Island in the stream

Isabel Conway was enraptured by Mauritius's beguiling blend of picturesque tropicalia and delectable cuisine.

Mauritius: waving palms fringe an azure blue lukewarm sea that laps soothingly against the ivory sand, and white crested waves crash far away. Picture: Getty

Have you ever dreamed of wandering onto the pages of a tempting holiday brochure? Sweaty, overdressed and oh so pale, I have just stumbled into a tropical picture-postcard paradise come to life.

Waving palms fringe an azure blue lukewarm sea that laps soothingly against the ivory sand, and white crested waves crash far away on the horizon of the coral reef. Beachcombers plucked from holiday brochure central casting wander lazily along the shore ...