Despite it happening every day without fail, there’s still something wildly romantic and magical about watching the sun rise – and witnessing it in a tropical island paradise like Mauritius is nothing less than heavenly. So we say shrug off the bleary eyes and ‘why am I doing this’ questions at least once during your trip, and create a memory you’ll never forget. Here’s our pick of the best spots to catch the day’s first rays.

Grand Gaube

Up on the north east coast, the traditional little fishing village of Grande Gaube rewards early risers with a stunning sunrise every morning, but what sets this place apart is the opportunity to watch the local fishermen return to shore after their overnight trips and unload the catch from their colourful wooden pirogues.

Belle Mare Plage

The village might be tiny, but the beach puts Belle Mare firmly on the map – in fact, it’s considered by many to be the best on the island. All the more reason to set the alarm early, grab a coffee and some fruit, and head down to the shore for a tranquil sunrise picnic. These talcum-white sands are at their most beautiful when bathed in the rosy pink glow of first light.

Sunrise cruise to Ile aux Cerf

Not only are those staying at Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita able to view the sunrise from the comfort of their private plunge pools, they can also take part in a sunrise speedboat cruise to the nearby island of Ile aux Cerf, renowned for its softly shelving sands and irridescent waters teeming with marine life.

Blue Bay

Down in the south east of Mauritius, Beachcomber’s Shandrani Resort & Spa occupies an enviable position on a private peninsula overlooking the Blue Bay Marine Park. With three exquisite and separate beaches, you’ll never tire of watching the sunrise here, especially when followed by a sumptous breakfast at Le Grand Port restaurant.

Pointe D’Esny

Just south of the old capital Mahebourg, Pointe D’Esny is another beach often touted as one of the best on the island. Lined not with large resorts but with smaller guesthouses, luxury apartments and villas, it’s not unusual to find the beach completely deserted, especially at dawn. So make the most of the solitude and plan for a spectacular sunrise without the crowds.

Win a stay in Mauritius at Constance Le Prince Maurice

To experience a once-in-a-lifetime sunrise in Mauritius, enter our Romance Made in Mauritius competition and you could win a week’s stay at Constance Le Prince Maurice.

Over the past two weeks, we’ve given away two 7-night holidays at two of Mauritius’ finest luxury hotels, including return flights on any of Air Mauritius’ direct routes and the chance to experience a number of exciting activities, both at the hotel and around the island.

This week in our final giveaway, you could win a week’s stay at Constance Le Prince Maurice. To enter the competition, simply visit the Romance Made in Mauritius app and build your dream romantic holiday from the choice of flight and transport add-ons, plus the activities you’d most like to experience while you’re here. Stay tuned to see if you’re our final lucky winner. Good luck!

Photos: Grand Gaube, Belle Mare Plage, Sunrise cruise to Ile aux Cerf, Blue Bay, Pointe D’Esny, Constance Le Prince Maurice.