A guide to the best beaches in Mauritius, focusing on the busier west coast.
Let’s face it pals- you’re almost guaranteed to be in paradise wherever you venture on this stunning Indian Ocean island. But most visitors to Mauritius tend to stay in the west, where there are more resort towns and generally calmer waters. Here are my personal highlights, along with tips for where to stay.
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More tips for your Mauritius visit: Free Things to Do in Mauritius
East or West? Where are the best beaches in Mauritius?
If you’re trying to decide between staying on the west or the east coast of Mauritius, these are the main differences to consider.
The east of Mauritius is slightly less built up, and slightly more exclusive. The beaches aren’t sheltered from the wind, so prepare for a sea breeze at the very least. In winter (November-April), the wind can ramp itself up a bit. Beaches here are beautiful, and generally hotels are super-exclusive and super-luxurious.
The North-West is probably the most touristy area of the island. Some of the most popular beaches in Mauritius are located here, and there are far more bars, restaurants and activities for tourists.
Throughout the rest of the western coastline, beaches are calmer and great for families as well as adults. There’s a wider range of accommodation to suit all budgets- from Airbnbs and guesthouses coming in at around €14 per night, to 5 star hotels for several hundred.
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Best Beaches in Mauritius: the list
Flic-en-Flac
Flic-en-Flac is one of the most family-friendly beaches in Mauritius; the water is shallow and calm, and the 8km-long beach is sheltered from the wind. You’ll find loads of restaurants and bars here, and there are also tonnes of water sports to try out- and plenty of reef sites to explore underwater.
A word on swimming with dolphins and turtles at Flic-en-Flac (or anywhere in Mauritius). Pods of dolphins swim offshore on the regular here, and swimming with wild dolphins is one of the most popular activities at Flic-en-Flac beach. I’d go so far as to say that people practically throw their money at boat-drivers and tour operators, to be taken out to follow a pod through the ocean.
The problem with this is the sheer amount of boats tailgating wildlife through the sea- some of which are absolutely full to the brim with people. If you’re set on the idea of swimming with dolphins at Flic-en-Flac, I’d honestly advise just going for a swim and seeing what marine creatures you bump into!
Stay at Flic-en-Flac:
Spend: Maison Mary
Splash: Les 2 Canons Boutique Hotel
Splurge: La Pirogue
Grand Baie
I’ll be honest- I prefer a more tranquil beach experience than the one you find in Grand Baie. But I can appreciate why this busy little beach town is appreciated by many- in fact this is one of the most popular places for visitors to the island.
One of the best things about Grand Baie is the wide selection of accommodation options possible. From five star resorts to guest houses and Airbnbs, there’s something to suit all budgets here; if you’re on a budget in Mauritius, this is a great area to stay in.
The bustling town is filled with restaurants, cafes and bars, and has some of the best nightlife in Mauritius. There are shopping malls and also plenty of snack stalls in Grand Baie, selling samosas and dholl puri and all the curries and seafood. Traffic through Grand Baie can get fairly congested, although the beaches are better for looking at than swimming in; there are so many boats around that it’s just not possible.
Still, if you’re looking for a location with plenty of action, Grand Baie definitely has it.
Stay at Grand Baie
Spend: Coocoonut Villa
Splash: Coconuts
Splurge: Hôtel 20º Sud
La Cuvette
When heading to the vicinity of Grand Baie for the day, my preference was to walk slightly North out of the main town and head towards the much quieter cove of La Cuvette. In fact of all the beaches in Mauritius, this is the one I visited most regularly. It’s a right little gem, I tell ya!
La Cuvette is a sheltered little beach close to some rather exclusive hotels just outside of Grand Baie, and it’s definitely one of my top beaches in Mauritius to spend a day at. What truly sealed the deal for me- aside from it’s prettiness and secluded feeling- was the day we spotted a stingray leaping out of the water, dolphin-style. I don’t know why they do it, but I’m a true fan!
There are toilets and ramshackle changing rooms close by, and a cluster of huts selling food and drink. The smell of spices, freshly juiced oranges and frying food is a surprisingly brilliant fragrance for a day at the beach.
La Cuvette is also a great spot for snorkelling. Just stroll on into the sea and prepare to be amazed, my friends! (Stick to the right hand side of the little bay for the best sightings).
In terms of accommodation close to La Cuvette, expect to pay more than in Grand Baie- even though it’s literally a ten minute walk away.
Stay at La Cuvette
Spend: Althea’s Place
Splash: Veranda Grand Baie Hotel & Spa
Splurge: Royal Palm Beachcomber Luxury
Le Morne
Whether we’re talking west or east coast, Le Morne is undoubtedly one of the most exclusive beaches in Mauritius. All the hotels at Le Morne are five star resorts, and the beach is much quieter than Grand Baie or Flic-en-Flac. This is an ideal spot to get away from it all, with turquoise water lapping on white sand and the mountains providing a tropical backdrop behind.
The Le Morne Brabant peninsula juts out on the south west corner of Mauritius, and it’s crowning glory is Le Morne mountain. This is a Unesco World Heritage Sight, and plays an important part in Mauritius’s history; this was where slaves escaped to, hiding in caves near the top of the mountain.
A must-do activity in Mauritius, if you think you can handle it, is to hike Le Morne mountain. Prepare to sweat bucket-loads if you do, but what better way to reward yourself after the climb than a dip in the sea when you make it back to the beach!?
Stay in Le Morne
Spend: Le Morne Views airbnb
Splash: Happy Days Guesthouse
Splurge: LUX* Le Morne Resort
Trou-aux-Biches
White sand and the shade of the casuarina trees make Trou-aux-biches another beautiful beach in the North west of Mauritius. Although this is another of Mauritius’s popular family beaches, this is way less built up than the bright lights of Grand Baie.
Trou-aux-biches seems to stretch out into the distance forever- so although this beach is popular, there’s plenty of room for everyone. This is another great place for swimming and snorkelling, and you’ll come across food trucks here and there as well.
Stay at Trou-aux-biches
Spend: Les Serins Perchés
Splash: Voile Bleue Boutique Hotel
Splurge: Les Estivales Beachfront Suites and Penthouses by LOV
Mont Choisy
At the Northern end of Trou-aux-Biches, is Mont Choisy beach. Although the beach is lined with quiet resorts, don’t worry pals! You can stroll across any beach in Mauritius, regardless of which hotel is on it.
This does, however, mean that Mont Choisy is (generally speaking), slightly quieter than its neighbour. This is one of my favourite beaches in Mauritius for sunset-watching- in fact watching a sunset at Mont Choisy beach gave me one of the biggest feelings of luck and sheer gratitude in the history of life! This is a stunningly pretty beach.
If you’re not staying here but fancy experiencing the five star experience anyway, it’s possible to get a day or evening pass to a lot of the hotels. These don’t come cheap but let’s face it, it’s probably an experience you’ll never forget.
Stay at Mont Choisy
Spend: Modern GF Apartment
Splash: The Bay Beach Villa
Splurge: Seapoint Boutique Hotel
Mauritius looks so beautiful! It is definitely on my bucket list for when I spend some time in Africa. The beaches look heavenly! 🙂
These all look like such beautiful beaches to visit! I haven’t been to Mauritius yet but I will definitely save this post for future trip planning.