MAURITIUS

The pear-shaped ‘pearl of the ocean’, Mauritius is an isle of sensory stimulation and a burgeoning green destination

Writer: Phoebe Harper | Project Manager: Alfie Wilson

Floating 1,200 miles off the coast of Madagascar lies the island of the Republic of Mauritius. Surrounded by cerulean waters and fringed with beaches coated in icing-sugar sand, this compact landmass of just 45 by 65 kilometres is an explosion of colour.

The island’s verdant interior hosts a kaleidoscopic array of birdlife, from parakeets to Mascarene paradise flycatchers, while its social fabric resembles a vibrant tapestry woven with threads of cultures from all around the world. This enriching diversity is best experienced through Mauritius’ renowned gastronomy, which represents a culinary mosaic of Indian, African, Chinese, Muslim and European heritage. A fertile patch of Eden, Mauritius supports a thriving farm-to-table culinary scene best sampled through its restaurants and street vendors.

Blessed with the year-round sun of the sub-tropics, Mauritius has long been a haven for luxury resorts, however, look beyond the beaches and a cornucopia of delights lies in wait, including charming fishing villages, thriving local markets and tranquil tea estates.

Outdoor enthusiasts can hike amongst the three main mountain ranges surrounding the central plateau – Moka, Black River Chain and Grand Port – which host hiking trails ripe for adventure, while the multicoloured sand dunes of the Chamarel Seven Colored Earth Geopark are a natural wonder. Meanwhile, Mauritius’ submarine depths boast world-class diving and snorkelling sites, while above the surface, paddleboarding and exhilarating kitesurfing off the southwestern peninsula at Le Morne await.

The national emblem of Mauritius may be the long-extinct dodo, but the magnetic appeal of the pearl of the Indian Ocean continues to resound as strongly as ever. As the American author Mark Twain famously put it, “Mauritius was made first, and then heaven; and heaven was copied after Mauritius.” Take our word for it, he may have a point.