Mauritius

Mauritius is a 2,040 sq km island nation about 2,000 km off the southeast coast of Africa, east of Madagascar. Volcanic in origin (now extinct), the island is almost entirely ringed by coral reefs that create calm turquoise lagoons along every coast, while its rugged interior features basalt mountains such as Le Morne Brabant, Pieter Both, and Le Pouce, surrounded by sugarcane fields and patches of remnant rainforest. With a population of about 1.3 million, Mauritius reflects a rich mix of French colonists, Indian indentured laborers (around 68%), African slaves, and Chinese traders, creating a multicultural Creole-French-Hindi-English-Bhojpuri society that adds depth to things to do in Mauritius beyond its beaches. Independent from Britain since 1968, the island is informally divided into regions for a well-planned Mauritius itinerary: the resort-heavy north (Grand Baie, Trou aux Biches), the wild south (Bel Ombre, Souillac), the scenic west (Le Morne, Flic en Flac), the quieter east (Belle Mare, Trou d'Eau Douce), and the cultural center around Port Louis and Mahébourg. The best time to visit Mauritius is May to December, when the weather is cool and dry.