6. MAURITIOUS The island’s mountainous centre is often overlooked by visitors seeking a quick fix of sun and sand, which is a shame as the magical mountains, the Black River Gorges National Park and the bustling towns of the Central Plateau all make for very worthwhile visits. As you can drive anywhere in Mauritius in under an hour, it’s well worth hiring a car and exploring the country’s interior for a day or two. Walkers and bird-watchers will love the Black River Gorges National Park , climbers and hikers will love the idiosyncratic, almost whimsical nature of Mauritius ’ volcanic mountains and anyone who likes bargain hunting will enjoy a trip to Curepipe or Quatre Bornes for the shopping and markets or to Floréal’s textile museum.
