Mauritius is the most accessible island in the Indian Ocean, boasting as much tropical paradise as Maui or Martinique and, better still, offering it at a bargain price. Though nestled up alongside Africa, it's actually more influenced by its British and French ties and massive Indian workforce.

Here, you can enjoy a dish of curried chickpeas or a nice Yorkshire pudding on the terrace of a French café, sipping imported wine or a thick malty ale while listening to Créole music and the conversation of locals in any number of lingoes.

Its range of visitors facilities runs the gamut from pamper-happy beach resorts and organised excursions to locals who'll put you up in their homes and rent you their cars for daytrips. If you're looking for a lazy beach vacation, you could certainly do worse, but don't forget the rambling interior and the multicultural capital Port Louis.

Waves from the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 completely submerged a village in the north of the island. There have been no reports of casualties.

Full country name: Republic of Mauritius
Area: 1,860 sq km
Population: 1.2 million
Capital City: Port Louis (pop 150,000)
People: Indo-Mauritian (68%), Creole (27%), Sino-Mauritian (3%), Franco-Mauritian (2%)
Language: Hindi, French, Urdu, Bhojpuri, English
Religion: Hindu (51%), Christian (30%), Muslim (17%), other (2%)
Government: parliamentary democracy
Head of State: President Sir Anerood Jugnauth
Head of Government: Prime Minister Paul Berenger

GDP: US$11.7 billion
GDP per capita: US$10,300
Annual Growth: 5%
Inflation: 6%
Major Industries: Sugar, textiles, tea, tobacco, tourism
Major Trading Partners: EU, US, South Africa, India