With 160 km of coastline, most of which are protected by coral reefs, there is no shortage of beaches for swimming in Mauritius.
There are actually over 130 beaches to choose from! But which of them are worth visiting?
As a local who’s explored every single beach on the island, I’ve created the ultimate guide to the best (and my personal favorite) beaches to swim at.
From long stretches of white sand bordered by swaying palm trees to a protected marine park home to various species of corals and fish, you’ll be in for a treat.
And thanks to Mauritius’ mild tropical climate, you can take a dip in the ocean year-round!
Without further ado, let’s dive into this list of the best swimming beaches in Mauritius, including some practical info and hotel recommendations.
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Best Beaches in Mauritius for Swimming
La Cuvette
North | Location on Google Maps
If you’re part of my Mauritius Travel Planning Facebook group, you may have seen me raving about La Cuvette Beach.
This is because it’s my all-time favorite swimming beach in Mauritius, and for good reason.
With soft white sand, crystal-clear turquoise water, and an abundance of colorful fish hanging out right by the shore, what’s not to like?
La Cuvette Beach is located in the north of Mauritius, about a 5-minute drive from Grand Baie.
Unlike at Grand Baie Beach, there are no boats on La Cuvette, which makes swimming and snorkeling much more enjoyable.
The beach is small though, so plan to get there early to get a spot in the shade.
There are a couple of beach chairs and umbrellas for rent or you can just lay your towel on the sand for free.
If you’re feeling hungry, grab a bite from the local food stalls nearby. Toilets and changing rooms are also available.
Hotels nearby: Mauricia Beachcomber ($$$), Veranda Grand Baie Hotel and Spa ($$), Grand Baie Suites ($)
Mont Choisy
North | Location on Google Maps
Mont Choisy Beach boasts a vast expanse of white sand with azure blue water that stretches for almost 2 km.
It’s one of the longest beaches on the island and is lined with tall trees providing plenty of shade to escape from the sun.
The water is calm and gets gradually deep, making it one of the best beaches for swimming. Just don’t expect to see lots of fish here as the underwater visibility isn’t that great.
On weekdays, the beach isn’t too crowded. However, it gets super busy on the weekends as the locals come to relax.
You might even see the locals singing and dancing the Sega while playing the Ravanne, a traditional musical instrument of Mauritius.
There are several food trucks on Mont Choisy where you can buy seafood and other local food as well as a huge parking lot, toilets, and changing rooms.
Hotels nearby: Mystik Life Style ($$), Mon Choisy Beach R ($)
Trou aux Biches
North | Location on Google Maps
Just a few meters from Mont Choisy is Trou aux Biches, which is known as the most beautiful beach on the island.
With rows of palm trees, white sand, and calm shallow water, this is the ideal beach in Mauritius for swimming, especially for small children.
The water is crystal-clear with beautiful corals and fish. If you’re lucky enough you might even spot some turtles!
So what’s the catch you might ask? Well, the most scenic portion of the beach is occupied by the 5-star Trou aux Biches Beachcomber Resort.
If you’re staying at the resort, then good for you as you’ll be able to enjoy this little slice of paradise without the hordes of tourists.
The public portion, however, can feel a bit crowded, especially on the weekends.
Here, the sand is a bit coarser with some dead corals. You’ll also find several boats docked near the shore and local touts selling watersport activities.
But if you can look past that, it’s still a nice beach to visit, especially at sunset.
There are several street food vendors on the beach and local restaurants nearby (my personal favorite is La Voglia Matta which serves ginormous pizza!).
Changing rooms and toilets are also available to the public.
Trou aux Biches Beach is easily accessible by bus from Grand Baie or you can get there by car.
Just make sure to arrive early if you’re visiting on a weekend as the parking lot is small.
Hotels nearby: Trou aux Biches Beachcomber ($$$), Constance Sakoa Boutik ($$), The See Apartments ($)
Le Morne
Southwest | Location on Google Maps
On the southwest coast of Mauritius lies Le Morne Peninsula, which is surrounded by rows of palm trees, white sand, and turquoise water.
This area has gained popularity thanks to its spectacular underwater waterfall and imposing mountain, Le Morne Brabant, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where runaway slaves used to seek refuge.
The best spot to swim is right in front of LUX Le Morne Resort as it’s super clean with calm shallow water and soft white sand. While the water is crystal-clear, there aren’t that many fish.
However, other parts of the beach have some dead corals which can hurt your feet unless you wear water shoes.
The flat and shallow lagoon surrounding Le Morne Peninsula also makes it a great spot for windsurfers and kitesurfers of all levels, particularly between June and November.
There’s a big parking lot, toilets, changing rooms, and a few vendors selling food and souvenirs.
Hotels nearby: Paradis Beachcomber ($$$),LUX Le Morne Resort ($$$), Ma Vie La ($)
Blue Bay
Southeast | Location on Google Maps
The main draw of Blue Bay Beach is the protected marine park, which is home to the largest coral garden in Mauritius with over 70 species of fish, including clownfish, butterfly fish, and even turtles.
I recommend going on a snorkeling tour of the marine park, which also includes a visit to Ile des Deux Cocos and a traditional Mauritian lunch.
If you don’t want to snorkel, you can instead hop on a glass-bottom boat and admire the corals and fish without getting wet.
Blue Bay is quite busy on the weekends, so if you want to avoid the crowds, I recommend heading to the right side of the beach.
There are several restaurants and street food stalls near the main beach area, two parking lots, changing rooms, and toilets.
Tip: Another beach worth mentioning is Pointe D’Esny. It’s situated about 2 km north of Blue Bay and is usually less crowded. The water is calm and crystal-clear but there are no facilities on the beach like parking, toilets, or restaurants.
Hotels nearby: Preskil Island Resort ($$), Talamba Blue ($)
Pereybere
North | Location on Google Maps
This small white-sand beach is located about a 5-minute drive from La Cuvette.
There’s even a dedicated area for swimming so you don’t have to worry about boats getting in the way.
Since the beach is quite small, it’s usually very crowded on the weekends and you might have a hard time finding an empty spot if you don’t come early enough.
Alternatively, you can walk across the rocks to the right side of the beach. The sand strip here is a bit narrow so it’s best to go there during low tide.
Pereybere is also a prime spot for sunset watching. There are several bars and restaurants lining the beach, making it the perfect spot for a sundowner.
Facilities available include toilets, changing rooms, food trucks, and a parking lot. There’s also a supermarket within walking distance.
Hotels nearby: Le Beachclub ($$), La Perla Holiday Apartments ($)
Flic en Flac
West | Location on Google Maps
Flic en Flac is the second most popular place to stay in Mauritius after Grand Baie thanks to its huge selection of accommodations for all budgets, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.
One of the best things to do in Flic en Flac is to spend the day at the beach but be sure to wear water shoes when swimming as there are a few dead corals in the water.
At sunset, the sky turns into a gorgeous mix of orange and pink, making it one of the best places to watch sunset in Mauritius.
There are a few food stalls on the beach and along the main road. My favorite place to eat in Flic en Flac is Roti AKA Vinoda which serves delicious rotis with vegetable or meat curries.
Note that Flic en Flac is usually busy on the weekends so come early to get a spot in the shade.
Facilities available include a parking lot, toilets, and changing rooms.
Hotels nearby: Sugar Beach ($$$), Le Tribord ($)
Ile aux Cerfs
East | Location on Google Maps
Ile aux Cerfs is one of the best beaches for swimming in Mauritius, featuring beautiful white sand and calm shallow water.
Apart from swimming, you can do a bunch of activities on the island like snorkeling, parasailing, water skiing, undersea walk, tube ride, the list goes on.
The island also features a 19 holes golf course, two restaurants, and a small market selling clothes and souvenirs.
The cheapest way to get to Ile aux Cerfs is to take a taxi boat from Trou D’Eau Douce or Pointe Maurice Jetty, which should take about 20 minutes.
Alternatively, you can book a speedboat tour or catamaran cruise which includes a BBQ lunch and drinks and a visit to GRSE Waterfall.
Another option is to book a 5 island tour by speedboat if you want to visit other nearby islands like Ile aux Aigrettes, Ile aux Phares, Ile de La Passe, and Ile aux Flamants.
As one of the most popular tourist attractions in Mauritius, Ile aux Cerfs can feel crowded, especially on the weekends. But if you venture away from the dock area, you’ll find a few secluded beaches.
Tours may also sell out during the peak season, so it’s best to book in advance.
Hotels nearby: Bubble Lodge Ile aux Cerfs ($$$)
Belle Mare
East | Location on Google Maps
Lined with luxury resorts mostly aimed at couples and honeymooners, Belle Mare is considered the most exclusive beach destination in Mauritius.
It does get busy on the weekends but since the beach is super long, you won’t have any trouble finding an empty spot to lay your towel.
I recommend wearing water shoes as there are some dead corals in the water but the beach directly in front of Sunrise Attitude is slightly better for swimming.
The Belle Mare lagoon is also home to stunning corals and colorful fish, so don’t forget your masks and snorkels.
Along the beach, you’ll find local operators offering watersport activities like parasailing, tube ride, undersea walk, and glass-bottom boat trips.
If you need to buy food, there are a few food stalls along the beach or you can head to one of the restaurants along the main road (Chinese Gourmet serves delicious Mauritian and Chinese dishes, btw).
You’ll find several parking lots along the beach as well as changing rooms and toilets.
One thing to note is that Belle Mare, along with all the beaches on the east and southeast coasts are subject to the southeast trade winds.
This means that it can be a bit windy and cold during the winter months, especially between June and September.
Hotels nearby: Constance Belle Mare Plage ($$$), Sunrise Attitude ($$), Solana Beach Hotel ($$)
Palmar
East | Location on Google Maps
Palmar Beach isn’t as popular as the neighboring Belle Mare Beach, so if you want to avoid the crowds, this is the place to go.
This is my favorite beach for swimming on the east coast of Mauritius. The sand is soft and the water crystal-clear, making it great for snorkeling.
There’s a hotel nearby that offers kayaks for rent to the public for about Rs 500 per person. They also offer snorkeling and glass-bottom boat trips.
There aren’t a lot of options for food nearby apart from a small fruit stall, so I recommend packing a picnic lunch. Near the entrance, you’ll find a parking lot, toilet, and changing room.
Hotels nearby: Ambre Resort ($$$) Salt of Palmar ($$), Veranda Palmar ($$)
St Felix
St Felix is one of the most developed beaches on the south coast.
It features a huge parking lot, restaurants, and food trucks selling street food and ice cream.
Thanks to the crystal-clear, stunning corals, and abundance of colorful fish, it’s one of the best snorkeling spots on the island.
I would just recommend wearing water shoes as there are a few stones along the shore.
Hotels nearby: Shanti Maurice ($$$), Outrigger ($$)
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