Mauritius... Mascarene Islands

Tour Operator: Reliance Location: Grande Anse Weather: absolutely not recommended during our summer months.. it's pleasant, it's hot and you get a tan during the day.. but in the evening a good jumper is a must... it never rained but in the evening you had to cover up! The island of Mauritius is 70km long and 45km wide. Small as it is, it holds so many wonders within it..splendid beaches..coral reef..forests..a multitude of plants and flowers in a thousand colours, tea and sugar-cane plantations etc etc.. Along the roads, in the parks and gardens, there's an endless succession of colourful and fragrant trees and shrubs (the flamboyants, literally the 'flaming' ones), on which multicoloured birds sing ceaselessly. The long stretches of sand are crowned by thick rows of tall, shady casuarina trees.

What strikes you most about Mauritius is above all that it's an example of peaceful coexistence between different peoples.. different ethnic groups and different religions live together peacefully.. I recommend hiring a car, as we did, and driving round the island, discovering the various little coves and the magnificent beaches! An absolute must-see is the magnificent Île aux Cerfs (Island of the Deer) on the southeast coast of Mauritius... it can only be reached by boat.. you'll spend the day on the little island wandering along the beaches and then have lunch with an excellent lobster... The beaches of Mauritius: Belle Mare A long and delicious public beach lined with green casuarina trees.

Trou d'Eau Douce Literally 'hole of fresh water', it takes its name from a freshwater spring that gushes from the ground, and is a very characteristic village with steep little streets leading towards the port. West Coast Flic en Flac An area of great tourist growth, it's also renowned for some important diving spots. Among them 'Cathedral cave'. A few kilometres from Flic en Flac is the Casela park, famous for its numerous and rare birds and for a giant tortoise over 150 years old. Tamarin Tamarin is known to all surf enthusiasts, but even so its shores are calm and jagged. Tamarin is surrounded by salt pans from which salt is produced. Le Morne, the peninsula with what I think is the most spectacular beach in Mauritius.. Have a good trip!!