On Location: Mauritius

By Gray Shealy

What do I consider one of the wildest, most insane trips I’ve ever taken? It must have been flying to MAURITIUS for the WEEKEND. For those of you who aren’t quite placing this remote Indian Ocean island nation quite yet: imagine a small dot to the east of Madagascar en route to Australia, home to the now extinct Dodo bird, and some of the world’s finest (demerara) sugar. 

We left the US on a Thursday, connected in Paris, and were on the island for 40 total hours before returning on Monday. We flew 22,000 miles in a span of four days. And it was absolutely incredible. We climbed the island’s highest peak, encircled the island via car, ate like royalty, and slept on the beach, completely fulfilled as we departed.

My fascination for this tiny island came at a young age. I still have a brochure from the early 90s that The Royal Palm Hotel sent me when I wrote them (and a few other places around the world via snail mail) that I – one day – fantasized about visiting. As a bucket list dream, I had one of the most memorable meals of my life there as the sunset beams disappeared under the open air pavilion. There was live piano, candelabras, waiters in tuxes, repeat patrons in sparkly gowns, and gorgeous dishes. (One plate was simply called “Mauritian Bananas” e.g.: bananas flambéed table side like they used to do in the old days). And they couldn’t have been more attentive. Hospitality-unlike any other place-is embedded in the soul of these island people.

We stayed on the eastern side of the island, just north of the Hindu temples that dot the meandering coastline, at the fabulous One&Only Le Saint Géran resort. White sands were raked perfectly every morning so that we could lazily fall asunder beneath the thatch umbrellas. Generous cornucopias of breakfast piled high in the elegant restaurants, and I could hardly get myself out of the infinity pool for a heavenly al fresco massage facing the tropical gardens. But yet, I made it an adventure even still:

Our visit came at a time when social media had just started to point out Mauritius’ ‘underwater waterfall,’ an illusion of reefs that look like a waterfall under the ocean. So, we made it a point to climb Mauritius’ highest mountain, just near enough said waterfall so we could see it. Except that it meant waking up at 4am for a drive across the island, where a guide led us literally rock climbing our way to the peak for spectacular sunrise views over the Indian Ocean sans cascade. A sunrise I will likely not forget, even if it meant that we still needed a helicopter to actually see that waterfall.

Stay: One&Only Le Saint Géran 

Stay & Eat: Beachcomber Royal Palm Hotel

Photo Credit: Syllogi

Syllogi’s ‘On Location’ is a series of trip reports reflecting on our personal travels, as we research and experience the bounty the world has on offer.