North
The beaches:
Mont Choisy
This is one among the longest beach of the island as it extends from Trou aux Biches to Pointe aux Canonniers and is without a doubt of an endless beauty. Its coasts form an arc making it easily recognizable, lined with large casuarina trees and a turquoise water, Mont Choisy beach will make you want to stay forever in this magnificent landscape. This is an ideal place for a family day at the beach but you may also have a walk in its quiet corner or try something to eat in the nearby restaurants. The best time to go there is early in the morning between 7 to 11 afterwards it may be crowded.
Many activities can be done such as pedalo, windsurfing, catamaran, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, kayak and speed boat trips. Apart from the beach itself, the location is the best benefit for Mont Choisy beach as there are just forest, sand, clear waters and the tropical marine life in all its splendor. Another good point is that if you want to move further, it is located a few minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Grand Bay. No time to wait if you are heading in the North, Mont Choisy is a place where you must absolutely go.
Pereybere
This beach is very famous as it attracts not only tourists but also local visitors who attend it in large numbers during the week and especially on weekends and compared to Mont Choisy, it is quite small. You will be able to practice a variety of water sports in a translucent turquoise sea accompanied with a white sandy beach. Only a dip in the clear water of this little corner of paradise and you’ll be in love with this beach of timeless and enchanting beauty.
It is highly recommended for family swimming as being a quiet place with a calm sea. The beach is ideal for children and inexperienced swimmers that want to enjoy the warm water, eating exotic fruits or ice cream near the beach but you may also have nearby mauritius restaurants offering varied menus. You can put yourself in the shade of coconut trees during major heat waves, to be noted that you must stay hydrated and apply sunscreen regularly to avoid sunburn. Alike Mont Choisy many aqua activities can be done in the water at affordable prices. Such activities are scuba diving, windsurf even if it is not very windy, marine discovery, stand up paddle, water ski, and fly like Iron Man and dive like a dolphin which are newly introduced at Pereybere. Villas in Mauritius is also very common in Pereybere feel free to find one to enjoy your holidays to the fullest.
Cap Malheureux
Cap Malheureux is a beautiful beach found near Grand Bay with a picturesque view of the surrounding islands like Coin de Mire, Flat Island or Round Island, sanctuaries for native animals. It is a suitable beach for swimming or for a walk to admire the beauty of the islands. It should be noted that Cap Malheureux is a starting point for catamaran tours. It has crystal clear sea, ideal for small swim in a quiet place like the village is itself but it is well known for its church that enhances the beauty of the sea.
It is worth mentioning that the Cap Malheureux fish landing station is located nearby, and it is common to find fish offal around the beach there. The waters are perfectly fine for a quick dip, the sandy areas are indeed limited in size. The best time to visit the beach of Cap Malheureux is early in the morning between 7:00 to 11:00 or in the afternoon between 13:00 to 17:00. The beach has clean public restrooms and decent snack food particularly during weekends when competition is fierce. For a sit down meal, along with an unbeatable view of Coin de Mire, try the restaurant Le Coin de Mire, right opposite the church.
Trou aux Biches
Trou aux Biches is a spot above 3 km of sandy beaches lined with coconut trees that, can eventually be a retreat for everyone looking for peace and calmness. The beach of Trou aux Biches is one of those places that are forever engrave in the memories. This beach definitely has a head start sharing its sand quality with only a few other beaches in Mauritius notably the neighboring Mont Choisy beach.
There are a few other beaches on the east coast and in the south with similar types of gold sand. You will be able to sit on the sand and appreciate the marvelous landscape or swim in the warm water to refresh your soul. However other activities can be done such as aquatic activities like paddles, parasailing or snorkeling. You will be glad to have a tan, play with children in the sands or simply enjoy the shadows of the umbrellas. What is a good feature about that beach the ideal location in front of a hotel so if you are staying there, your morning view will be the sea and we all know that it is the best way to get the day started. One thing is sure your trip at Trou aux Biches beach will be unforgettable.
La Cuvette
Located near the town of Grand Bay, La Cuvette is the tiny little hidden gem of the north. For long, it has mostly been known only to the local residents and a few tourists in the immediate neighborhood. The beach easy to find as it is located in a residential area of Grand Bay. It is a quite small beach with its 80 meters probably among one of the shortest beaches on the island though it is still possible to take a dip there.
The beauty of this beach is the open space, the many hideaway mini beaches, rocks and cliffs, and above all calmness of the surroundings. For those that love sports, there are plenty of grass to play football on, plenty of benches to sit and chat while away an afternoon and plenty of manicured pathways around it all. Indeed a heaven to refresh your soul and reconnect with nature! For some visitors it is the best looking beach with a great view and the sand is very clean. All the facilities you’ll need are there that is changing rooms, some delicious food and drinks in the food huts. It is a beautiful spot, with a clam atmosphere and will make your soul feel alive.
Grand Bay
Situated at the very center of Grand Bay, it is impossible to miss this beautiful beach due to the very active boat and catamaran traffic inside the bay. Although there is only a small area in which you can enter the water, the Grand Bay public beach is easily accessible by walk. The seaside of the North is colorful and will amaze your eyes with all shades of blue. The sea surface inside the lagoons is often covered with soft sand, with an unmatched transparency.
If you like seafood, you can try at the beginning of the afternoon because at that time that the fishermen come back from their daily catch. If you like Mauritian traditions, you will be delighted as the air will be filled with the aroma of spices accompanied by singing and dancing. The beach is usually busy on weekends as Mauritian families like to enjoy the sun but if you want calmness, you may go during weekdays. Grand Bay beach reserves a lot from big game fishing, scuba diving, kite surfing or a tour on a catamaran to see dolphins with your favorite drink in hand to enjoying a freshly grilled lobster with your loved one on a sailing boat while the sun sets. If ever you are looking for villas in Mauritius near Grand Bay it is also possible.
Balaclava
The Balaclava beach is the ideal beach if you want to get away from the crowded beaches. It is located right next to the luxury hotels The Oberoi of Mauritius, and Le Victoria. The waters are blue crystal clear, the seafloor and the beach is composed of fine white sand, and the coral reef with all its colorful marine life is just a couple of hundred meters from the coastline.
The beach is easily accessible, you need simply to follow the signs for the Oberoi from inland, and you will soon be directed on your way to the coast. After hitting the coast, the Oberoi is on your left-hand side, and the Balaclava beach is to your right and yes it’s really that easy to get there. You are requested to bring your food as there are no snacks in the surroundings.
Balaclava is best suited for just a relaxing day in the sun, completed with good swimming and snorkeling waters. It is a very clam place reserving fantastic sunsets, lovely to bath in the sea or sit on the beach and drink cocktails to forget your everyday worries. Despite lacking of aquatic activities, you will feel glad to spend time there as it is an unusual beach as at some point you will feel like you are elsewhere from Mauritius.
Bain Boeufs
This beach is a beautiful place where you can enjoy the sun, sand and sea in the shadow of the trees. Bain Boeufs beach is normally a beach where you stopover before heading to another beach in the surroundings like Pereybere, Grand Bay or Cap Malheureux. This is because Bain Boeuf is not easily accessible as the seafloor has lot of rocks, the sand is rough and so swimming too is dangerous. However if you want solitude, the beach is a great spot where you will be virtually on your own, even in high season.
You must beware of the combination of strong currents and rocky coastline. It is not recommended to swim there as the condition of the sea is not the best to swim. There is a picnic area there, a bit further up than the beach and there is plenty of casuarina trees for shade. Even if it is quite far, the Gunners Quoin Island in the distance is still visible from the beach. If you want to appreciate the sand and the sea better, you will have to move on the right side of the beach. Even if it is not the greatest, the swim is better in front of the Coin de Mire hotel.
Anse La Raie
There you will find peace and privacy in its purest state. Anse la Raie doesn’t attract a crowd, despite its ideal clear, blue waters and warm sand. What makes this beach unique is that its location is in a bay with mountains in the background. As the Calodyne bay is near, you will have the great opportunities to both snorkeling and perhaps a bit of Mauritius kite surfing.
You will have the standard facilities of a public beach in Mauritius, such as a couple of beach huts, a forested picnic area and clean restroom facilities to change. From Anse la Raie, it is possible to enjoy the same stunning views of the north Indian Ocean as the neighboring beaches. You can just sat down and be mesmerized by the kite surfers. There are a lot of things that can be said about Anse la Raie but few visitors would probably consider this area as a beach as such. The weather is nice most of the time sunny so you can get a tan or swim in the warm clear waters. One thing is sure your trip there will forever be etched in your mind for a long time.
Flat Island and Gunners Coin Island (COIN DE MIRE)
Apart from enjoying beaches you may plan trips too on the neighboring islands like Flat Island and Gunners Coin.
Flat Island is an amazing paradise island that offers the perfect setting for a relaxing day. It is located near the Round Island, in the completely north of Mauritius some kilometers from Cap Malheureux. A great place to enjoy a day of fun on one of the picturesque beaches or enjoy swimming and snorkeling in the sea. Flat Island is completely flat, except for its one and only hill that’s where its name comes from.
Sometimes during those trips, whales as well as dolphins will appear at the surface of the sea. The crew normally put a halt to the boat, so you can be able to observe and take pictures of those great animals from close in their natural environment.
Usually, the sailing time is around 1.5 hours before reaching there. Once on Flat Island you will feel great to stay on the beautiful white sand beaches, explore the local marine line till lunch is served normally the menu includes fish, chicken and sausages served with a variety of side dishes and fresh salads.
Gunners Coin lies 8 km from Mauritius in the north and measures approximately 65 hectares. It is made up of basalt as it can be seen by its natural boulders. The sailing time is almost the same as to Flat Island as they are quite close to each other.
It is one of the best diving sites found in the north of the island with its crystal clear water it has clear visibility. For those that are fond of birds, a number of native birds can be seen flying around the Coin de Mire. They nest in the cracks of the cliffs, birds that can be seen are the famous pailles en queue, together with the Wedged tail shear water, Red tailed tropic bird and the White tailed tropic bird. Without forgetting common birds like sparrows and doves that can also be seen on the island.
Anse la Raie Quad Biking
What is good about the north of Mauritius is that it has various places where you are able to enjoy yourself whichever your taste. So if you are looking for quad biking tours to have a memorable experience with friends, in groups or with the family then the spot in Anse la Raie will make you feel delighted. For their aim is to make you and the surroundings nature connect to the point where you will feel one.
You will go beyond of what you could have believed, where nature’s beauty is generous. You will be able to enjoy a 2hrs safari quad biking trip through beautiful natural landscape and an Endemic garden and learning along about the history of Mauritius. A small briefing will be done for those who have never done quad biking and directive on security measures also will be provided. All equipment will be given to you as well as helmets with sanitary caps. Some reviews even say that they recommended Gilbert and Caroline’s quad biking to friends and that they were as friendly as you could dream of! Gilbert is very passionate both about the reserve and the history of the Island both its people and the nature.
L’Aventure du Sucre Sugar Museum and Factory
Like a great ship at anchor in the middle of a green sugarcane sea, the old Beau Plan sugar mill with its long history is a true history-maker and teller. The tour lasts about 1h and 30 minutes to be noted that it has now been transformed into a modern museum. At the end of the tour, delightful sugar and rum tastings are offered to the visitors. Suitable and conceived to be of interest for international visitors, as well as for the locals, The Sugar Adventure is suitable for all ages.
In order to make it more interesting for children, The Sugar Adventure has chosen two “mascots” to tell children of the extraordinary story of sugar. They have opted for the mynah bird (martin) and the mongoose, to animals that are not scary and quite funny. They guide children along their paths offering entertaining questions and answers to be found under envelopes placed in various places in the museum and in the factory. This is a good way to catch their attention and at the same time they are learning the history of Mauritius. Furthermore, you will be able to visit the Village Boutik which is an opportunity to buy special sugars and the Mauritian rum, as well as gifts and souvenirs made by local craftsman.
Mauritius National Botanical Garden
The Botanic Garden, formally known as Sir Seewoosagur Botanic Garden, located in the proximity of Port-Louis in the district of Pamplemousses is one among the most visited attractions in Mauritius. It is populated with more than 650 varieties of plants among which are the famous Baobabs and it may take you more than a week to cover the whole garden. Numerous indigenous species of plants are exhibited there especially the 85 different varieties of palm trees brought from different corners of the world, the main attraction of the so called botanical garden. Guides are available at the entrance of the garden, offering a full tour with a very affordable price and it is highly recommended.
La Nicoliere
La Nicolière is one of the most beautiful and appreciated places of Mauritius, apart from beaches. A beautiful lake, which is actually a reservoir, is overlooked by a mountain offering a magnificent view of the North. This spot is one of the favorite places for freshwater fishermen in Mauritius. The place is peaceful and rural as it attracts every weekend approximately ten of them around the lake lined with green hills, hoping to fill their tilapia, carp or eels.
Endowed with an immaculate nature, La Nicoliere was created in 1929 to supply drinking water to the population residing in the northern regions. It has a capacity of 5.26 million cubic meters, but can be easily dry out during drought. The winding road that leads to the top of the mountain is marvelous however the main feature of La Nicolière are the magnificent viewpoints visible from the slopes of the mountain. Breathtaking panoramas, forests, small woods, cane fields, patelins are followed by each other to the shore, from which the deep blue of the ocean expands its immensity, stippled here and there with verdant islets.
