Mauritius

Mauritius is a volcanic island in the western Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar. It covers some 1,865 km², and a coral reef shelters nearly all of its 330 km of coastline, keeping the lagoons calm and clear. Inland rise mountains, green valleys and tropical forest, while its people — of Indian, Creole, Chinese and European descent — share an island where several faiths and traditions sit comfortably side by side.

The north-west coast around Grand Baie, north of the capital Port Louis, is the liveliest stretch, with beaches, restaurants and bars; just offshore lie the protected islets of Coin de Mire and Île Plate. The west coast, home to Tamarin and Flic en Flac, is more dramatic, its mountain ridges broken by valleys and long beaches.

The climate is tropical but tempered by the trade winds: summer, from October to March, brings 27–30 °C, while winter is cooler and drier at 20–24 °C, and the sea stays at 22–26 °C all year. The most rewarding months are September to December and February to May. Mauritius suits couples and families, divers, golfers and anglers drawn by deep-sea fishing for blue marlin.