Where to stay in Mauritius

WHERE TO S TAY

One of the most important decisions visitors must make when visiting Mauritius is where to stay. Fortunately, there are 100 hotels and nearly 1000 guests houses spread throughout the island, so wherever you choose there is bound to be suitable accommodation for you.

IN THE NORTH:

Grand Baie is Mauritius’ most popular tourist resort. Don’t let that put you off, though! Its postcard-perfect beaches and coves make it the ideal place for water-based adventures. There are plenty of tour operators here offering everything from water skiing to scuba diving. The town also has an incredible nightlife!

The peaceful town of Cap Malheureux, most famous for it’s red-roofed Notre Dame Auxiliatrice church. This is a village of fishermen, so expect to find the finest quality seafood at its diners and restaurants.

A little further around the cape is Grand Gaube, a village that combines colonial architecture with indigenous folklore. It has a stunning rocky coastline and one of the white sand beaches that Mauritius is most famous for. There are plenty of restaurants here too for tying out local cuisine.

Anse La Raie is a tiny village between Cap Malheureux and Calodyne. You’ll want to stay here to enjoy the wild headland and snorkelling in the aqua blue lagoon.

Le Chateau de Labourdonnais is a beautifully restored colonial mansion and estate with orchards, gardens and a rum distillery.

IN THE SOUTH:

Bel Ombre should be your first choice for a sustainable destination as it is part of STU’s green destination pilot project. There are plenty of hotels here overlooking the beach, which itself is subject to awe-inspiring views of coral reefs. Golfers are particularly encouraged to stay here, as there are 18-hole courses nearby and even the Golf du Chateau hotel that has its own 9-hole course.

Mahebourg is an ideal place to spend time among locals. It’s filled with fishermen, markets, street food stalls and tiny winding streets. The town was Mauritius’s first settlement, and it has managed to survive with very little touristic expansion.

Chamarel is the gateway to the Black River Gorges National Park, but it also its own attractive destination. Its most iconic feature is the Seven Colored Earth, where the land itself is comprised of layers of seven differently coloured clay. Nearby is the incredible Chamarel waterfall. There are plenty of hotels to choose from in the local area.

Ile aux Aigrettes is a small offshore islet which is a nature reserve and home to endangered endemic species like the Mauritian Kestrel and Pink Pigeon. At the same time, you can enjoy a boat trip.

IN THE EAST:

It is impossible to talk about the east of Mauritius without mentioning Belle Mare. It has the island’s iconic long white sand beach with a mountainous hinterland behind. The town itself is called Beau Champ, and contains the remains of several sugar mill chimneys. From here you can also reach the Ile aux Cerfs, which is itself a stunning resort island.

Poste Lafeyette is home to several high-end resort hotels that are the doorstep to an idyllic beach holiday. There are golf courses, marine diving and skydiving experiences, as well as some of the island’s best restaurants. Nearby are the impressive Sagar Shri Mandir Hindu temple and market village of Flacq. This seaside resort is also the gateway to the Bras d’Eau national park.

Grand Sable is a small town that’s fairly southerly along the east coast. However, it is also the starting point for visits to numerous attractions including Montagne Blanche, the Roches Noires Caves, Notre Dame des Anges chapel, and the Pointe du Diable colonial-era fort.

Ile aux Cerfs

The island lies off Trou d’Eau Douce in the largest lagoon of Mauritius and offers 87 hectares of luxuriant vegetation and preserved, white, sandy beaches. Besides the Ile Aux Cerfs Golf Club, one can also experience three beach restaurants and engage in a wide variety of activities on Ile aux Cerfs. Depart from the village of Trou d’Eau Douce and spend the whole day on the island.

IN THE WEST:

Flic-en-Flac is a popular tourist destination and contains all of the travellers want, whether you’re alone, a couple, or a family. The nearby Casela natural reserve is carefully engineered to blend the island’s natural landscapes with family adventure experiences such as a water park and zoo.

Le Morne village located on the southwestern tip of the island known for le Morne Brabant, a basaltic mountain with high cultural and historical significance.

Quatre Bornes is in the centre and is the living, working, breathing hub of Mauritius’s residents. You will find the modern, day-to-day life of Mauritius here. As such, it makes for an unusual tourist destination but a great place to stay if you want to see what real life is like. There are plenty of markets, street food carts, shopping centres and historic buildings to visit here. There is even the Trou aux Cerfs, a dormant volcano crater that’s now a lake. Its central location also means it’s well connected to nearly all other parts of the island.

Tamarin is a small village popular with people interested in sea sports such as kitesurfing and bodyboarding. Tour operators also offer dolphin and whale watching tours that start at Tamarin. This is an authentic Mauritian village that has escaped the urbanisation or glitzy redevelopment that tourist attractions can sometimes experience.