Extracts from Insight Guide, Mauritius, Réunion and Seychelles © Apa Publications 

Bounded by a coastline littered with glittering beaches protected by a virtually unbroken coral reef, Mauritius fulfils many people's fantasy of a tropical island paradise. Its excellent hotels offer everything most visitors could possibly want in terms of watersports, food, entertainment, shops and, of course, weddings.

Scenic highlights

Ile aux Aigrettes

Eco-tourism is developing at Ile aux Aigrettes. A guide from the Mauritius Wildlife Foundation (MWF) leads no more than 20 visitors at a time along marked paths. The highlight of this visit is to see the endangered Mauritius kestrel and bands of pink pigeons breeding happily among flora found nowhere else in the world.

Domaine du Chasseur

The private nature reserve of Domaine du Chasseur (Hunter's Domain), once popular with private hunting parties, now targets "green" tourists, who wander the 30 km of nature trails that run through forests of spice plants and native trees. Apart from the Javan deer reared here, you might also spot wild boars, monkeys, hares and many endemic species of birds.

Tamarin and the Tamarind Falls

Tamarin is most famous as a surfing centre - between June and August the waves can reach over 2 metres tall. The area around Tamarin is one of the west coast's most scenic. You should put aside at least half a day (return trip) for the challenging trek to Tamarind Falls.

Black River Gorges National Park

These mountains are easily accessible via the Black River Gorges National Park, which was officially opened in 1997 in an attempt to preserve what is left of the island's disappearing native forests. The 6,575-hectare park offers something for everyone from dedicated walkers to those who just fancy a scenic drive and a break from the beaches. This green heart of Mauritius is not a place to spot wildlife on a grand scale, but you could spend days tracking down the 150 endemic species of plants and nine endemic species of birds, including pink pigeons and Mauritius kestrels. While you may be lucky enough to spot these two endangered species, you are more likely to see the graceful white tropic bird, cuckoo shrike and Mauritius blackbird.

Grand Bassin

Surrounded by forests infested with monkeys, the water-filled crater of Grand Bassin attracts crowds not so much for its natural beauty but for its religious significance. The volcanic crater is known among Hindus as Ganga Talao; legend has it that the lake contains nocturnal fairies, but it was after a Hindu priest dreamed that it was linked to the sacred River Ganges that Grand Bassin became a place of pilgrimage for the annual Maha Shivaratree festival.

Central Market, Port Louis

If there is one place that no one should miss in Port Louis, it is the covered Central Market, which occupies two blocks just north of Place d'Armes. Traders from all continents have converged here for nearly 150 years, and today Indian, Chinese and Creole traders stand shoulder to shoulder selling their wares.

Domaine Les Pailles, Port Louis

On the approach, its location in the suburbs about 10 minutes' drive south of the city centre seems unpromising, but Domaine Les Pailles does, in fact, provide an effective escape from the brouhaha of the capital. Some people go only for the restaurants (of which there are five), but there are also 1,200 hectares of grounds to explore. The most popular attraction, particularly for children, is the one-hour guided tour (by mini-train or horse-drawn carriage) which aims to inform visitors about the production of sugar, rum and other local products.