Beaches
There are beaches all along the coast. There are three types:
- Hotel beaches are equipped (loungers, bar, water sports) and mainly serve hotel guests; some sell day passes.
- Public beaches are free, often with toilets, showers, parking and snacks. At weekends they are full of local families.
- Natural beaches are harder to reach but often almost empty.
Our favourites: Trou d'Eau Douce, Le Morne, Poste Lafayette, Trou aux Biches, Mont Choisy, Blue Bay, Pointe aux Piments and Flic en Flac. Wear water shoes because of sea urchins and coral, and read our swimming advice.
Hiking
The interior offers peaks, waterfalls and forests. Black River Gorges National Park has marked trails; in the east there is Bras d'Eau park. The mountains aren't high, but the views are worth it. The highest is Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire (828 m).
We recommend: Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire, Le Pouce, Trois Mamelles, Le Morne Brabant and the Trou aux Cerfs crater in Curepipe. Pieter Both: climbing to the very top without ropes is very risky. For harder hikes go with a local guide, start early in the morning and take plenty of water.
You can buy gear locally (there is a Decathlon on the island, for example). For the experienced with time to spare: walking around the island along the coast takes roughly ten days in our experience.
Water sports and boat trips
Kitesurfing and windsurfing are best roughly from June to October, when it is windier, especially on the east and south coasts (for example Poste Lafayette bay). You can rent kayaks, paddleboards or pedal boats on many beaches. Boat trips to the islets and fishing trips can be booked from most areas.
For every operator, check that they have a valid permit from the Ministry of Tourism, enough life jackets, and that the captain can contact the coast guard.
Source: GOV.UK, Mauritius: Safety and security, checked 3 Nov 2026
Dolphins and whales: the rules
- Swimming, diving or snorkelling with whales is prohibited.
- Swimming with dolphins is allowed only with a licensed operator and only between 6:00 and 9:00. No more than 3 swimmers, including the lifeguard, may be in the water at the same time.
- Boats may not come closer than 50 m to dolphins and 100 m to whales. Feeding or touching them is prohibited.
If someone offers you swimming with whales, it is against the regulations.
Source: Tourism Authority (Dolphin and Whale Watching) Regulations 2012, FAOLEX, checked 3 Nov 2026
Golf
The island has a number of 18-hole and 9-hole courses, and clubs rent out equipment. Agree the terms in advance; if golf is the main reason for your trip, a hotel with green fees included pays off. Our tips: Mont Choisy Le Golf (north), Azuri, The Legend, The Links, Anahita and Le Touessrok (east), Tamarina Golf Estate (west) and Gymkhana (inland). We are happy to advise in more detail.
Colonial houses and heritage
Combine history with good food: the colonial estates have gardens and restaurants. Tips: Eureka (Moka), Domaine de Labourdonnais, Saint Aubin, Bois Chéri (tea plantation), Domaine des Aubineaux. The L'Aventure du Sucre museum explains the island's history well (more on the History page). In Port Louis, Aapravasi Ghat, a UNESCO site, is worth a visit.
Parks and gardens
- Pamplemousses Botanical Garden
- Casela Park (west)
- La Vanille Nature Park (south)
- Odysseo Aquarium (Port Louis)
