The north

With a string of powder-white beaches and more sunny days than anywhere else on Mauritius, the north is the most touristed area on the island. It’s divided into two districts, Pamplemousses in the west and Rivière du Rempart in the east. The main action is along the northwest coast, centred around the lively resort of Grand Baie, a brandy-glass shaped, sheltered bay with an emerald lagoon and the island’s best nightlife. Around fifty restaurants now line the 2km coastal road north to Pereybère, once a simple fishing village, while the villages of Trou aux Biches and Mont Choisy to the south have also seen their fair share of development. Tourism swiftly comes to a halt around Cap Malheureux, where the swimming beaches run out. The northeast coast is less developed, with bustling towns such as Goodlands and tranquil rocky shores from where you can admire the pristine northern islands. Inland, a sparsely populated area is sprinkled with one-street towns such as Pamplemousses, home to a world-class botanical garden and an interactive museum, L’Aventure du Sucre.