Photo: ABDEL KHAN via Google
The smart spend
- The routeTwo or three nights southwest at Le Morne and Flic en Flac, two on the east at Belle Mare, then the north at Trou aux Biches.
- Where to splurgeOne catamaran day to Ile aux Cerfs and the southeast lagoon.
- Where to saveSelf drive, eat where the locals do, and lean on the free public beaches rather than hotel sunbeds.
Published 12 March 2026. Last reviewed 11 April 2026
Mauritius is small enough to see properly in a week if you move once or twice rather than basing in a single resort. This route works around the island by coast, the wild southwest at Le Morne, the long calm sands of the east at Belle Mare, and the family friendly north around Trou aux Biches. Each coast has its own character, and switching bases beats a daily two hour drive.
For the value sceptic the good news is that every beach in Mauritius is public by law, so the famous sand is free even in front of the grand hotels. The cost sits in rooms, the catamaran trips and car hire, not the beach itself. A hire car is the single best value decision, opening up the whole island for the price of a couple of taxi rides. Prices are typical and best confirmed when you book.
The route, day by day
| Days | Base | Why you are there |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 3 | Southwest | Le Morne, Flic en Flac and Tamarin, the wild and scenic coast. |
| Days 4 to 5 | East | Belle Mare's long calm sand and the boat trip to Ile aux Cerfs. |
| Days 6 to 7 | North | Trou aux Biches and Mont Choisy, sunsets and easy swimming before flying home. |
Prices are typical guides and should be confirmed at the time of booking. Conditions are typical and never guaranteed.
Days 1 to 3, the southwest
Start on the dramatic coast. Le Morne sits under its UNESCO listed mountain and draws kite surfers to its windy lagoon, while Flic en Flac offers a long, easy sweep of sand and good snorkelling offshore. Tamarin rounds out the southwest with surf and a laid back village feel. Three nights here covers the island's wildest, most scenic stretch.
Days 4 to 5, the east
Cross to the calm east coast and Belle Mare, the longest beach on the island, white and gentle and made for slow days. From nearby Trou d'Eau Douce, take the catamaran to Ile aux Cerfs, a shallow, clear lagoon island reachable only by boat, and stop at Blue Bay marine park for the southeast's best snorkelling.
Days 6 to 7, the north
Finish in the busy, easy north. Trou aux Biches is calm, shallow and famous for its sunsets, and Mont Choisy nearby gives you a long arc of sand for a final lazy day. Grand Baie is the place for dinner and last boat trips before you fly home. See the best beaches in Mauritius to fill any gaps.
What it costs, and where to save
Because every beach is public and free, your spend goes on rooms, the catamaran day and the car, not on access to the sand. Self driving is the best value choice by far, since taxis add up quickly across an island this spread out. Eat at local tables rather than hotel restaurants, and the daily cost drops sharply without losing anything worth keeping.
What to skip. Skip the pricey hotel water sports you can usually arrange more cheaply on the beach itself, and skip basing in one resort for the whole week, which leaves you with long drives to the best beaches. The one trip worth paying for is the catamaran to Ile aux Cerfs, which almost everyone is glad they took.
Plan your day on the sand
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Plan it properly
Is 7 days enough for Mauritius?
Yes. Move once or twice by coast rather than staying in one resort, and a week is enough to see the wild southwest, the calm east and the easy north properly.
Do you need a car in Mauritius?
A hire car is the best value choice. Taxis add up fast across a spread out island, while a car opens the whole place up for little more than the cost of a couple of transfers.
Are the beaches in Mauritius free?
Yes, all beaches are public by law. The famous sand is free to use even in front of the grand hotels, so your money goes on rooms and trips rather than on beach access.
Is Ile aux Cerfs worth it?
Yes, as a catamaran day from the east coast. The shallow, clear lagoon and the boat trip itself make it the one paid excursion most visitors are genuinely glad they took.
Which coast is best?
The southwest for drama, the east for calm white sand, and the north for easy swimming and sunsets. This route does all three, which is the point of moving bases.
When is the best time to go?
Roughly May to December for drier, cooler weather. The southeast trade winds in those months also bring the conditions that suit kite surfing at Le Morne.