• Enjoy chambre d’hôte charm along the beach in Pointe d’Esny.
• Snorkel with dolphins in Tamarin.
• Dive the cavernous drop-offs at Flic en Flac.
• Hike through the forests of Black River Gorges National Park.
• Pause for lunch in the mountain village of Chamarel.
• Uncover the island’s plantation past at Eureka.
• Find weird-and-wonderful planet species at Pamplemousses.
• Discover how Mauritius once looked with a boat trip to Île aux Aigrettes.
• Snorkel on a boat trip from Grand Baie.
• Road trip along the azure lagoons along the rugged east-coast beaches.

CENTRAL PLATEAU

Home to a large majority of Mauritians, the cool and rainy centre of the island feels, for the most part, like a continuation of the urban chaos in Port Louis. There’s very little to see in the corridor of towns that runs almost unbroken from the capital to Curepipe; in fact, it’s pretty much the opposite of that postcard your friends sent you from their trip here last year.

THE NORTH

Mauritius’ tourism panache started in the north, and today there’s plenty on offer for visitors. Although most of the area’s spectacular beaches have been claimed by hotel construction, it’s never hard to get away from it all and discover the little nooks that remain largely untouched by development. Grand Baie is the eye of the tourist storm, boasting Mauritius’ best nightlife and some of the island’s best restaurants. The small beachside villages around Grand Baie – Trou aux Biches, Mont Choisy and Pereybère – are quickly developing in a similar fashion. The inland plain of sugar-cane fields is known as Pamplemousses and gently slopes towards the sea. Here you’ll find the wonderful Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens and the rightly popular L’Aventure du Sucre – a museum dedicated to Mauritius’ traditional colonial export.

THE WEST

A world away from the shores of the north, Mauritius’ western wonderland is the nation’s most diverse coast. The bustling tourist hub of Flic en Flac may not be to everyone’s taste, but the treasures that lie just beyond will satisfy even the pickiest holidaymaker. A veritable swatch book of lush greens and light browns, the area of Black River (Rivière Noire) has scalloping sandy bays that dimple the arable farmland. Then, further on, the tic-tac-toes of Tamarin’s shimmering salt flats perfectly reflect the beaming sun and soaring hills of fauna-filled Black River Gorges National Park. Next is bucolic Chamarel nestled in the highlands, followed by the last iteration of sky-reaching stone, Le Morne Brabant; an awesomely photogenic crag that caps the coastline’s southern tip. It all adds up to what could just be our favourite corner of the island.

THE SOUTHEAST

With flashes of India, Ireland and the Caribbean, the wild unfolding south is an undeniable favourite for many. Long considered too harsh to develop due to its steep, wind-battered cliffs, the south coast has managed to stave off the encroaching hands of developers until quite recently. A few luxury resorts have popped up over the last few years, but the area remains mostly rugged, with a plantation estate or two hidden among the towering cane. The jagged southern cliffs taper off at the shimmering reefs in Blue Bay, and just beyond you’ll uncover the gorgeous beach of Pointe d’Esny with its cluster of homely chambres d’hôtes . The gritty gridiron of Mahébourg anchors the southeast, providing an interesting perspective on local life that starkly contrasts with the unfurling streamers of sand stretching beyond the sleepy commercial centre. Then, the coastal road cuts north, passing endless forests of green – the stomping ground of the island’s first settlers some 400 years ago.

THE EAST

Known by the rather romantic sobriquet of La Côte Sauvage (The Wild Coast), the island’s east coast is a world away from the touts, nightclubs and souvenir shacks of Flic en Flac in the west and Grand Baie in the north. It does have its resorts, yes, but the east face of Mauritius feels blissfully untouched by mass tourism. Best of all, some of the island’s very best beaches line this quiet coast. Not surprisingly, this is the most exclusive side of the island, and the congregation of luxury hotels attracts the kind of crowd likely to take a helicopter transfer from the airport when they arrive. The closest the east comes to a resort is Trou d’Eau Douce, which has retained the feel of a sleepy fishing village despite rubbing shoulders with the grand hotels next door. It’s the jumping-off point for the wildly popular Île aux Cerfs.

Download map waypoints for Mauritius here: KML / GPX