Mauritius

Why go

The island is small enough to see Chamarel, a tea field, and a second beach in one hired car, without changing hotel.

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  The lagoon

  A reef wraps most of the coast. The west and north-west are the calm swimming beaches. The east can be windier, especially in July and August.

  • Grand Baie in the north for shops, restaurants, and boats to the small northern islets.
  • Flic en Flac and the west for sunsets and diving. Le Morne is the mountain in the photographs.
  • Belle Mare on the east for the long resort beaches.
  • Chamarel inland for the falls, the coloured earth, and Black River Gorges.
  • The south coast for cliffs rather than a swimming lagoon.
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  Four coasts

  Grand Baie in the north is shops and restaurants. The west, including Flic en Flac and Tamarin, is the sunset and dive coast. The south is wilder. The east is longer beaches and larger resorts.

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  Inland

  Chamarel's falls and coloured earth, Black River Gorges, and the tea country are half-day trips. You do not need a safari vehicle.

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  After the bush

  People often add four or five nights here after Kruger or the islands of the Seychelles. It is an easy family beach, with good food and short transfers from the airport.

Where to go

• North coastGrand Baie and Trou aux Biches. The busiest corner, useful if you want restaurants. Flat Island and the northern islets are boat trips, not places to stay.
• West coastFlic en Flac, Tamarin, and Le Morne. The usual choice for sunsets, kites at certain spots, and diving. Le Morne is the mountain you see in the photographs.
• East coastBelle Mare and the longer resort beaches. Beautiful in the calm months, breezier in mid-winter.
• South and inlandGris Gris and the wild south shore, plus Chamarel and Black River. Better as a day out than as your only base if swimming is the plan.

When to go

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  May to December

  The drier, easier months. May to June and September to November are a pleasant balance. December is festive and busier.

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  January to March

  Cyclone season. Hot, humid, and the time to avoid if you want a guaranteed beach week. Rain often clears in a few hours, but a cyclone will not.

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  July and August

  Cooler and drier, and windy on the east. The west coast is the more comfortable swim then. Easter and the European summer holidays fill the hotels.

Travel advice

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  Getting around

  The airport is in the south-east. A resort transfer or a hire car is enough. Helicopters are a scenic extra, not a necessity on an island this size.

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  Driving

  Drive on the left. Distances look small and mostly are. Do not plan a self-drive on the day you land if the flight is overnight.

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  Health

  Malaria is not the issue it is on the mainland. Sun, reef cuts, and ordinary travel insurance matter more. Tap water in good hotels is generally treated; bottled water is the simple habit.

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  Entry

  Many passports can enter visa-free for a holiday, but the list changes. Check before you fly, including any safari country you connect through.

Accommodation

Costs

From the journal

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  Places

  Mauritius vs Seychelles vs Maldives Best

  Mauritius vs Seychelles vs Maldives Best is a planning note from Safari Continents Travel. It sits beside the destination guides for Seychelles, Mauritius. Published trip prices are a guide. You receive a quote before anything is paid.

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  Lodges

  Top 15 Resorts Hotels in Mauritius

  Top 15 Resorts Hotels in Mauritius is a planning note from Safari Continents Travel. It sits beside the destination guides for Mauritius. Published trip prices are a guide. You receive a quote before anything is paid.

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  Places

  Best Beaches in Mauritius

  Best Beaches in Mauritius is a planning note from Safari Continents Travel. It sits beside the destination guides for Mauritius. Published trip prices are a guide. You receive a quote before anything is paid.