There are a number of Islands in the Indian Ocean famed for their white sandy beaches, turquoise seas and idyllic palm trees, however I prefer Mauritius as my go-to destination. The beaches are everything you'd hope for in this part of the world, with options for tranquil private lagoons, (like the one Constance Resort, Prince Maurice is situation on), or water sport havens, attracting competitive kite surfing world championships, like the beach by the Heritage Resorts. However a short distance from the coast, and you're lush tropical rain forests where you can explore the beautiful scenery.
The 7 Colours of Earth, found in Chamarel are stunning. Pick your time of day for late afternoon and watch the ground come alive with the rich colours, formed over 3m years ago from Volcanic activity.
Put Black River Gorge on your list of places to visit. The trail from the car park starts flat along the river bed, which in itself is pretty, tranquil and a great place to escape the beach. However a short way in you have the option to climb, and be prepared for how steep this is, as it twists and turns. However the views from the top are well worth the effort. The humidity meant my clothes were literally soaking from the damp in the atmosphere by the time I reached the top and I did have to pass through swarms of mosquitoes near to the summit. However don't let that put you off.
We booked the quad bike tour at Heritage Nature Reserve. Stopping not to scare the deer grazing, and again to visit the waterfall for a dip. The trail is plenty long enough to pick up good speed on the bikes and allows for numerous stopping points to switch driver (if your partner wants to take control). Thoroughly recommend this excursion as a way to see more of the island, it's wildlife and spectacular scenery.
Click here to see where we stayed in Bel Ombre, Mauritius