Here are five affordable things to do in Mauritius

Belle Mare Beach: Mauritius’s wild east coasts beach is home to some of the best white sands and azure ocean on the island. The Belle Mare beach has a string of luxury resorts but having said that you could find a few stretches of public beach for budget day-trippers.

Natural history museum & institute: Reconstruction of a dodo, native bird of Mauritius, is the main attraction here. You could head to watch the stunning work who few scientists who have assembled the bird using the only skeleton found of this native bird. If this interests you, you could also visit collection of extinct stuffed endemic birds including the red rail and solitaire. (00-230-212-0639; La Chaussée Street, Port Louis; 9am – 4pm Mon – Fri, till 12pm Sat; free).

Garden touring: Considered as the best garden after Kew, the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden at Pamplemousses is a must-visit. You can hire a knowledgeable guide at the entrance to show you around. You will enjoy the plants and birds at this botanical garden.

Sailing and Snorkeling: Tucked away in the south-east corner of Mauritius is a beautiful town called Mahebourg. Home to a series of islands, you could easily make a trip here for boating and snorkelling experience. You could go a sailing trips with local legend Jean-Claude Farla, six-time national swimming champion who also competed in the Indian Ocean Games. He is the only person to offer sailing trips on a traditional 22ft pirogue, and his trips are reasonable at just Rs 1,850 for a half-day trip.

Food: Sink your teeth in some of the finest food that Mauritius has to offer. Head to places like Domaine, popular for its food and really low prices. You could also try places like Palais de Barbizon and Port Louis Central Market for food at the same price range.

Originally published in Femina