Silky Sands, Turquoise Surf & Mauritian Rum

"Give me the sun & the sea and a little spot to just be" - Unknown

My first International destination I experienced was was the beautiful Island of Mauritius. Hidden away in the Indian Ocean approximately 2000 km South East of the African continent and known as the Island of Love, Mauritius offer more than just beautiful sunsets, colourful cocktails, white sandy beaches and All Inclusive holidays. It's a treasure chest of culture, nature, local cuisine and the warm hospitality of it's Creole people waiting for you to experience and explore.

In recent years had the pleasure of exploring the island a bit more in depth and through my personal experiences learned that there is more to Mauritius than 5-star luxury resorts and colourful cocktails. There's something for everyone to enjoy and to fall in love with about this magical island.

Here is my list of Top 10 best kept secrets and experiences in Mauritius.

1: Tamarind Falls

A visit to the Tamarind Falls offers a unique experience in the middle of nature, where seven stepped waterfalls run down strings of rivers to a beautiful pond at the bottom. The canyons were formed by the Tamarind River which is sourced in the mountains of the Black River Range. The decorated in exotic flora and tranquil surroundings and has been pointed out as a top attraction for bird watchers, hiking lovers and adventure seekers.

Highlights: Multiple adventure activities including hiking, cliff jumping, bird watching and canyoning.

2: Mahebourg

Best to visit this invigorating city between May to December, Mahebourg has a charm that attracts people not to miss. The city offer scenic views of a historical museum, buzzing streets, the appetizing street food and beautiful beaches south to north. The National History Museum gives an idea about the ancient lifestyle of the island during colonial period. Do make some time to visit the Monday Market, a busy and crowded place that was previously focusing on selling skills and textiles but now also include food stalls for its visitors to taste the delicious flavours of local produce. Don't forget to visit the Rault Biscuit Factory, a famous biscuit making industry from the 1870's.Be transported back in time by attending one of the Heritage Regattas. This traditional boat race is a stunning sight from land and on the sea and with their colourful sails and folkloric names, these boats attract local Mauritians of all ages and are a fun day out for the whole family.

Highlights: Heritage Regattas, Monday market & Rault Biscuit Factory.

3: Trou aux Cerf

Trou aux Cerf is one of the famous natural tourist attractions in Mauritius. Located about 1 km from the town of Curepipe, the dormant volcano is around 605m above sea level with a diameter of 350m and a depth of around 100m. Unlike typical volcanic features, Trou aux Cerf’s crater is surrounded by lush forest and offer a stunning 360-degree view of the town of Curepipe, a view of the Rempart Mountain, Trois Mamelles and the Port Louis-Moka mountain range.

Highlights: 360 - degree view of Curepipe.

4: Rochester Falls

Rochester Falls is a must see must visit attraction. Rochester Falls is set in a rocky and lush green landscape in the Savanne district of Mauritius about 2.5 Km from Souillac in the South of Mauritius. The beautiful scenery, tumbling waterfalls, pools of clear water, and lush green landscapes surrounding the region, makes it a breath-taking site to see. Mesmerizing as it may seem, this spectacular sight serves as the perfect spot for a quick refreshing plunge or a small picnic break. You will also find local vendors selling coconuts and pineapples. Rochester Falls has been in the spotlight for being featured in many Bollywood movies.

Highlights: Ideal outdoor picnic spot & natural plunge pool to enjoy the cool water.

5: Rhumerie de Chamarel Distillery

Chamarel is very proud of its idyllic mountain setting and a visitor-friendly distillery. Situated in the South West part of Mauritius, in the heart of the valley lies the Rhumerie de Chamarel which is surrounded by sugarcane plantations growing harmoniously with the other tropical fruits nearby. Rhumerie de Chamarel aim to provide a holistic tourism experience to guests. As a visitor of the Rum Distillery you can discover its unique design which blends with the spectacular surroundings and provide a sense of connection with nature. Displaying a unique sense of warmth and authenticity, the Rhumerie de Chamarel Distillery embrace visitors with an extensive experience ranging from a guided tour of the distillery and rum tasting to a tasty meal at L’Alchimiste, its own stylish and creative “A la Carte” restaurant.

Highlights: Distillery tour & Rum tasting

6: Blue Bay Marine Park

Mauritius has long been a snorkelling haven and if you are a true snorkelling lover then your visit to Mauritius will not be complete without visiting the Blue Bay Marine Park. Surrounded by shallow reefs and beautiful coral, the park is home to more than 50 different species of coral. Exploring the marine life of Mauritius is something not to be missed.

Highlights: Snorkeling & glass bottom boat experience.

7: Le Port Ship Model Factory and Showroom

Located in the town of Curepipe, Le Port Ship Model Factory is worth a visit. The factory started the building of ship models in 1988 and have since build thousands of replicas of famous boats among them the HMS Bounty, The HMS Victory, The Soleil Royal, The Black Pearl and The Wasa. The Showroom have a large variety of ship models built at different scales. All of these ship models are crafted by hand, a beautiful display of not only some of the worlds most famous ships but some of the worlds most skilled hand craft.

Highlights: View the biggest model of the HMS Victory.

8: Hike to Le Pouce Mountain

If you enjoy the adventure of a hiking then make sure you experience hiking experience to Le Pounce Mountain. The hike is an adventurous way to explore the natural beauty of Le Pounce Mountain and marvel at it’s stunning peak, lush green surroundings and panoramic island views.

Highlights: Enjoy a 5 Hour early morning panoramic island hike, perfect for family holidays.

9: Le Morne Kite-surfing

Mauritius Attractions offers you the unique kite surfing opportunity that is both exciting and rewarding. This surely will make your stay in Mauritius more enjoyable. Kite-surfing season in Mauritius starts in April and easily goes all the way till the very end of November. This is the Mauritian winter with strong and consistent South-East trade winds making these months the best time enjoy kite-surfing in Mauritius. There’s a pretty good selection of kite-surfing spots in the South and without doubt the most famous and cherished out of all Mauritius kite surfing spots is Le Morne.

Highlights: Endless fun in the Le Morne sun enjoying kite-surfing

10: Bubble Lodge Experience Bois Chéri

Bubble Lodge is located in the Domaine of Bois Chéri, the most famous Tea Estate of Mauritius. This unique accommodation is settled around the Lake, in the intimacy of the endemic trees of Mauritius to live a privileged experience with nature. It is the ideal place to take a break, forget the stress of everyday life, meet for a romantic moment as a couple, a moment out of time with friends or enjoy a privileged break with family. All rooms are equipped with ecological dry toilets, a washbasin with running water, an open sky shower to take advantage of the Nature.

Highlights: Pedal boat, kayak, fishing on the lake, walks around the lake and in the Domaine de Bois Chéri to meet deer, guinea fowls, black swans and ducks.