Cap Malheureux (or Cape Misfortune) thus named for the number of ship wrecks on the rocks here. It is a place of great historical importance for Mauritius as it was here that the British invasion force finally defeated the French in 1810 and took over the island. The villages landmark is the much-photographed church, the red-roofed Notre Dame Auxiliatrice.

Enjoy superb all-inclusive accomodation, set amid some of Mauritius' most spectacular scenery. The Tamassa is a spacious 4Q hotel set in tropical surroundings with a superb beachfront location, perfect for soaking up the sun or enjoying snorkelling. You can also enjoy a stay at Beau Rivage, a luxury 5-star beach hotel located in Belle Mare on the east coast of the island.

Although Mauritius is famed for its tropical beaches, white sand and stunning scenery, there is more to this beautiful island that doesn't reveal itself right away. Take Mauritius’ sole national park, Black Gorges, which is a spectacularly wild expanse of thick forest covering 3.5% of the island’s surface and home to over 300 species of flowering plants and nine species of bird unique to Mauritius.

Nested within Bambou Mountains, La Vallee de Ferney is a nature reserve of 200 hectares which tends to preserve the native forest of Mauritius. With its unique biodiversity, the forest is a shelter for more than 100 plant species, and numerous animals, including vertebrate and invertebrate species.

Pamplemousses Gardens is one of the most visited attractions in Mauritius. Opened as a private garden by the French governor of Mauritius nearly 300 years ago, the gardens served as a major horticultural research center for the French and British during the colonial period. Today it's home to dozens of varieties of palm trees, as well as medicinal plants, fish ponds, and an amazing collection of Queen Victoria water lilies.