Grand Baie & the northern beaches

Grand Baie (Grand Bay) is the tourist center of Mauritius — a lively coastal town on a beautiful bay in the north of the island. Here, restaurants, bars, boutiques, diving schools, and catamarans are concentrated. The bay itself, with its colorful pirogues (fishing boats), is picturesque but not suitable for swimming — the best beaches are a few kilometers away.

La Cuvette Beach

A small, hidden dream beach right next to Grand Baie. Protected by rocks and filao trees, La Cuvette offers calm, turquoise waters perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Never crowded, family-friendly, with parking and food stalls nearby. The locals' insider tip.

Trou aux Biches

About 10 minutes west of Grand Baie lies Trou aux Biches — one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and regularly in the top 10 international beach rankings. Over a kilometer of fine white sand, shady casuarina trees (filao), and a gently sloping coral reef that allows fantastic snorkeling directly from the beach. Starfish, parrotfish, and turtles are not uncommon. It's quieter in the northern section, with resorts in the south.

Mont Choisy

The longest public beach in the north stretches for almost three kilometers — endless sand with enough space for everyone. On weekends, Mauritian families come for picnics, and during the week, the beach is almost deserted. At the southern end is a small fishing harbor where fresh catch is sold in the morning. Perfect for long beach walks.

Pereybère

The small bay of Pereybère between Grand Baie and Cap Malheureux is a favorite among locals: food stalls on the beach, music on weekends, snorkeling in shallow water, and a relaxed, authentic atmosphere. Less polished than Trou aux Biches, but full of character.