You can cross Mauritius in two hours, yet every coast has its own character. Here are five day loops, doable from anywhere on the island — all you need is a car and a not-too-late start.
1. The far north: beaches and Creole villages
Grand Baie → Pereybère → Cap Malheureux (the red-roofed church facing Flat Island) → Grand Gaube. A day of turquoise beaches, with a grilled-fish lunch stop in Grand Gaube. Wide roads, easy driving: perfect for your first rental day.
2. The west: Flic en Flac to Le Morne
Flic en Flac → Tamarin (the surfers' bay, with dolphins at sunrise) → La Preneuse → Le Morne Brabant, the UNESCO-listed mountain plunging into the lagoon. Stay for sunset on Le Morne public beach — one of the finest in the Indian Ocean.
3. The wild south: cliffs and rum
Souillac → Gris Gris and its weeping rock (the only coast without a lagoon, facing open waves) → lunch at Saint-Aubin or the Chamarel rum distillery → return via Baie du Cap on the island's most spectacular coastal road. Allow extra time: you will stop every kilometre for the views.
4. Chamarel and the highlands
Seven Coloured Earths → Chamarel waterfall → Black River Gorges (viewpoints and hikes) → Grand Bassin, the sacred Hindu lake with its giant statues. Narrow, twisting mountain roads: this is where an SUV earns its keep, and where the courtesy horn before blind bends makes sense.
5. The east and south-east: lagoons and history
Mahébourg (Monday market, naval museum) → Blue Bay and its marine park (bring a snorkel) → Pointe d'Esny → up the coast to Belle Mare. This is the coast with the island's clearest lagoons — and a welcome breeze in the austral summer.
One last tip: everything looks close on the map, but village crossings pull the average right down. Reckon on a true 40 km/h average off the motorway and leave before 9am — you will have the best spots to yourself.