Mauritius: the perfect break

 

Why go?

A perfect break that requires a 12-hour flight is a contradiction in terms for many travellers. It could diminish the appeal of far-flung destinations such as Mauritius. Don’t let it. A four-hour time difference with the UK ensures that any jet lag is minimal.

Get a good night’s sleep on the first night and you’ll enjoy every second on this gorgeous speck of land, just 42 miles long and 29 miles wide, in the Indian Ocean.

Some 2,000km off Africa’s south-east coat, Mauritius exhibits all the attributes of a tropical paradise. Pristine white beaches fringed with palm trees stretch along the coastline, while the rhythmic boom of waves crashing on coral reefs provides a comforting soundtrack. In the interior, mountains and dormant volcanoes rise out of lush jungle, broken only by plunging waterfalls, craters and deep gorges.

Every major empire has wanted a piece of Mauritius, from the Dutch (1598) and French (1715 to 1819) to the British (1814), because of its location as a trading post for slaves and spices from the African continent, and its own sugar crop. It wasn’t until 1968 that the island became independent from Britain. In 1992 it became a republic.

This fascinating legacy is reflected in the ethnic diversity of the population, with Dutch, French, British, African, Indian and Chinese immigrants making their home here. French (Creole) is the predominant language – and the cuisine? It’s as exotic and diverse as you’d expect.

During the southern hemisphere’s summer, November to May, temperatures range from 22°C to 35°C. In winter, the mercury rarely falls below 17°C, and the sea is still warm enough for swimming and watersports.

Travel by…

Emirates (www.emirates.com). Direct flights depart London Gatwick every day, with fares next month from £802. British Airways (www.ba.com) and Air Mauritius (www.airmauritius.com) fly direct from Heathrow from £418 and £594 respectively.

Stay at…

Club Med’s five-trident (star) La Plantation d’Albion (08453 67 67 67; www.clubmed.co.uk), an all-inclusive resort offering activities from golf and tennis to archery and watersports. Clubs and activities for children include a trapeze for budding circus stars. Book before November 3 for a seven-night, December break at reduced rates (£1,884 per adult, £1,076 per child). Alternatively, upgrade to Albion Villas, an exclusive new development in the resort. Each private luxury villa is tended by a butler; relax by the pool in the privacy of your own garden and dine in seclusion.

The three-star Veranda Le Palmar Beach Hotel (0871 9110131; www.mauritiuscollection.co.uk), on the east coast offers all-inclusive packages in November from £1,209.

Spend the morning in…

At the beach, of course. Take your pick from Belle Mare’s spotless sands on the east coast, to Flic en Flac in the west, which has the longest beach on the island and is famed for its sunsets. Don’t miss Tamarin Bay for a stunning combination of mountains, ocean and the Black River. Surfers and parasailers are drawn to the south west. To get around them all, hire a car (www.avis.co.uk/official-car-hire); Mauritians drive on the left.

Have lunch at…

Le Capitaine in the capital, Port Louis (Caudan Waterfront; 00 230 213 0038, le-capitaine-du-port.restaurant.mu), for delicious, just-caught seafood.

Spend the afternoon…

At the Sugar Factory Museum (00 230 243 0660, www.aventuredu sucre.com), in an old plantation at Beau Plan. Explore Pamplemousses Gardens, one of the world’s top ten botanical gardens.

Dine out at…

Le Café des Arts (Victoria 1840, Victoria Road, Trou d’Eau Douce. 00 230 480 0220, maniglier.com), where the Mauritian and French owners cook up nouveau Creole fare, from butter-grilled langoustine to a spicy catch of the day steamed in banana leaves. Set in a converted sugar mill, it houses canvases by the late Yvette Maniglier, the last private pupil of Henri Matisse.

Spend the next day at…

Black River Gorges, a Unesco national park in the south-west of the island, home to unique flora and fauna such as the pink pigeon and the Mauritian flying fox. Waterfalls, deep pools and dramatic landscapes created by the ancient gorges are in contrast to the tropical perfection of the coastline. Further along the coast looms the mountain of Le Morne, which once harboured escaped slaves. Hire a guide to take you up the trail – it’s tough going at the top.

Don’t miss…

A boat trip to the offshore paradise of Ile Aux Cerfs (Deer Island). A day-long adventure should combine a visit to the waterfalls of the Grande Rivière Sud-Est, and the stunning lagoon, Eau Bleue (www.mauritiusattractions.com).