Today is all about relaxation at the beach — or rather, at two beaches. First we visit Petit Havre beach (Pointe de la Saline), where we hope to spot baby sharks that supposedly spend their days sleeping in the bay... unfortunately, no luck. The beach sits in a lovely cove with a small restaurant and good snorkeling opportunities. To the right, a somewhat hidden beach awaits. From here you can also hike to Plage Des Salines, about 2.5 km away.

We spend the afternoon at the town beach of Sainte-Anne. A lovely, if not exactly secluded, swimming beach with paddling-pool character and absolutely delicious ice cream. An older lady stirs coconut, honey, and ice in a wooden barrel to create a mouthwatering sorbet. In the evening, we dine at a small restaurant right on the beach of Sainte-Anne, past the waterfront promenade — the Planter's Rum Punches here are seriously strong! People love to swim here after dark as well.

After 80 km we reach Port-Louis. Here at the beach, a lovely one-hour trail leads through the mangrove forests (sentier de découverte de la mangrove). Simply drive to the end of Anse de Souffleur, park near the cemetery, and follow the signs. With advance booking or by arriving at 8 a.m., you can also take boat tours, snorkeling, and diving excursions into the mangroves. After this fascinating yet sweltering hike, we head back to Sainte-Anne and the beach at La Caravelle for some rest and, of course, more snorkeling.

A quick detour to the town center of Port-Louis, then we leisurely drive back along the coast and through sugarcane plantations.

Near Morne-à-l'Eau, we turn off to the laid-back coastal village of Vieux Bourg and make a stop at Anse Babin. A wonderful spot for swimming, picnicking, and enjoying spectacular views of the mangrove forests of the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin.

In the evening we visited the local market (every Thursday from 5 p.m.) — mostly fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers. A fresh coconut or the tiny bananas are a treat in any case. To round off the day, we stop at a beach bar in Sainte-Anne for a delicious Coco Punch and a Planter's Punch.