Every beach in Mauritius is public: no one can keep you off the sand or out of the lagoon, even in front of the big resorts. So the real question is not "where are we allowed to go" but "how do we get there", and that is where a car changes everything. The finest beaches are scattered across all four coasts, often far from bus routes, and the best hours (early morning, late afternoon) rarely match hotel shuttle timetables.
Here is our coast-by-coast selection, with everything worth knowing before you load the towels into the boot.
The north: Mont Choisy, Trou aux Biches and Pereybère
This is the classic triangle : for good reason. Mont Choisy unrolls almost two kilometres of white sand lined with casuarina trees, with generous shaded parking along the coastal road. Trou aux Biches, more intimate, offers the area's best snorkelling just a few strokes from shore: arrive before 10 am to park easily. Pereybère, a deep little bay loved by Mauritian families, comes alive at weekends with ice-cream and candied-pineapple vendors.
By car the three beaches chain together in under twenty minutes along the B13: one morning is enough to try them all and pick your favourite.
The west: Flic-en-Flac, Tamarin and Le Morne
Flic-en-Flac boasts one of the island's longest ribbons of sand, facing spectacular sunsets: the casuarina-shaded car park fills up on Sundays, the local families' picnic day. Further south, Tamarin keeps its surf-village soul: dolphins regularly visit the bay at dawn. Finally, the public beach at Le Morne, beneath the UNESCO-listed mountain, is arguably the most beautiful swimming backdrop in Mauritius, with kitesurfers dancing offshore.
Allow 45 minutes between Flic-en-Flac and Le Morne on the A3 coastal road: one of the island's finest drives, best in late afternoon when the light turns the mountain golden.
The south: Blue Bay, Gris-Gris and the wild beaches
Blue Bay, near Mahébourg, is the snorkelling spot par excellence: its protected marine park shelters corals you can admire with a simple mask or from a glass-bottom boat. At the other extreme, Gris-Gris in Souillac is not a swimming beach: waves crash against black cliffs with no protective reef : a raw landscape well worth the detour, especially combined with the nearby Roche qui Pleure.
Between the two, the south coast strings together near-deserted coves (St Félix, Riambel) where you will often be alone on weekdays. This is the south at its best, and without a car, it is simply out of reach.
The east: Belle Mare, Palmar and Île aux Cerfs
The east coast has the finest sand and the most turquoise lagoon in Mauritius. Belle Mare and Palmar stretch for kilometres, with calm water that is ideal in the morning (the wind often picks up after lunch, especially from June to September). From Trou d'Eau Douce, shuttle boats reach Île aux Cerfs in twenty minutes: park in the village and negotiate the crossing on the spot.
Tip: the east is diagonally opposite the northern and western hotel zones. By car it is a 1 h to 1 h 15 drive: leave early and make it a full day out, Flacq market included.
Our practical tips for beach days by car
- Parking at public beaches is free almost everywhere: look for casuarina shade and leave nothing visible inside the car.
- At weekends Mauritian families picnic on the popular beaches (Mont Choisy, Flic-en-Flac, Blue Bay): great atmosphere, but arrive early to park.
- In the austral winter (June-September), favour the north and west coasts, better sheltered from the trade winds than the east.
- The most beautiful light is before 9 am and after 4 pm: a car is precisely what lets you be there at the right time.
- Carry water and sunscreen: some southern beaches have no shop or beach vendor at all.
A week in Mauritius is enough to sample all four coasts: provided you have wheels. Shortlist the beaches that tempt you, group them by region, and leave room for the unexpected: it is often the little cove glimpsed from the road that becomes the best memory of the trip.