Five coasts, five moods. Choose the area that fits your trip, then pick the hotel.
See hotelsMauritius is about 65 km long, but traffic makes distances feel longer than they look on the map. Staying in the right area saves you hours in the car.
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Good for: First trip, nightlife, restaurants, budget to mid-range
The busiest tourist area, with the most restaurants, shops, bars and boat trips. Pereybère has a small, lively public beach; Trou aux Biches and Mont Choisy have long calm beaches.
Why we like it: Lots to do on foot, many apartments and guesthouses, sheltered from the winter trade winds.
Keep in mind: Traffic and crowds in high season; far from the south.
Good for: Sunsets, families, drier weather
The west coast is in the lee of the island, so it is usually the driest and calmest side in winter. Flic en Flac has one of the longest public beaches; Tamarin is the base for dolphin trips.
Why we like it: Sunset every evening, close to Black River Gorges, Casela and Chamarel.
Keep in mind: Can be hot in summer; Flic en Flac beach is crowded on Sundays with local families.
Good for: Honeymoons, quiet resorts, long white beaches
Long white beaches and big resorts, close to Île aux Cerfs. Fewer restaurants outside the hotels, so most people stay half or full board.
Why we like it: Beautiful sunrise, calm atmosphere, fresh breeze in summer.
Keep in mind: Windy in winter (May to October), when the trade winds blow from the southeast.
Good for: Kitesurfing, hiking, nature, luxury
A peninsula under Le Morne Brabant with a wide lagoon, a public beach and a handful of resorts. A world-famous kitesurfing spot.
Why we like it: Stunning scenery, close to Chamarel and the south coast.
Keep in mind: Isolated: you need a car or taxis for restaurants and shops.
Good for: Snorkelling, local life, close to the airport
Blue Bay Marine Park has some of the easiest snorkelling on the island. Mahébourg is a real Mauritian town with a waterfront and a Monday market.
Why we like it: Short drive from the airport, good for first or last night, authentic and often cheaper.
Keep in mind: Windier in winter; fewer big hotels and nightlife.
Can't decide? Split your stay: a few nights on the west or north coast, then a few on the east. Mauritius is small enough to change hotels without losing a day.
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One printable page with everything you need on the island: emergency numbers, our top 10 places, money, plugs, driving tips and a few useful Kreol phrases.
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For a first trip, the north (Grand Baie area) has the most restaurants and activities. The west is drier with sunsets, the east has the most beautiful long beaches, and the south is wilder and quieter.
The west and north coasts are more sheltered from the southeast trade winds that blow from about May to October. The east and southeast are windier in those months.
Choose a hotel on a calm, sheltered lagoon beach. The north coast around Grand Baie and Trou aux Biches is popular with families because shallow water, shops and restaurants are close together.
Grand Baie in the north and Flic en Flac in the west have beaches, shops and restaurants within walking distance, plus buses and taxis. On the east and south coasts you depend more on your hotel or on taxis.
The north and west have many self-catering apartments and guesthouses, with shops and restaurants nearby. On the east coast, big resorts with half or full board make more sense because there are fewer restaurants outside the hotels.
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