Ask any local, and they’ll tell you that Mauritius is the best island in the world. Now, it’s official according to Big 7 Travel’s tally of votes in their recent poll. Mauritius ranks top of their list of 50 Best Islands in the World.

Big 7 Travel curates recommendations gathered through readership surveys, audience input, and editorial staff to provide insider information that you can trust, saving you the time and hassle of researching the best destinations yourself.

Jamaica, Koh Mak island in Trat province, Thailand, Anguilla in the Eastern Caribbean Sea, and Madeira in Portugal completed the top five of the 50 Best Islands in the World, in that order.

Tropical delights

Summer in Mauritius starts heating up in October. The sunny weather only gets better as the festive season approaches and lasts until March. A tropical island getaway has never looked so good.

Mauritius is a small island in the Indian Ocean, famous for its landscape of verdant mountains and sandy white beaches lapped by azure waters. Whether you prefer the ocean waves or the tranquillity of the lagoon, there is plenty to keep visitors occupied above and below the water.

Mauritius destinations have won a multitude of international awards over the years. The locals are warm and friendly too, so it’s no surprise that the island is still the happiest country in Africa, according to the 10th annual World Happiness Report published by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

World Golf Awards

Golf is a prevalent pastime on the island. The best courses are designed by some of the world’s top golfers. Heritage Golf Club was awarded Indian Ocean’s Best Golf Course, while Anahita Golf & Spa Resort was awarded the Indian Ocean’s Best Golf Hotel at the World Golf Awards 2021.

Meanwhile, the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open returns to the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour schedules in 2022 after a three-year hiatus prompted by the pandemic.

Mont Choisy Le Golf near Grand Baie will host the sixth edition of this co-sanctioned tournament on its Peter Matkovich-designed course from 15-18 December. This will be the first time the event is held in the ever-popular north of the island.

“We are delighted to make our return to the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour, and more importantly, to be the catalyst for bringing the largest sporting event of the region to Mauritius for the first time since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Thierry Vallet, founder executive and interim CEO of AfrAsia Bank.

“The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is an important contributor to the Mauritian economy with a spillover effect to key sectors such as tourism and financial services, to name a few. This tournament, broadcast worldwide, always draws a strong field and plenty of international interest and remains a source of great national pride.”

Players looking for a little luxurious downtime afterwards may head for nearby Shanti Maurice Resort & Spa, which was voted Best Wellness Retreat in Mauritius at the World Spa Awards 2021.

Luxury accommodation

The World Travel Awards recognise “grand getaways and elevated hospitality that stands out from the pack every year.” Once again, Mauritius destinations feature in the Africa region categories. In the north, the Oberoi Beach Resort in Balaclava placed 11th among the Top 25 Luxury Hotels on the continent. Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel in Anse La Raie in the north also made the list.

Meanwhile, Constance Prince Maurice in Pointe de Flacq and LUX* Belle Mare in Belle Mare made sure the island’s east coast won its share of the spoils. LUX* Belle Mare was also among the World’s Best All-Inclusive Resorts.

Meanwhile, Le Jadis Beach Resort & Wellness in Turtle Bay, Balaclava, won the award for Mauritius’s Best Wellness Retreat at the World Spa Awards 2022.