I had a brief sojourn in Mauritius in September of 2022 – a couple of days mostly tied up with office work, but it was long enough to capture the essence of this beautiful island nation. Running on a tight schedule, we had to smartly insert a few sightseeing activities, particularly the ones that fell on our work route.
Now, is it even possible that we were visiting Mauritius and leaving out its finest attraction – the dazzling beaches? So, while Mauritius offers plenty of other sights, each unique in its own way, here are my top picks in beaches. Have a look — I am sure you wouldn’t want to miss them either!
Flic en Flac Beach – A Picture-perfect Paradise
The first beach that quite took our breath away was the gorgeous Flic en Flac beach, the nearest one to our hotel. As quaint and intriguing as the name sounded, it perfectly captured the image of Mauritius we had been envisioning all along—miles of shallow, shimmering turquoise waters, a coastline hemmed in by wispy casuarina trees, and a shore scattered with beautiful shells and bits of coral.
Flic en Flac beach vibes
Sunbathers lay on the soft, white sand, while others enjoyed the cool breeze from beneath their sun loungers. Across the road, small restaurants offered fresh seafood, delectable Mauritian cuisine and free Wi-Fi, enticing visitors to their premises. Looking at the local populace at the beach, it seemed to us that Flic en Flac was the perfect spot for the whole family to unwind and spend a slow, quiet afternoon.
A Whale of a Time at Tamarin Bay
On our way back from a meeting we asked the car driver to suggest us an activity, something that would be close to our hotel.
“You could go dolphin watching,” he said thoughtfully. “Speedboats leave from Tamarin beach in the early mornings.”
We drove down to Tamarin beach to book our boat, and honestly, the first sight of the beach didn’t seem too inviting. It was an overcast day and without the sun, the water looked a dull grey. We were asked to report at 6.30 am the next day.
A grey day at Tamarin beach
Cute and colourful sights
“If the weather is good, you might see more than just one pod of dolphins,” said the speedboat owner, pocketing the fee.
We reached the beach sharp on time the next morning and waited a while for the rest of the people to turn up. The beach looked quite different that day. The sun was out and already a number of fishing and dolphin-sighting boats were bobbing up and down along the coast.
Early morning scene at Tamarin
Soon, we were out in the sea, the vast inky blue waters offset by the magnificent mountains looming large on the horizon. The boat ride was to be around 2.5 hours, and we were told that we could swim alongside the dolphins when they appeared. Not knowing a spot of swimming, I was happy to be just waiting for the dolphins.
But something else unfolded — something that left us speechless.
“Whales!” screamed our boat driver, over the roar of the engine and the music playing. “Mother and a calf!”
What followed can only be felt. I cannot even describe the thrill that I felt on seeing these wonderful creatures of the ocean, as they breached the water, moving in rhythmic motion. That classic flick of the tail as it hit the surface, the gentle, graceful dip back into the water, giving in a glimpse of their curving backs – memories that will forever remain etched in my mind.
Here’s a shaky video I took:
Then, just as the whale duo left, the dolphins appeared – in good numbers! They leapt and spun mid-air, frolicking in the water, as the people on our boat dove in to swim alongside them. Another exhilarating experience.
In the whole duration of the trip, we saw two types of dolphins – the bottle-nosed and the spinners, and the humpback whales. This is what I would describe as total paisa vasool!
The Various Facets of Le Morne
We were conversing with our local Mauritian contact when I casually asked him what his favourite part of the island was.
“Undoubtedly, it is Le Morne,” he said, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. “When I was a child, we used to drive down there for picnics.”
Our work over for the day, we asked our driver to take us to Le Morne. At that time, I had no idea that Le Morne was not just a beach. We drove through a scenic road, framed by the majestic Le Morne Brabant Mountain on one side and turquoise lagoons on the other.
The first halt was at Macondé Viewpoint – a stunning hairpin curve on the coastal road. Climbing up a flight of stairs, we were treated to a splendid view of the Indian Ocean — the gradient of water colours clearly visible, shifting from turquoise to indigo as the sunlight danced across its surface.
Macondé Viewpoint
After soaking in the beautiful view, we made our way to another part of Le Morne. We had completely entrusted our driver with the task of showing us around Le Morne, with no idea what the next stop would bring. It turned out to be a really shallow part of the lagoon where one could wade in ankle to knee deep water for miles on end. The sun was shining brightly, its light creating beautiful sparkling patterns on the water as the breeze blew over it, creating ripples ever so slightly.
We saw a few seaplanes parked on the water and learnt that people hired them to witness the world famous illusion that looks like a cascading submarine waterfall from the air. We didn’t have the time for it on this trip, but perhaps one day, I shall return just for that view.
Seaplane at the Le Morne lagoon
A Sporty Lagoon
Our next stop in Le Morne caught us completely off guard — we had seen nothing like it back in India. As we stepped out of the car and walked toward the beach, we were astonished to find the shoreline buzzing with what looked like hundreds of sails and parachutes! It was, in fact, a beach known for kitesurfing and windsurfing (or sailboarding/boardsailing) – sports we were witnessing for the first time.
Kitesurfers and Windsurfers Paradise
We watched on mesmerized as seasoned kitesurfers and windsurfers raced each other, the former showing off somersaults mid-air and landing perfectly on their feet. Later, we learnt that ideal wind and water conditions made the Le Morne lagoon one of the best wind sports destinations in the world.
The Grand Finale, or Not
The day was drawing to a close, the sun slowly descending toward the horizon. As a finale, we found ourselves on a quiet stretch of Le Morne beach with the grand Brabant mountain rising behind us, and waited to watch the sun set.
Families had spread out picnic mats and were relaxing under the shade of casuarina trees, just as our Mauritian friend had fondly remembered doing in his childhood. A little away, parents and children stood still with fishing rods, quietly anticipating a fish to take their bait. Others munched on goodies packed from home.
Beach along the Le Morne coast
Locals fishing – a favourite pastime
Meanwhile, Mauritius had shifted its mood. Just as the sun softened into a warm golden orb, ready to slip beneath the horizon, dark clouds began to gather above. The brilliant hues we had hoped for were swallowed by the thickening clouds; only faint embers of light filtered through, hinting at a sunset we could no longer see. There was no fiery crimson in the sky. Moments later, fat drops of rain landed on our heads, and we dashed toward the car for cover. The day had folded into a rainy evening.
The sunset that tried our patience
Looking back, I realise just how incredibly lucky we were during our short trip to Mauritius. Though much remained unexplored, the beaches alone had filled our hearts to the brim. Each one had its own personality and subtle charm, offering moments of joy and wonder. I hope you get the chance to travel to Mauritius someday — and that you will find yourself just as captivated by its beauty as we were. Happy travels!
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