Beaches

About two kilometres long, Trou aux Biches lines white sand and casuarinas along the north-west coast. The water is clear, shallow and calm with a gentle slope, ideal for children. The nearby reef draws snorkellers. Street-food stands, cafés and restaurants line the coast road. One of the best sunsets in the north.

Mont Choisy is one of the island's longest beaches: a narrow, gently curving strip of white sand about 2 km long, lined with casuarinas that give welcome shade. The turquoise water stays shallow, perfect for family swimming. Hugely popular with Mauritians at weekends, it is much quieter on weekdays. Waterskiing and joggers along the shore.

Pointe aux Canonniers is the headland separating the long Mont Choisy beach from Grand Baie bay. This residential and hotel area, home to a Club Med among others. The closest public beach is Mont Choisy, about one kilometre south. Handy for checking the webcam before choosing a beach in the north.

A small cove about 80 m long tucked away in Grand Baie, La Cuvette is surprisingly quiet a stone's throw from the busy town. Boulders, low cliffs and hidden nooks frame clear water. A snack stand or two is all there is. The main Grand Baie public beach, livelier but with a small swimming area, lies a few hundred metres away.

Between Grand Baie and Cap Malheureux, Pereybère is a small cove sheltered by the reef. The water, a little deeper than elsewhere but very calm, is crystal clear: bring a mask and snorkel to see coral and fish. Fresh pineapple and snack stalls, varied restaurants nearby. A favourite with Mauritian families during the holidays.

Cap Malheureux is the northernmost point of Mauritius, east of Pereybère. Its name, 'unlucky cape', is said to recall the British landing of 1810 on this then poorly defended northern coast, which led to the capture of the island from the French. The village lies between the beaches of Pereybère and Anse La Raie. Coordinates: the cape itself.

East of Cap Malheureux, Anse La Raie is considered the most popular kitesurf spot in the north of the island. The wide lagoon facing the northern islets gives riders space, especially in the south-east trade wind season from May to October. A public beach provides free access. If swimming, keep clear of the kite zones.

South of Trou aux Biches, Pointe aux Piments faces due west out to sea, making it a good spot for sunset. Several public access points dot this shoreline between hotels and houses. Further south, Balaclava public beach, about 2 km away, is popular for snorkelling straight from the shore, but facilities are scarce: bring a picnic and water.

Balaclava public beach, south of Pointe aux Piments, is known for its very fine sand and castaway feel. White sand runs out towards the reef and you can snorkel straight from the shore, with colourful marine life just beyond the shallows. Shops are scarce: come equipped for the day.

On the east coast, Poste Lafayette is a gentle curve of flat white sand backed by forest. Further south the reef shelters the lagoon and swimming is safe; in the north a reef gap lets waves pound the rocks. At weekends Mauritian families picnic here. A coastal path runs to Roches Noires and Bras d'Eau park is close by.

A small, quiet beach shaded by large trees, a few minutes from Bras d'Eau National Park. Fishermen and locals gather here, far from the bustle of the hotel areas. You can reach it on foot via the park's forest loop, making it a pleasant stop on a half-day nature outing with the family on the north-east coast.

Belle Mare is the longest beach in Mauritius, on the reef-protected east coast. The sand slopes gently into often shallow water, known for snorkelling, especially in the southern section. Large hotels and a public beach share the shore. The steady breeze attracts windsurfers and kitesurfers; parasailing and banana rides for the more active.

Just south of Belle Mare, Palmar beach offers fine sand and clear water, between hotels and a public access point. The east is the windiest coast of the island, with a pleasant breeze in summer. Some stretches are more exposed to the elements than others. On sunny weekends, Mauritian families come here for picnics.

A fishing village on the east coast, Trou d'Eau Douce is above all the departure point for shuttle boats to Île aux Cerfs. Its shoreline of fine sand and clear water draws Mauritian families at weekends. Kitesurfing is possible in the area according to specialist guides. Coordinates: village centre.

A private islet off Trou d'Eau Douce, Île aux Cerfs is one of the most popular excursions in Mauritius. You reach it by shuttle boat from Pointe Maurice or Trou d'Eau Douce, or by catamaran. Sandy beaches, turquoise water and a calm lagoon for snorkelling, an 18-hole golf course, restaurants and nearly every water sport. Kitesurfers enjoy steady wind and flat water.

About a kilometre of white sand and crystal-clear water south of Mahébourg, lined with villas and holiday apartments. Often almost deserted, quieter than nearby Blue Bay. A narrow pathway from the coast road in the centre of Pointe d'Esny gives access without crossing private property. A favoured windsurf and kitesurf spot, and the departure point for Île aux Aigrettes.

A 27-hectare nature reserve about 850 m offshore, Île aux Aigrettes is not a swimming beach: it can only be visited on ecotours guided by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, departing from Pointe d'Esny. The webcam lets you check conditions in Mahébourg bay before a boat trip or a visit to Pointe d'Esny.

Sheltered by a semicircle of casuarinas, Blue Bay offers fine sand and pale blue water in the south-east. It borders a 353-hectare marine park, a Ramsar site since 2008, where coral and tropical fish live a few metres from shore. Glass-bottom boats and snorkelling trips leave from the beach. Great for families; weekdays are best.

A public beach just east of the airport, La Cambuse offers powdery white sand and clear water on a still lightly developed coast. Swimming is invigorating but currents can be very strong: it suits experienced swimmers. Ideal for a walk or a quiet picnic before a flight. Coordinates: La Cambuse cove.

A large fishing village on the wide Grand Port bay, Mahébourg has a waterfront laid out for strolling. From Pointe Canon you overlook the lagoon where colourful pirogue regattas are held. More a place for a walk and local life than a swimming beach. Coordinates: Mahébourg centre.

The southernmost point of Mauritius, near Souillac, Gris-Gris is raw nature: with no coral reef, Indian Ocean waves crash at the foot of the cliffs. Swimming is prohibited, but it is perfect for a walk, a picnic on the lawn or the view of nearby Roche qui Pleure. Coarse sand scattered with small shells.

A long, wild beach between Souillac and Chemin Grenier, Riambel is lined with lawns and palm trees, with no tourist facilities. People come to walk, picnic and enjoy the quiet southern atmosphere. As elsewhere on this coast, swimming is often unwise because of reef gaps. An abandoned bungalow resort marks the western end.

Near Rivière des Galets, Saint-Félix is one of the gentler beaches on the south coast. Casuarinas and lush vegetation give plenty of shade, and coral lies close to shore. In summer, vans sell Mauritian street food. Boat trips and deep-sea fishing leave from the area. Check conditions before swimming.

A former sugar estate turned upscale tourist hub, Bel Ombre stretches along the south coast between hotels and a public beach. Reef gaps let strong waves in, so swimming is tricky, but the spot draws kitesurfers looking for steady wind and fewer crowds. At low tide you can wade through the shallows to Îlot Sancho. Coordinates: village.

At the foot of Le Morne Brabant, the public beach runs between large hotels, facing a huge shallow lagoon. Thanks to steady winds it is one of the world's best-known kitesurf spots: flat water for beginners in the lagoon, waves such as 'One Eye' further out for experts. Swimming is possible but shared with riders. The Slave Route Monument is close by.

A small islet in the western lagoon off La Gaulette and Coteau Raffin, Île aux Bénitiers can be seen from the heights of Chamarel and Ebony Forest. It is reached by boat, usually as part of lagoon excursions; the 'Crystal Rock' coral outcrop is nearby. Check sea conditions and your operator before booking.

A quiet public beach about 2 km long between Black River and Grande Rivière Noire, mostly used by locals. It is home to the island's best-preserved Martello tower, now a museum, and a few old cannons. Fishing boats at anchor, excursion departures and dolphins often seen offshore. Sunset facing Le Morne is superb.

Tamarin bay, with no coral reef, is a top surfing spot in Mauritius, made famous by the 1974 film 'Forgotten Island of Santosha', with its Dal and Black Stone spots. Dolphins are often seen early in the morning. The white-sand beach, backed by mountains, is quiet on weekdays and lively at weekends. Keep swimming to the shallows.

Flic en Flac unrolls one of the island's longest public beaches, about 6 km of white sand on the west coast. The reef creates a clear lagoon for swimming and snorkelling, and good dive sites are close by. Mauritian families gather here at weekends to the sound of sega. The quieter northern end is one of the best sunset spots.

North of Flic en Flac, Albion public beach lines a reef-fringed coast. Close by, at Pointe aux Caves, stands the Albion lighthouse, about 30 m tall and completed in 1910, offering a wide view of the coastline. A place for an ocean-front walk away from the busy Flic en Flac beachfront.

A small white-sand cove tucked between limestone cliffs on Rodrigues's east coast, Trou d'Argent is a highlight of the Graviers–Pointe Coton coastal path. It is reachable only on foot, which keeps it wild. Anse Philibert and Grande Anse are a few hundred metres away. Bring water and a picnic.

On Rodrigues's east coast, Saint-François beach lies along the coastal path linking Graviers with Pointe Coton. It makes a good break and swim stop before continuing towards Anse Ally and Pointe Coton. An old ridge path from Montagne Cabris, via Patate Théophile, also leads down here. Nearby beaches: Tasman, Anse Ally, Fumier.

At the north-eastern tip of Rodrigues, Pointe Coton marks the end of the coastal path from Graviers. You arrive along a track under casuarinas, which give shade behind the beach. It is a good place for a swim after the walk before catching the bus back towards Port Mathurin.