It's time to break Mauritius out of the box - "What box is that?" you may be asking yourself. It's that little engagement box that precedes all weddings. Don’t get me wrong, we have nothing against romance; in fact Gotravel24.com has an entire section dedicated to it! It’s just that Mauritius has earned a reputation as the place of choice for honeymooners – words like wild, outrageous, unusual and unique simply don’t spring to mind.

The postcard-perfect beaches of Mauritius are undoubtedly the island’s main attraction. But have you ever thought of hiking through an extinct volcanic crater or experiencing giant water lilies that belong in the Jurassic age? Otherwise a colour collage of earth that refuses to mix is sure to boggle the brain. Perhaps biking through the mountains or rock diving from the Island’s waterfall is more your thing.

Any eco-adventurers out there?

Jardin des Pamplemousses, in the north
The outrageous factor of the giant water lilies at Jardin des Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens definitely requires some sacrificed beach time. The pads can reach up to one-and-a-half meters in diameter. Tradition dictates that you throw a coin towards its centre to make your wish come true. There is also the talipot palm, an indigenous plant that takes up to 60 years to flower. There are over 500 plant species growing in the 62-acre garden so pencil in enough time to explore it all.

Trou aux Cerfs, near Curepipe in central Mauritius
Prepare for a brisk walk as you make your way up a tarred road that leads to the lip of this extinct volcanic crater, which is about 80-metres deep. It is now heavily forested and filled with water and silt, so hiking down to the centre is cautionary but quite an experience.

Coloured Earth, near Chamarel on the west Coast
You will have to get up early to fully enjoy this natural phenomenon. Folds of former molten rock ripple out in seven spectacular colours. The hues, which include red, yellow, orange, deep purple and blue, never merge. What’s even more bizarre is how sand samples of the different coloured rock separate after being thoroughly mixed in a container. This is one holiday trinket you wouldn’t mind owning.

Rochester Falls, near Souillac on the south coast
At 10-metres it certainly isn’t the highest in the world but it offers a thrill which the locals will be more than willing to illustrate for you. Diving from the top can be fun and the natural pool below is a great place to swim.

You could also try mountain or quad biking at Yemen Nature Park, as well as l'Etoile, the original home of the now extinct Dodo.

All said and done, head for the beach!
As mentioned before, the beaches of Mauritius remain the biggest draw card of this tropical island, which is about 58-kilometres in length and 46-kilometres at its broadest. Once done exploring the bizarre and unusual try out the many adventure water sports on offer or simply head for a hammock and work on your tan at one of the following:

Tamarina
It is close to Rivière Noire Mountains in the south west. It has a lagoon that is split in two by the Rivière Noire estuary and is also quite popular with surfers.

Grand Baie
The northern coastline is a big tourist attraction with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, shops and markets. Try out Pointe aux Piments, Trou aux Biches and Choisy for sunbathing or some snorkelling. Grand Baie itself is popular for yachting, water-skiing, windsurfing and many other sports.

Péreybère
A cove of clear water makes this one of the top bathing spots on the whole island. It has also been described as a hip and happenin’ beach favoured by young sports enthusiasts.

Cap Malheureux/ Grand Gaube
These two fishing villages in the extreme north are just 15-minutes away from the Grand Baie tourist hub. The beaches also offer super views of neighbouring islands of volcanic origin.

Roches Noires/Poste Lafayette
The off-shore winds make these beaches in the east quite popular during the hotter summer months.

Belle Mare
This stretch of coast holds beach delights such as Palmar and Trou d’Eau Douce, which leads to the quaint village of Grand Port. Mahébourg and Pointe d’Esny can also be found just before Blue Bay.

Blue Bay
Situated on the south east coast, the name speaks for itself. A stretch of idyllic white sand with clear, blue ocean that allows for bathing, yachting and other water sports.