Next we turn right and head up into the mountains until we reach the Jardin du Roi. The garden is privately owned and can be visited for an admission fee of 115 rupees per person. If you walk briskly, you can manage the visit in 40 minutes. We, however, needed two hours — we spent ages with the giant tortoises and watching the fruit bats in the rainforest squabble over food.
In between, we spotted several birds, including a pair of hummingbirds mating.

We continue south past Anse Royale to the Anse Forbans Chalets, just before the road turns right into the interior. At Quatre Bornes, we take a sharp left right after the village entrance and drive down to Petit Police & Police Bay. A stunning beach and impressive surf await us here. However, swimming is forbidden — or at least strongly warned against — due to dangerous currents. Tourists regularly drown here.

We drive back to Quatre Bornes, then turn left towards Anse Intendance with its spectacular surf — swimming is equally life-threatening here.

If you fancy a swim by now, you can stop shortly after at Anse Takamaka or Baie Lazare for a proper swim and snorkel. Don't leave anything in your car or on the beach — theft is unfortunately on the rise even in this supposed paradise. If you're in the mood for art, you can pop in to see artist Donald Adelaide at Harvey's Café or visit Michael Adams at his studio near La Résidence Villas Apt. Shortly after comes the beautiful Anse à la Mouche.

Shortly after comes the beautiful Anse à la Mouche. Along the way you pass the Le Méridien hotel and Grand Anse.
There's also a mangrove forest along the road that can be explored on wooden boardwalks.
At Port Glaud, past Eden's Holiday Resort, there's a hidden waterfall. Officially you can't reach it as the area is under construction. But if you look around a bit, you can still find it.

We continue north to Port Launay Marine National Park and take our swim there. Then it's across the island for dinner at Résidence Charlette, the only restaurant open with a set menu at this time of year.