Mauritius; Best seven beaches to visit
Mauritius is l-i-t-e-r-a-l-l-y a heaven on earth destination. This little island is situated in the middle of the Indian ocean, and thus is bound to have some awesome beaches. And so without further ado, I give to you, seven of the best beaches I’ve visited in Mauritius!
A little background information on the beaches situation in Mauritius… So they are either private or public. The thing is that both private and public beaches are gorgeous, but obviously the private ones (which are “owned” by hotels) are a little more… taken care of. Private beaches have that je ne sais quoi factor. Well, granted they are spotless and have super comfy sun-beds and all that, but the whole ambience is just different. You’ll definitely feel the luxury there. However, that doesn’t mean that public beaches in Mauritius are any less stunning. You can definitely enjoy the freedom factor in public beaches, that’s for sure! You’ll be able to lay on your own towel and have a picnic by the beach surrounded by the most beautiful scenery. Also, it’ll most definitely benefit your wallet too. Anyway, let’s just get into it.
Private beaches in Mauritius
One: Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok Resort & Spa
I’m putting the best beach first, just to truly emphasise this stunner. First and foremost, Shangri-La is situated on the Eastern side of the island, relatively closer to the airport. Most beaches in Mauritius are on the North, so you won’t find a lot of other beaches on the East. But boy did Shangri-La literally own the most beautiful area on the island.
Resort beaches
With over 5 private beaches in the resort (yes, you’ve heard that right, 6 different beaches in the actual resort), and two close by islands to spend the day, Shangri-La most definitely is the “heaven-on-earth” place to be at in Mauritius. Granted it is a luxurious hotel, and you will have to pay for an entrance fee to enter (that is if you’re not already staying there) but trust me when I tell you, it is worth every single penny.
You’ll also get the chance to frolic on perfectly clear white sands, sip on delicious cocktails and if you’re feeling a little frisky, take up some water sports available on the beach.
Private Islands near Shangri-La;
A. Ilot Mangenie
In addition to the 6 private beaches on the actual resort, Shangri-La owns their own private island called Ilot Mangenie which is strictly accessible only to hotel guests. I know that that might seem like a bummer to most, but this is the perfect excuse to literally choose to stay at the Shangri-La. This island, not only is it like a spitting image of LOST, but it also offers guests lunch! And for some extra luxury, you can rent out your own private bungalow, with your own private butler service and some yummy yummy food!
Ever had that dream of being on an island enjoying the crystal clear turquoise water but not having to deal with the whole “being on an island a.k.a. having to do with no luxury”? Well, this is exactly it! I 100% recommend.
B. Ile Aux Cerfs
On the brighter side of things, if you’re not staying at the Shangri-La, then there is another option available to everyone. That is the private island of Ile Aux Cerfs, again situated in the East side of the Mauritius. Ile Aux Cerfs might not be as secluded as Ilot Mangenie, but it is another beautiful alternative. If you go to the East side of Mauritius, there’s many tour offers available to everyone. That means you’re not just restricted to visiting Shangri-La to access Ile Aux Cerfs. There’s daily boats, catamarans or even yachts that will get you there, but that obviously comes with a price. You’ll get the chance to enjoy the sun, choose to lunch in one of the island’s many restaurants, and even take part in some water sports or even play some golf! It’s truly a must!
Two: Le Morne Beach
Le Morne is another private beach situated on the Southern side of Mauritius and is owned by Lux Le Morne hotel. The beauty with this beach is that it has a truly dramatic scenery. The contrast between the turquoise water and the luscious green from the mountains right behind it undoubtedly makes it a unique place like no other. Furthermore, the beach on Lux Le Morne is spotless clean, with stunning white sand and it comes with a complete luxurious vibe. You do need to “reserve” in advance for a day pass as most spots are reserved for hotel guests. Furthermore, there’s a fee of 3500 rupees (£75 pp) to spend the day, but it does go towards your food and drinks.
The fact that it’s on the South makes for a perfect excuse to explore that side of the island too! We combined a beautiful hike at the Black River Gorges early in the morning and just relaxed the rest of the day at the beach. It’s only a 30 minute drive and it’s a perfect combination, honestly! To read more on what to do in Mauritius, check my blog post here!
Cheaper alternative
On the bright side, there is another cheaper option available for some who aren’t willing to splurge on a hotel beach day pass. And by cheaper, I mean free. Literally right next to the hotel, there’s Le Morne public beach which is connected to Lux Le Morne. The public beach even has a small “café” sort of restaurant that serves food. You can also rent sun beds, but they close at 4 PM which is definitely a bummer.
Public beaches in Mauritius
Three: Flic en Flac
Flic en Flac is situated on the West side of Mauritius, thus making it a perfect sunset on the beach sitch. Although there isn’t much to do in Flic en Flac in terms of nightlife, the sunsets are really all that. Flic en Flac is one of the longest white sand beaches of Mauritius, and it has amongst the most beautiful blue lagoons on the island. It is a relaxing setting, with the cutest fishing boats and locals frolicking all around. You can find a variety of restaurants on Flic en Flac, and if you’re staying till the sunset and want to splurge a little, Citronella’s cafe at the Sugar beach Resort is definitely a must.
Four: Grand Baie
Grand Baie is like the new black in Mauritius. Well, technically, it’s not the new new black but that’s where everyone goes. And with a good excuse! Grand Baie is a village situated on the North side of Mauritius, and that’s where you’ll find most people relaxing and enjoying the beauty that is Mauritius. Grand Baie public beach is one of the most popular. However, it is kind of filled with boats, so swimming there isn’t really ideal. However, it is a perfect place to snack and enjoy the scenery, as the many food stands and perfect view makes up for the ideal down time.
Five: Pereybere beach
Pereybere beach is near Grand Baie public beach, both being located in the village of Grand Baie. Unlike Grand Baie public beach, Pereyebere is definitely one of the prettiest public beaches in Mauritius. You can swim, relax, munch on food stands available on the beach and just take the day off. You can also opt in to to partake in water sport activities, or you can even snorkel there! For some reason, I didn’t take a picture of this so I’m really sorry.
Six: Pointe aux Biches
Pointe Aux Biches is another public beach located on Grand Baie, and it’s a little more up-beat than the rest. I’ve noticed that the majority of people were at Pointe Aux Biches… which is cool and all if that’s what you’re into. You can also find pretty food stands to lunch or snack on, and Pointe Aux Biches is also a great place to meet some new friends!
Seven: Mont Choisy
And I saved the second best for last! My favourite public beach is definitely Mont Choisy. It’s super secluded so there isn’t a lot of people around (which for me, is a bonus). It does have it’s fair share of dramatic scenery, being covered with trees and lovely white sand beaches. There’s also a few fruit stands that you can snack on, but the view is literally the winning factor. The beach on its own is massive, so there’s plenty of space for you to have some privacy. Mont Choisy beach is super family friendly! And the water is clear as day so it makes it a perfect location for some snorkeling too!
That’s all folks! Thanks for reading my post on the best beaches in Mauritius! I hope you liked it, and I hope it has given you some insight on your future trip to Mauritius!
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-VB x
