Ile Sainte Marie is about 60 kilometres long and 5 kilometres wide and has a colourful history: through the 17th and 18th centuries it was a popular base for the Indian Ocean?s pirates. There is one town, Ambodifotatra, with a couple of cafes, a large church and a busy market. The only drawback of Ile Sainte Marie is that there is no dry season though rainfall is generally at night and interspersed with calm sunny weather. Cyclones do occur from December to March, though not every year, but they can be violent.

If you had to give it all up and pursue another career, and you liked fishing with a wonderful view, you might give Cap Malheureux (Unhappy Cape) a chance. I looked at this place and thought, man… Mark Twain was right! God did start with Mauritius and then created paradise.

It’s really that incredible, and pictures just can’t capture the beauty. Cap Malheureux Beach is located at the northern tip of the main island of Mauritius. Cap Malheureux is still a small fishing village, so you’d fit right in here if you gave up your current occupation.