Things to do in Mauritius

With 100 miles of beaches, dazzling sandy shores are at the core of every Mauritius holiday; you’ll no doubt spend hours lazing beneath that beating tropical sun. While the west has glorious sunsets, the most celebrated stretches of soft white sand are found in the glamorous east. Le Morne, in the south-east corner, is the most romantic, with three miles of powdery beach. Grand Baie, a vast, horseshoe-shaped turquoise bay in the north-east dubbed the Creole Côte d’Azur, is the island’s hub. Lots of beaches here are lined with glitzy hotels and bars, perfect if you fancy a cocktail while you sink back on your sun-lounger. Take a short stroll north from the centre of Grand Baie to the soft wide sands of La Cuvette. This is the spot for peace and relaxation – plus the choppier waves are great for having a splash about.

At 45km by 65km, nowhere in Mauritius is more than 45 minutes’ drive from the sea. Here, it’s possible to swim with dolphins in the morning and then go diving, kitesurfing or paddleboarding in the afternoon. As it’s surrounded by the world’s third largest coral reef, snorkelling among rich marine life is one of the best things to do in Mauritius. Have a go at sea-karting, a sort of cross between a jet-ski and a self-drive speedboat that’s unique to Mauritius. Kitesurfing, too, is big news: experienced kiters aim for “One Eye”, one of the world’s fastest and cleanest waves, which breaks in front of a reef surrounding Le Morne.

Mauritius’s bygone French glamour is still alive at its beautiful plantation homes and gardens, where you can often stop for an elegant lunch on the veranda, surrounded by nature. These colonial and Creole-style houses of 18th and 19th century were French-style designs adapted for the tropics. Sprinkled all over the island, some are now living museums and restaurants, open to the public. If you only visit one, make it Eureka at Moka in the north. Designed like a white dolls house, it’s probably the best example of colonial architecture in Mauritius, with its turreted windows, wrap-around veranda and 109 windows and doors.

Skim across the rainforest canopy on an epic zip-line at Casela World of Adventures – keep an eye out for giant fruit bats snoozing in the trees! There are four zip-line options including one that ends with a splash in the river, where you have a chance to swim. On the flanks of Rempart Mountain, a day at this vast ecoadventure park is one of the most exciting things to do in Mauritius thanks to its host of activities, which also include quad-biking, rock-climbing, Segway and a canyon swing. Guided tours include photo safaris for sightings of zebras, hyenas, white rhinos and hippos. A humbling and exciting experience is the popular attraction of walking in the wild with Casela’s lions and cheetahs, accompanied by expert guides.

A 1,824ft emerald hump at the extreme southwest tip of Mauritius, Le Morne Brabant Mountain was once the hideout of runaway slaves. The forbidding bulk is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and on most people’s list of what to do in Mauritius. You’ll need a guide to lead you on the four-hour hiking route, up to a huge metal cross which marks the highest accessible point. As it juts out on a peninsular, your efforts will be rewarded by an unbelievable view of the turquoise ocean, miles of beach and the nearby island Ile aux Benitiers.

Enter a world of fantastical tropical plants at The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden (Pamplemousses Gardens to the locals), one of the world’s best botanical parks. Having opened in 1729, it’s the oldest botanical garden in the southern hemisphere, its 60 acres are now home to 500 indigenous and exotic species, including 100 species of palm including the rare Sri Lankan talipot, which blooms once every 30 to 100 years and then dies. The centrepiece is a long pond filled with 2-metre-wide Amazon lily pads that frogs hop between. Look out for curiously named tree species such as the Marmalade Box Tree, the Fish Poison Tree and the Sausage Tree.

Combine a close encounter with nature and the thrill of riding a quad bike, on an Eco Quad Tour though the 1,300-hectare Heritage Nature Reserve. During the two-hour tour, you’ll steer through sugar cane fields, up and over valleys, and stop for a swim at the pool of a waterfall. See if you can spot deers, monkeys and wild boars as you trundle along.