Paradise plus: make the most of magical Mauritius

It's the little things: at Sugar Beach, there is always plenty on offer for the younger members of the family

Few tropical islands live up to expectations, but Mauritius, with its year-round sunshine, sandy beaches and cerulean seas, has been delivering dream holidays for over 40 years. Mauritian specialist Sunlife shows there is a magic to the island that goes beyond a picture-perfect beach escape. The company’s four luxury resorts – Sugar Beach, Long Beach, La Pirogue and Ambre – and private island capture the essence of what Mauritius has to offer, which travellers can experience with the Come Alive Collection. Choose from a range of unique activities, from breakfast served in your own private pirogue (a wooden fishing boat) on the lagoon to a top-to-toe makeover.

Dreaming of a tropical escape? Discover an island idyll that delivers so much more than beautiful beaches (though they are pretty spectacular…)

promoted content

Paradise plus

On the golden sands of Flic-en-Flac beach on the west coast, Sugar Beach’s calling card is manor glamour. At the heart is Sunlife’s elegant five-star hotel – the Manor House – fresh from a £10 million renovation. Set in 30 acres of tropical gardens – lushly packed with palms, hibiscus and bougainvillea – Sugar Beach never feels crowded. Honeymooners chill around the peaceful infinity pool, while families enjoy the largest pool on the island. Sugar Beach is one of Mauritius’s most family-friendly five-star resorts. Children under 12 sharing a room with two adults stay and eat for free on the same board – premium suites (the size of half a tennis court) can sleep three children. There are watersports, minigolf and a complimentary kids’ and teens’ club. Offering three stylish restaurants and bespoke Cinq Mondes spa, Sugar Beach strikes a balance between indulgence and adventure. The more active can join a sunset paddleboard, practise their golf swing for free at Tamarina Golf Club and climb aboard a catamaran to spot dolphins in Tamarin Bay.

Long Beach offers a distinctive mix of barefoot chic and playful experiences

Sugar Beach resort

There’s something about Long Beach that inspires wedding proposals, so much so that there’s a dedicated wedding co-ordinator. Fringed by a kilometre of white sand on pristine Belle Mare Plage with an azure lagoon encircled by a coral reef, Sunlife’s five-star east coast escape certainly has the wow factor. It also has decidedly different, cubist architecture, which reflects its modern vibe. Where else can you find a rum academy in the lobby, offering tastings of the island’s tipple? Foodies have a choice of five restaurants, though don’t miss the Insta-worthy floating breakfasts in the infinity pool and private picnics on the beach at this 60-acre all-suite resort. Other treats include the secluded beach love nest, plant-based dining in the chef’s garden gazebo and the chance to enjoy a sunrise kayak on the lagoon. Immersive wellness retreats will launch at the spa next year. For active families, Long Beach has the island’s only climbing wall, as well as a football pitch and seasonal lessons in the lap pool from a former Olympic swimmer. Then there’s a free kids’ and teens’ club, parasailing and complimentary golf for all ages.

Long Beach resort

Few places can rival Mauritius for natural and cultural riches

On the east coast, half-hidden within beach-front tropical gardens on a coral reef lagoon, is Ambre, Sunlife’s all-inclusive, adults-only resort, a place that oozes decadence. From sunrise yoga to energise your day to a dazzling nightclub to end the evening in style, it’s an island paradise that’s a welcome break from daily life. And don’t get us started on the spa. Are you even holidaying in Mauritius if you haven’t enjoyed one of Ambre’s aromatic candle massages in the gazebo that looks out towards a deep blue Indian Ocean? Although it’s tempting to while away your days in the resort, there’s plenty to do outside too. The first stop should be the busy town of Flacq for a taste of local life. Its lively market is hectic with traders and rows of food vendors selling traditional street fare such as dholl puri – flatbread stuffed with bean or chickpea curry and a piquant tomato chutney. Divine.

CORAL FARMING Help La Pirogue’s resident marine biologist clean coral reef nurseries and maintain seabeds in an effort to rebuild Mauritius’s fragile underwater ecosystem. ENERGY GYM Literally recycling – jump on one of Sugar Beach’s repurposed bicycles to keep fit while generating power that lights up the palm trees and tropical gardens at night.

PUTTING ON THE RITZ Glam up for dinner at Sugar Beach with a showstopping outfit from the Sugar Stylists and a makeover at the Beauty Bubble on the beach. SWING AND DRIFT At Long Beach, chill in a hammock to the sound of the waves while enjoying a head massage, cocktail and chocolate. CORAL FARMING Help La Pirogue’s resident marine biologist clean coral reef nurseries and maintain seabeds in an effort to rebuild Mauritius’s fragile underwater ecosystem. ENERGY GYM Literally recycling – jump on one of Sugar Beach’s repurposed bicycles to keep fit while generating power that lights up the palm trees and tropical gardens at night.

Come Alive Collection highlights

On the west coast of the island, you’ll find La Pirogue resort. Flexibility is in its DNA, which makes it a first choice for couples, families and groups. Its four-star status delivers pure tropical luxury without the usual price tag. Imagine: six high-quality bars and restaurants serving locally sourced dishes; boho-chic thatched bungalows and suites with all the privacy you’d need; and sunset views that make everything else pale into insignificance. Younger visitors are well taken care of too, with a separate kids’ and teens’ club, child-friendly golf and even spa experiences. It’s all there under the stunning backdrop of the Unesco-listed Le Morne peninsula. If you have a free morning, climb its rugged mountain for an incredible view of the surrounding turquoise waters. Or travel a short distance to Sugar Beach, La Pirogue’s five-star sister resort. As a demonstration of that flexibility, anyone staying at La Pirogue can make use of Sugar Beach’s additional facilities.

Escape to the sunshine at the luxury Sugar Beach resort in Mauritius. One lucky winner will be selected at random to win a £4,000 gift voucher to use at Sugar Beach Mauritius – valid for one year. Promotion closes at 23.59, January 8, 2023. Open to residents of the UK and ROI only.

Win a luxury stay

TERMS AND CONDITIONS Open to anyone over 18 years of age, except for employees and agents of the Promoter and its group companies, or third parties directly connected with the operation or fulfilment of the Promotion and their affiliates, and their immediate families and household members. One entry per person. The winner will be selected at random from all correct entries. No cash alternative and prize is non-transferable. Your information will only be used to administer this Promotion in accordance with the Promoter’s privacy policy. Full T&Cs apply.

For more information, visit yoursunlife.com

make the most of magical Mauritius

AMBRE RESORT

LA PIROGUE RESORT

In the swim: no jacket – or, indeed, much clothing at all – required for a pool pitstop at Long Beach

Unwind your mind: a massage beside the ocean is a must at the adults-only Ambre Resort

Have it your way: La Pirogue is the choice for couples and families seeking traditional charm with kids' clubs and watersports thrown in

Take the plunge: a holiday destination like no other, Mauritius is ripe with possibilities

Of course, these are only a handful of the specially curated Come Alive Collection activities on offer – it’s up to you to decide which resort would be most suited to your desires

New horizons: will you win the chance to discover Mauritius for yourself with a stay at Sugar Beach?