Cyan skies and turquoise waters? Check. Sweeping white sand beaches fringed by coconut palms? Check. Oh-so friendly locals greeting you with an easy smile wherever you go? Check.
Mauritius does a fantastic job of ticking off your idyllic tropical island cliche checklist.
You also get jagged jungle-clad peaks, lush lowlands and endless swathes of sugar cane that produce the rum for candy-coloured cocktails sipped at sunset. (Like rocket fuel they were, good enough reason to go in themselves.)
