The Beaches and Lagoons

Mauritius is the quintessential Indian Ocean paradise, an island ringed almost entirely by a protective coral reef that cradles a lagoon of calm, warm, impossibly turquoise water and powder-white beaches. From the lively northern hub of Grand Baie to the resort-lined west coast at Flic en Flac, the wild south and the beautiful east, its shores offer swimming, snorkelling, diving, kite-surfing and sailing in gin-clear water, along with some of the world's finest luxury resorts. It is a beach destination of near-perfect tropical beauty and gentle, welcoming charm.

What you actually see

• The lagoons - the calm, turquoise reef-protected waters.
• The beaches - the white sands of the north, west and east.
• The water sports - the snorkelling, diving and kite-surfing.
• The coral reef - the marine life around the encircling reef.

When to go

May to December, the cooler, drier season, is generally best, with pleasant weather and calm seas; January to April is hotter and wetter with a cyclone risk. The east coast is windier, favoured for kite-surfing, while the sheltered north and west suit calm swimming. The lagoons are warm year-round.

Honest expectations

Much of the best coast is lined with resorts, and public beach access, while guaranteed by law, can feel limited between them in the most developed stretches; the island is a splurge beach destination rather than a budget one. Some reefs have suffered damage. For sheer tropical-beach perfection, calm turquoise lagoons, superb resorts and warm hospitality, though, Mauritius is hard to beat.

Nearby

The mountainous interior, Chamarel and the capital Port Louis are inland.