Many visitors to Mauritius might consider giving its capital city Port Louis a miss. Don't! This part of the Pamplemousses district has so much to offer.

We suggest spending a couple of days of your island escape in this city, one of the island's oldest settlements, where you'll find three centuries of French and British colonialism all blended with the oriental influences of China and India.

Port Louis is just a short taxi ride from the high-end holiday bliss of Grand Baie in the north-west and is surrounded almost entirely by the Moka mountains. The bustling business district is slightly reminiscent of Cape Town's eclectic vibe but with a tropical air.

Once you've checked into your hotel, make your way down to Central Market in Farquahar Street. Here you will experience multicultural Mauritius at its best. Practically anything goes at this bustling market! Products on offer range from fish, meat, textiles, veggies and a rainbow of tropical fruit such bananas, pineapples, papayas, guavas, mangoes and litchis. It's a good idea to buy some for a picnic or to take along on the following day's adventure.

You'll also find the muti trade is alive and kicking. Plants with medicinal properties proclaiming a cure for everything from hernias to constipation are on sale here. You'll even find some aphrodisiacs, but we'll leave that entirely up to you.

From there move along to Port Louis’ Chinatown, which is walking distance from the Central Market. Wares available include spare parts for plastic toys and smells typical of Chinese cuisine add authenticity to your outing. The variety of food on offer makes it the perfect place to grab some lunch – that’s if you haven’t already been snacking on the goodies at the market.

Some heritage site-seeing is quite in order after lunch on the go. Place d'Armes sums it all up for you and is practically unavoidable as it is the main entrance and exit point of Port Louis. It is a good starting point for visiting the original government house, the most ancient theatre of the Indian Ocean, and the national and postal museums just to name a few. The Natural History Museum also houses a collection which dates from early 1800 and contains unique and rare specimens of the fauna of Mauritius and surrounding islets. You can also get a first hand view of the extinct Dodo, mammals, reptiles, fishes, shells, tortoises, butterflies, corals representing the local and regional fauna.

Once you’ve had your cultural fill for the day head off to the Caudan Waterfront – the shopping and leisure hub of Port Louis. It’s also a great place to enjoy the sunset. Enjoy a light supper at one of the many restaurants accented by the marina. After your nightcap head back to the hotel for a good night’s rest as tomorrow will be packed with more activity. But remember, you’re on holiday, so you get to choose the pace.

Rise and shine to some morning sustenance before taking in some of the islands’ natural beauty at Domaine Les Pailles, which is a stone’s throw from Port Louis. You have a choice of a 4x4, horse-drawn carriage or train ride through some of the park’s 3 000 acres that lie at the foot of the Moka Mountains. Deer, monkeys and rare birds live harmoniously in this rich nature park where you’ll also find a replica of an ox-drawn sugar mill, a spice garden and a natural spring. Lunch at one of the many restaurants at the visitors centre or enjoy your tropical picnic at a spot of your choice.

As you make your way back to the centre of town you have to stop in at the beautiful Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden at Pamplemousses, home to the hugely famous Amazon lilies. The 62-acre garden is home to over 500 plant species, including a tree which bears fruit resembling a sausage.

To end your day either enjoy the sunset at La Citadelle or Signal Mountain where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city, You can also put to good use some of the things you may have bought at the market. However if you’ve had your fill of nature then head to the Caudan Waterfront’s casino which will keep you entertained for hours.