After 11 hours of flight from Paris, the sublime beaches of Mauritius take shape like a mirage.
Behind the porthole, we marvel at this color chart of blue and this translucent lagoon in which we dive impatiently just after unloading our luggage.
Bordered by more than 150 km of beaches, sometimes wild and swept by the winds, sometimes paradisiacal with their rows of coconut trees and their sparkling sand, Mauritius offers holidaymakers a great diversity of landscapes, which should be explored to capture all the richness of the island.
To discover
Trips to Africa: tours, hotels and tailor-made stays from our partners
Read alsoThe 10 best hotels in Mauritius, from the east coast to the north of the island
If important hotel complexes, often top-of-the-range, line the coast today, know that there is officially no private beach in Mauritius and that all are therefore accessible to the public, regardless of your place of residence. stay.
The hotel beaches are supervised by guards who ensure that visitors do not enter their establishments and do not have their infrastructures, but it is quite possible to walk on the sand and even to put down your towel there. .
From the long stretches of the East to the lively beaches of the North, passing by the nature reserves of the South, discover these 10 majestic beaches in pictures.
The beaches of the East of Mauritius
With its turquoise blue lagoon and its long stretches of fine sand, the east of Mauritius is for many, the most beautiful coast of the island.
It is also there that the most elegant luxury hotels in the country are concentrated, and that the surface of the lagoon is the largest, especially at the south-eastern tip which is home to many wild islets.
It should be noted, however, that this is the windiest coast and that it does not benefit, like its western rival, from the majestic spectacle of the sunset.
THE COVES OF ROCHES-NOIRES
On the east coast, the beaches of Roches Noires are dotted with volcanic rocks.
Wikimedia
Located a few kilometers north of Poste Lafayette, the locality of Roches Noires stands out from the rest of the Mauritian coast. This small, rustic village is nestled in an unspoiled marshland whose coastline is interspersed with sheltered coves bounded by dark volcanic rocks. Still spared from urban and tourist development, even if many second homes have been built there, these small beaches with fine sand are the landmark of local fishermen who benefit from their fish-filled waters, conducive to the reproduction of many species (parrotfish , captain, trevally, grouper, squid…). We do not necessarily go to Roches-Noires for swimming, but rather for a walk along the water's edge, along the casuarinas, veloutiers and coconut palms and to enjoyan authentic site that offers a sublime view of the lagoon.
BELLE MARE, THE FILAOS PARADISE
Belle Mare beach is the longest on the island.
Myroslava Bozhko/Shutterstock
It stretches over 10 km, between Pointe de Flacq and Pointe aux Bœufs, and is one of the largest beaches on the island.
Surrounded by numerous hotels, the long stretch of fine sand of Belle Mare remains preserved with its continuous row of casuarina trees, bordered by a lagoon of marvelous clarity.
If on weekends, many Mauritians come to spend the day there with their families, the beach remains calm during the week and will allow you to enjoy its crystal clear water in peace, protected by the coral reef.
The reef being relatively far from the coast, the beach of Belle Mare is the idyllic place to indulge in swimming, snorkeling or nautical activities lulled by the breeze which constantly blows the east coast of Mauritius.
ILE AUX CERFS, TREASURE OF THE EAST COAST
Aerial view of Ile aux Cerfs, off Trou d'Eau Douce
.
Quality Master/Shutterstock
It is the jewel of the east coast.
A few minutes off Trou d'Eau Douce, Ile aux Cerfs is an uninhabited islet that extends over more than 100 hectares.
Equipped with a golf course, nautical centers and several bars and restaurants, the island is a popular destination for tourists, charmed by its dense vegetation, its shallow lagoon suitable for swimming, and its rich seabed.
Accessible by taxi boat, with shuttles every 20 minutes, Ile aux Cerfs will allow you to discover, in addition to sublime beaches with sparkling sand, endemic trees and lush tropical plants during a getaway in the heart of the Mauritian natural wonders. .
The beaches of the South of Mauritius
Wilder and more hilly than the North, the South reveals the authentic charm of Mauritius. From Pointe d'Esny to Le Morne, there are traditional fishing villages and amazing beaches, essential stops to discover all the facets of the island.
Hit by an oil spill last July, after a Japanese bulk carrier ran aground on a coral reef, the southeastern tip of the island was contaminated by more than 1,000 tonnes of fuel oil.
After months of clean-up operations, Blue Bay beach is once again accessible and swimming is now safe there, while the Pointe d'Esny coastline and the Île aux Aigrettes nature reserve are still off-limits. public.
To follow the evolution of the situation, the Mauritius Tourist Office has developed a dedicated interface, accessible here.
BLUE BAY MARINE PARK
The Blue Bay Marine Park is home to around forty varieties of coral.
byvalet/Shutterstock
About ten kilometers from the picturesque town of Mahébourg, nestles one of the most beautiful dive sites on the island, both for the richness of its biodiversity and for its area (it extends over more than 350 hectares) .
A protected area since 1997 before being classified as a RAMSAR site of global importance in 2008, the Blue Bay Marine Park is home to around forty varieties of coral, a true aquatic paradise for 72 species of fish.
Considered by many to be the most beautiful lagoon in Mauritius, Blue Bay is bordered by a sublime white sand beach where you can easily find a quiet corner to marvel at the beauty of the place.
THE GRIS-GRIS CLIFFS
Near the village of Souillac, in the south, Gris Gris beach stands out with its steep cliffs.
Pawel Kazmierczak/Shutterstock
At the southern end of the island, near the village of Souillac, hides the most surprising landscape of Mauritius.
A unique, rocky and steep beach that stands out from the long stretches of fine sand to the east.
There, the wild beauty of Gris-Gris is revealed, swept by the winds.
In the absence of a lagoon, the waves of the Indian Ocean wash up on the coast which then takes on, dare we say it, the air of tropical Brittany.
Marked by strong currents, the area is not ideal for swimming but lends itself more to a long walk and a quick lunch along its angular cliffs and unexpected coves.
A panorama far removed from the somewhat cliché postcards of Mauritius!
The beaches of the West of Mauritius
Protected from the winds, the west coast of Mauritius is dotted with long beaches, some of which, like in the Flic en Flac region, have lost their charm with the development of imposing tourist infrastructures.
It is nevertheless home to preserved natural sites, as evidenced by the sublime Le Morne peninsula.
THE SACRED PENINSULA OF LE MORNE
Le Morne Brabant is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Melanie Rostagnat
At the southern end of the west coast stands unflappable Le Morne Brabant, long a sanctuary for runaway slaves. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008, this mountain is today a place of memory of the country's colonial history, but also a symbol of the beauty of Mauritian nature. From the top of its 555 meters, Le Morne forms a peninsula that overlooks a majestic lagoon around which several luxury hotels have settled. However, the beach remains accessible to the public, especially around the LUX Le Morne hotel. You will benefit from delicious translucent water and a breathtaking panorama facing the sun setting on the horizon. If you are organizing a boat trip in the bay of Ile aux Bénitiers,you may be lucky enough to come across schools of dolphins, an unforgettable sight!
Read alsoMauritius: a new paradise on the Morne Brabant peninsula
TROU-AUX-BICHES, THE POSTCARD
Trou-aux-Biches beach stretches for 3 km.
tb-photography/Shutterstock
Its sand is considered the finest in Mauritius.
On the road to Grand Bay, coming from Port-Louis, Trou-aux-Biches is an essential stopover for lovers of peaceful swimming and snorkeling in an idyllic setting.
Surrounded by a lagoon with turquoise water, this long beach, which stretches for nearly 3 kilometers, is bordered by a horde of coconut palms.
Suffice to say that Trou-aux-Biches is the postcard par excellence!
It is a busy beach with many tourist establishments, nautical activity centers and restaurants and therefore may not be suitable for those seeking peace and solitude.
The northern beaches
The commercial and tourist center of the island, the north coast has a steep coastline and is therefore devoid of long stretches of sand.
In addition to the public beach of Pereybère and the charming little cove of La Cuvette, here are two discreet beaches where you can take a pleasant break while exploring the region.
PEACEFUL CASITA BAY
Wedged between Grand Baie and Pereybère, this small picturesque cove, which stretches for less than 300 meters, is a haven of peace just a few minutes from the commercial bustle of the northern villages.
On this pretty beach of fine sand, away from the road, the lagoon reveals its most beautiful colors in a shade of sparkling blue.
A multitude of fish have colonized the surrounding reefs, which promises great snorkeling sessions for diving enthusiasts who may have the pleasure of coming face to face with a green turtle.
BAIN BŒUF, THE NICEEST VIEW ON COIN DE MIRE
View of Coin de Mire from Bain Boeuf beach.
Vincent Raffray/Shutterstock
The narrow beach of Bain Bœuf, so named because cattle were once washed there, is not the most suitable beach for swimming due to the coral soil that reaches the shore.
On the other hand, it is the one that has the most breathtaking view of the Coin de mire, an island classified as a nature reserve which is located 8 km from the coast and which is home to 48 exotic species and 24 endemic species of birds and reptiles.
At dusk, when the setting sun illuminates the imposing rock offshore, the spectacle is breathtaking.
Located between Pereybère and Cap Malheureux, Bain Bœuf beach remains, during the day, a pleasant place to take a dip in crystal clear water, in peace, and admire the pretty wooden boats of the fishermen who moor there.
THE PLATE ISLAND, A TROPICAL EDEN
Little visited, the flat island is a tropical paradise off the north coast of Mauritius. Melanie Rostagnat
A paradise on the water. Located a dozen kilometers from the north coast, the flat island conceals priceless natural treasures and vestiges of the tumultuous history of colonization. A protected nature reserve, it allows a total disconnection to the few visitors who come to spend the day there. Unlike the islet Gabriel, located just opposite and which shares the same lagoon, large catamarans with music and barbecue on board are indeed not allowed to dock on the east coast of the flat island. Endowed with heavenly beaches and lush vegetation, it still retains some ruins from the past, including the Governor's House, which has been transformed into a restaurant (by reservation only) which offers grilled fish and seasonal salads.A tropical Eden not to be missed during your stay in Mauritius.
