Grand Baie and Trou-aux-Biches

Grand Baie is the busiest resort town in Mauritius, a sweeping bay filled with yachts and lined with boutiques, markets, cafés and restaurants, including Indian and vegetarian ones. It is also the starting point for many boat trips, parasailing and undersea walks.

A short drive down the coast, Trou-aux-Biches has one of the island’s loveliest public beaches: a long curve of white sand shaded by casuarina and palm trees, with a calm lagoon that is ideal for children and gentle swimmers. Mont Choisy, between the two, is another fine stretch of sand on the same coast.

Spend a lazy afternoon on the beach, then head to Grand Baie for shopping and dinner. Sunsets on this coast are excellent, and weekends bring Mauritian families out for picnics.