Off the Beaten Track

Belle Mare

A long, luscious, casuarina-fringed beach along the eastern coast, Belle Mare is best seen from atop a reconstructed lime kiln that's been converted into a lookout tower just inland from the beach. On the far side of the road that parallels the beach stand the ruins of a sugar mill.

More substantial sugar mill ruins hide behind Belle Mare. Aside from swimming, which is probably the best the island has to offer, about the only thing to do here is lie back and relax. It won't take long to get used to the idea. Belle Mare is a long, rollercoastery bus ride east of Port Louis.

Black River Gorges National Park

This highland area southwest of Curepipe is like no other part of the island. About 6km (4mi) from Curepipe, Mauritius' only mountain road reaches the wall of the park's large reservoir, Mare aux Vacoas. Dotted with casuarina and coniferous trees, it's more alpine wilderness than island paradise.

About 6km (4mi) southeast of Mare aux Vacoas is a lake sacred to Hindus, Grand Bassin, and, further east, Plaine Champagne, the largest natural area on Mauritius. The Rivière Noire lookout overlooks waterfalls and the 830m (2720ft) Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire, the highest point on Mauritius.

Rodrigues Island

A volcanic island 18km (11mi) long and 8km (5mi) wide, Rodrigues is in many way a miniature Mauritius. It's surrounded by coral reefs, covered with similar vegetation and landscapes, and blessed with an equally tropical climate. The vegetation isn't as lush, but then neither are the tourist throngs.

The pace of life is more relaxed and the people prone to stop and chat. On the down side, it's more likely to be hit by the cyclones that plague the region. The last big one, Cyclone Bella, swung through in early 1991, bringing with it winds in excess of 200km/h (125mph).