Robinson Crusoe sand stretches are lapped by turquoise seas and dotted with leaning casuarina trees to the back. Unsurprisingly these are the Island’s major draw, with most visitors coming in search of unbridled rest and relaxation, or a stint at one of the many coastal, five-star resorts.
If that sounds like you, then be sure to ask your Mauritius tourist guide to recommend their personal favourites, because the famous spots of Grand Baie and Trou aux Biches near Triolet – the crème de la crème of the northern shore - can get seriously busy in the high season.
Aside from sunbathing and swimming, Mauritius offers up a wealth of other activities related to the sea. Snorkelling and diving are both popular in shoreline coral reefs, where visitors can spy out a kaleidoscope of colours and marine species. Further inland, the Black River Gorges National Park definitely warrants a visit, as does the capital at Port Louis, if only for that compulsory dose of a heady African marketplace.