It’s been a bucket list trip for us, another faraway tropical island in the Indian Ocean we’d always wanted to visit. We also needed an actual vacation, not just another touring trip (Italy over the holidays was fun but exhausting). The last week of the Fallas festival in Valencia in mid-March provided some school days off and an opportunity to escape the city noise and craziness and go somewhere relaxing at an off-peak time to avoid the crowds. Although it’s technically the rainy season in Mauritius, we experienced very good weather overall during our visit, with only intermittent rain showers briefly in the afternoon or overnight (which helped to clear out some of the intense humidity).
From the moment we arrived, we knew the Shanti Maurice was a special place. It’s a beautiful property, masterly maintained, and the service was unlike anything we’ve experienced, even at other resorts. It was attentive on a very personalized level, from little gifts and gestures throughout the stay to the way individual staff members and even the resort manager remembered our preferences at the various on-site restaurants. Between the pools, beach activities (snorkeling, glass bottom boat, kayak, stand-up paddle-boarding, and more), spa facilities, and a robust Kids Club, there was plenty to keep us occupied on the resort, with the perfect mix of activity offerings and doing completely nothing 
.
What made this such a spectacular stay was the Shanti Maurice’s one-bedroom, oceanfront villa (booked through Scott Dunn, our package included a daily breakfast buffet and a variety of other services). With a smart, suite-style layout so Jacob could sleep in the separate living area, along with a spacious bathroom, outdoor shower, and private pool and lounge areas, we just loved spending time here. Those beach and sunset views just never got old.
Randomly enough, Deepak, the resident yoga teacher, was from and had also studied at the same ashram in Nasik, India that I visited in 2007. Practicing daily yoga, pranayama (breathwork), yoga nidra, and mindfulness with him over our stay was heartwarming.
We also enjoyed learning more about Mauritian food influences and cultures through some of the dinner menus and a Sega percussion and dance performance. Since we stayed in the south at one property, we didn’t end up touring around the entire island. We did a day trip exploring the southern region of the island and the southwestern coast, including the Chamarel nature park with the Seven-Colored Earth, giant tortoises, and waterfall, Baie du Cap overlook, and scenic Le Morne beach.
We really did not want to leave the Shanti Maurice. Despite the long journey from Spain, it was worth it, and we’ll be back someday!
