Africa · Beach and resort guide
A polished Indian Ocean option with beaches, mountains and more to explore than the resort.
Is it right for you?
A strong fit for
Honeymoons, families and luxury.
We would think twice for
Travellers who get restless in resorts, because Mauritius is a lagoon island of self-contained luxury, and its sightseeing is pleasant rather than the point.
What we would want you to know
Coast and season influence wind, rain and sea conditions.
Our research-led view
We have not been to Mauritius ourselves, so this guide is drawn from research and our enquiry work. It centres on the question that decides most Mauritius holidays: which coast suits your month, because the trade winds that leave one side of the island calm can make the other choppy and cool.
We have not been here ourselves yet and will never pretend otherwise. This advice comes from the operator, mapping, hotel and transfer research we do for real enquiries.
Map and areas
The island's liveliest resort, a sheltered bay of moored boats with restaurants, bars, shops and a supermarket within walking distance of many hotels. It works well for couples and families who like to eat out, and it is the base for catamaran trips to the northern islets. The town beach is small, so for sand most people head to Pereybère or Mont Choisy nearby.
A long run of white sand fringed by casuarina trees on the calm north-west coast, with shallow water that suits young children and sunsets over the sea. Hotels range from small guesthouses to large resorts, and Grand Baie's restaurants are a short taxi ride away. Weekends bring Mauritian families picnicking under the trees, which adds life rather than crowds.
The west coast's main resort, a long beach and lagoon sheltered from the winter trade wind on the driest side of the island. Wolmar, at the southern end, holds the bigger hotels, while Flic en Flac village has cafés, supermarkets and food stalls. The public beach fills with local families at weekends, and summer afternoons can feel hot and still.
A peninsula beneath the basalt bulk of Le Morne Brabant, with a wide lagoon and long white beaches. The hotels are luxurious and self-contained, with only a few villages nearby, so you eat in the resort most nights. It is also the island's kitesurfing hub, which tells you the wind can blow hard here in the winter months.
The east coast's long white beach and wide lagoon, home to many of the island's grandest resorts and several golf courses. In the southern winter the trade wind blows onshore, keeping it fresh but making the sea choppy and the beach breezy, so October to April is the time to choose it. Beyond the hotels there is little, so it suits people happy to stay put.
A quieter corner close to the airport, where the Blue Bay Marine Park protects a clear lagoon over coral, and the old fishing town of Mahébourg has a waterfront promenade and a Monday market. Hotels are fewer and smaller, and the south-east catches the trade wind in winter. It suits travellers who prefer island life to resort polish.
Weather and seasons
Mauritius turns the British calendar upside down. The southern winter, June to August, is dry and mild, with Grand Baie around 25°C by day and the sea near 23°C, but the south-east trade wind blows steadily onto the east and south coasts, stirring up the lagoons there. The best balance of warmth, sunshine and calm water comes from September to November and again in April and May. From December to March the island is hot and humid, with the sea at about 28°C and heavy tropical downpours. This is also cyclone season: most years pass without a direct hit, but a storm passing nearby can close beaches and cancel boat trips for several days. Christmas and New Year carry the highest prices of the year.
Worth timing a trip around
Port Louis's Chinatown fills with lanterns, dragon dances and firecrackers, and families share wax cakes made with rice flour and honey.
Hundreds of thousands of Hindu pilgrims, many dressed in white, walk to Grand Bassin carrying decorated arches. Roads across the south are busy for several days.
Pilgrims of every faith walk through the night to the shrine of Father Laval at Sainte-Croix in Port Louis, a nineteenth-century missionary much loved on the island.
Homes and streets across the island glow with clay oil lamps and fairy lights, and neighbours exchange plates of sweets.
| Month | High | Low | Sea | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30°C | 24°C | 27°C | 217 mm |
| February | 30°C | 24°C | 28°C | 191 mm |
| March | 30°C | 24°C | 28°C | 221 mm |
| April | 29°C | 23°C | 27°C | 149 mm |
| May | 27°C | 21°C | 26°C | 80 mm |
| June | 26°C | 20°C | 25°C | 83 mm |
| July | 25°C | 19°C | 24°C | 76 mm |
| August | 25°C | 19°C | 23°C | 70 mm |
| September | 26°C | 20°C | 23°C | 34 mm |
| October | 27°C | 21°C | 24°C | 30 mm |
| November | 28°C | 22°C | 25°C | 59 mm |
| December | 30°C | 23°C | 27°C | 113 mm |
Temperatures are 2015 to 2024 averages from NOAA records for Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Intl, 48 km away at 57 m. Rainfall is from the GPCC rain-gauge analysis (Deutscher Wetterdienst) for 2010 to 2019 and shows the typical (median) month, so one freak storm does not skew it. Sea temperatures: NOAA OISST, 1991 to 2020.
| Month | High | Low | Sea | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30°C | 24°C | 27°C | 221 mm |
| February | 30°C | 24°C | 28°C | 216 mm |
| March | 30°C | 24°C | 28°C | 217 mm |
| April | 29°C | 23°C | 27°C | 152 mm |
| May | 27°C | 21°C | 26°C | 94 mm |
| June | 26°C | 20°C | 25°C | 75 mm |
| July | 25°C | 19°C | 24°C | 64 mm |
| August | 25°C | 19°C | 23°C | 74 mm |
| September | 26°C | 20°C | 23°C | 36 mm |
| October | 27°C | 21°C | 24°C | 41 mm |
| November | 28°C | 22°C | 25°C | 50 mm |
| December | 30°C | 23°C | 27°C | 113 mm |
Temperatures are 2015 to 2024 averages from NOAA records for Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Intl, 28 km away at 57 m. Rainfall is from the GPCC rain-gauge analysis (Deutscher Wetterdienst) for 2010 to 2019 and shows the typical (median) month, so one freak storm does not skew it. Sea temperatures: NOAA OISST, 1991 to 2020.
Sand, shingle and swimming
Soft white sand and a calm, shallow lagoon that stays clear, ideal for young children and nervous swimmers. Glass-bottomed boats leave from the beach, and the shore faces the sunset.
A small public cove just north of Grand Baie, with calm water, shade under the trees and snack vans behind the sand. Busy with Mauritian families at weekends, peaceful on weekday mornings.
A long, gently shelving strip of powdery sand in front of the east coast's big resorts. Glassy and calm from October to April, breezy and choppy when the southern winter trade wind blows.
A wide sweep of pale sand beneath the mountain, with a sheltered lagoon for swimming on one side and kitesurfers racing across the water towards the reef on the other.
A curving bay of shallow turquoise water over sand and coral inside a marine park, with good snorkelling close to the beach. Wear reef shoes, and take a boat out for the best coral.
An island off the east coast reached by boat, with sandbars and warm, shallow water. Lovely early in the day, but day-trippers crowd it by lunchtime, so go on the first boat.
Things to do
The island's largest area of native forest, with trails through ravines to viewpoints over the west coast and a chance of spotting the rare Mauritius kestrel and pink pigeon. Paths turn muddy after rain, so wear walking shoes and start early, before cloud settles on the plateau.
Rippled mounds of volcanic soil in shades of red, brown, violet and ochre, close to the Chamarel waterfall, which drops in a single plume into a forested gorge. The colours show best in bright sun, so aim for a clear morning.
The mountain where escaped slaves once hid, now on UNESCO's World Heritage list, with a memorial at its foot. A steep trail climbs to a cross with views over the lagoon, and the rocky upper section is best tackled with a guide. Start at dawn, before the heat.
The capital's Central Market sells spices, tropical fruit and street snacks, and the Aapravasi Ghat, a UNESCO site, marks where indentured labourers from India first landed. Go on a weekday morning, and expect heat, traffic and crowds rather than polish.
A coral islet off Mahébourg restored as a nature reserve, where guides lead small groups past giant tortoises, pink pigeons and a remnant of the coastal ebony forest. Visits are by guided tour only, so book ahead.
Gardens laid out in the eighteenth century, with a pond of giant Amazon water lilies, towering palms and a pen of giant tortoises. An official guide from the gate explains what you are looking at far better than the signs.
A sacred crater lake for Mauritian Hindus, watched over by giant statues of Shiva and Durga, with temples around the shore. Dress modestly and take your shoes off at the temples.
A wildlife and adventure park inland from Flic en Flac, with safari drives among zebras and giraffes, zip lines and a petting farm for younger children. Arrive at opening, as there is little shade by midday.
Day sails from Grand Baie head for Gabriel Island and Flat Island, with lunch on board and swims off the boat. Choose a smaller boat, since the big party catamarans can be loud, and expect cancellations when the sea is rough.
Food and drink
Thin flatbreads made with ground yellow split peas, wrapped around bean curry and chutney: the island's favourite street snack, sold from stalls and vans.
A Creole tomato sauce with garlic, ginger, thyme and chilli, cooked with sausages, salted fish or seafood and served with rice.
Octopus slow-cooked with tomatoes, turmeric and spices, a Creole favourite along the coast and at family celebrations.
Crisp fritters of split peas and chilli, eaten hot from street vendors, often squeezed into a buttered baguette.
Rum made from local sugar cane, including agricultural rum distilled straight from the juice. Rhum arrangé, steeped with fruit and spices, turns up on every bar list.
Money
The hotel and the board basis decide the price of a Mauritius holiday, and the gap between a good four-star and a famous five-star on the same lagoon is wide. Half board is the usual choice, because outside Grand Baie there are few restaurants within reach of the resorts. Honeymoon and anniversary offers can be generous, so always tell us if you are celebrating. A room that opens straight onto the beach is the upgrade we would pay for first.
Flights and transfers
Direct flights run from London, with one-stop options from Manchester via the Gulf. It is a twelve-hour journey into a small island of short transfers, which makes the arrival gentler than the flight time suggests.
Flights from UK airports
Route check September 2026. Some routes are seasonal and schedules change, so we confirm the live options when we quote.
Practical details
4 hours ahead of the UK in winter, 3 hours in summer
Mauritian rupee (MUR, Rs)
English is the official language; French and Mauritian Creole are spoken everywhere
Type G, the same three-pin plug as the UK, and Type C, 230V
On the left
Treated, but most visitors drink bottled water, especially after heavy rain
Not expected; around 5 to 10 percent for good restaurant service, and small tips for drivers and guides
Entry for British passport holders
Visa. No visa needed for stays of up to 60 days. You must be able to show onward or return travel.
Passport. Valid for your whole stay, with a blank page.
Summarised from the FCDO travel advice on gov.uk, checked 29 September 2026. Rules change: read the current entry requirements and the full travel advice before you go.
Questions we get asked
It depends on the month. From May to October the west and north are calmer and drier, sheltered from the trade wind that roughens the east and south. From October to April the east coast's lagoons are at their glassy best. Grand Baie suits people who like to eat out, while Le Morne and Belle Mare suit a resort stay.
Roughly November to April, with the greatest risk from January to March. Most cyclones pass at a distance, bringing a day or two of heavy rain and wind rather than a direct hit, and hotels follow a clear warning system. February is among the wettest months, averaging about 191mm on the north coast, so good travel insurance matters.
Yes, for families happy to spend most days at the resort. The lagoons are calm and shallow, many hotels have children's clubs, and Casela and the catamaran trips make easy days out. The flight is long for toddlers, and coral and sea urchins mean reef shoes for everyone.
Inside the coral reef that rings most of the island, usually yes: the lagoons are shallow and sheltered, with the surf breaking offshore. The exceptions are the south coast, where the reef has gaps and waves roll in, and the east coast in the windy southern winter. Stonefish and urchins live in the shallows, so wear reef shoes.
No. Taxis and hotel drivers are easy to arrange, and a driver for a full day is the simplest way to see the south-west. Mauritians drive on the left, as in the UK, but the roads are narrow and busy with buses and scooters, so many visitors prefer not to drive. Local buses are cheap but slow.
Yes: about 11 hours 55 minutes from London Gatwick. Clocks there are three hours ahead of the UK in summer and four in winter, so jet lag is mild despite the distance, but we would not suggest fewer than ten nights to make the journey worthwhile.
Photographs
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