Mauritius: Beaches, Reefs, Lagoons and Adventure

Boasting of picturesque beaches, sumptuous lagoons, and spectacular reefs, the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius is considered as one of the best honeymoon destinations in the world. About 2,000 kilometers off the southeast coast of Africa, the island of Mauritius is surrounded by more than 150 km of white sandy beaches and lagoons that are protected from the open sea by the world’s third largest coral reef, which surrounds the island.

The Beaches of Mauritius

• Belle Mare: The beautiful beach of Belle Mare is the favourite haunt of locals who come here to spend their free days, and for fishermen who can usually be seen setting off out to the sea for the day’s catch. The beach is mostly quiet, with tourists walking along its bright white sand and the nearby resorts offering entertainment to their guests.

• Ile aux Cerfs: Known as the deer island in English, the Ile aux Cerfs is a privately owned island near the east coast of Mauritius. Best known for its sandy beaches, this island is also home to beautiful lagoons and offers a selection of activities and facilities including various tours near the island and snorkeling in the lagoons.  Besides, water sports like banana rides, parasailing, speed boat tours are available too.
• Pereybere: Located in the village of Pereybere, in the northwest part of Mauritius, the Pereybere beach is not for those seeking peace and quiet. Even during the low season, this lively beach is abuzz with enthusiastic visitors. If you’re willing to endure the crowd, the beach does have a lot to offer with all its variety of restaurants and dolphin cruises and fishing trips.
• Flic en Flac: On the western part of the island of Mauritius is the tiny seaside town of Flic- en- Flac. Its public white sandy beach is one of the longest in the island and draws about 500,000 visitors yearly. Flic- en- Flac is also home to many of the most luxurious hotels in Mauritius. The beach is frequently visited by local families too for weekends, picnics, and for sand sports like football and volleyball.

• Blue Bay Beach: A very popular beach, one is likely to find Blue Bay beach crowded during the weekend but quieter during the week. The water around the beach is clear and a crystalline turquoise. A sunny day brings out the various shades of the blue water, creating a picturesque sight for the eyes. The clear and deep sea with just a light current at times is a perfect place for swimming and snorkeling.
• Mont Choisy: This beach on the northern part of Mauritius is just an hour and a half from the airport. Mauritius’ longest beach, the Mont Choisy beach is characterized by its gentle arch which shows the waters curving as they hit the shore. Like all Mauritius beaches, Mont Choisy too boasts of clear, turquoise waters inhabited by a rich marine life comprising of corals and other aquatic beings.

The Seven Coloured Earths

In the northwestern part of the island of Mauritius in the Chamarel plain of the Riviere Noire district there can be found a geological formation that has become a prominent tourist attraction in the island. It is a small area of sand dunes comprising sand of seven distinct colours (approximately red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow).  The chief highlight of the place is that since these differently coloured sands spontaneously settle in different layers, the dunes acquire a visually appealing, striped colouring.

Transport

A number of bus companies that run throughout the island provide public transport for commuters to get around.  In the urban regions, timetables run between 5.30am to 8 pm. In rural areas, buses tend to run between 6.30am and 6.30pm.

Taxis are available at the airport, hotels and bus stations and are a reliable means for some independent travel.

Car, bicycle and scooter rental services are also provided by several companies and tour operators at reasonable prices.

Food

Indian food isn’t hard to find anywhere in Mauritius, but you must also try local dishes like gateau piment and rougaille.

Best Places to Stay

If you prefer a windy environment, head for the east, else the west would just be the best part for you to stay. However, the best way would be to decide which beach you would be frequenting during your visit and then book a hotel or around its vicinity.

– The Indian Tourist