“Mark Twain said it all: ‘Mauritius was made first, and then heaven; and that heaven was copied after Mauritius.’”
The island nation is petite in size, only spanning 38 by 29 miles, but the charm it possesses is nothing but small. Instantly captivating at first glance, Mauritius has a lot to offer with its Caribbean-like features. It is surrounded by 330 km long of pristine white beaches, all with different appeals. The coasts in the south, west and east are beautiful with their powdery white sand and sparkling blue water, while in the north, the bays are shallow enough for visitors to be able to play watersports like wind and kite-surfing.
First up to be explored; the beaches. Mauritius’s most recognized beaches are Trox aux Biches, Belle Mare Plage, Ile aux Cerfs, Pereybere, Flic en Flac, Blue Bay Beach, Mont Choisy, Le Morne, La Cuvette and La Cambuse. Trox Aux Biches has calm waters great for swimming and snorkeling, while Belle Mare Plage looks best at dawn for a morning dip. Ile aux Cerfs is the place to be for water-based activities, Pereybere is perfect to play in the water with your kids, and lastly, Flic en Flac as your go-to for a multi-colored sunset swim.
Aside from the seashore, Mauritius also has a great variety of other natural attractions, from its rainforests to the magical sand dunes. One must simply visit Black River Gorges National Park, a vast landmass with dense botanical growth and lush greenery so beautiful it looks like a painting that comes to life. Don’t forget to stop by Chamarel Waterfall for yet another best view you could possibly have seen in life, also ideal for simply taking a breather and quick meditation for a more peaceful and calmer self. Nearby is the world famous Seven Colored Earth, a natural phenomenon that is a small area of sand dunes with seven different colors; red, brown, violet, green, blue purple and yellow.
Finished with exploring Mother Nature, the town life is calling with its equally enchanting allure. Port Louis, the capital of the island is quite modern with bustling port activities and highly active market. It flawlessly blends the contemporary and traditional side of Mauritius into one delightful town to visit. Caudan Waterfront is where you go to shop the latest in fashion, local crafts and see hundreds of live entertainment. It is also best to visit the country’s museums and historical sites that are located in Port Louis while you’re at it, like Blue Penny Museum, Jumaah Mosque and Sir Seewoosagur Botanical Garden.
Although Mauritius is considered tropical and can be visited all year round, the island is still affected by the Southeast trade winds that make up two seasons; winter (the months of May to November, warm and dry) and summer (November to May, hot and humid). Even so, the weather temperatures between the two seasons are not that different.
PHOTO: Pravi Leung Pack Wing
