The north coast of Mauritius is an absolutely universal destination. It will be good not only for divers or lovers of a lazy beach holiday, but also for party-goers who cannot imagine their vacation without nightclubs or, conversely, fans of silence. The main thing is to know the places. As for diving, it is difficult to miscalculate here: there are a lot of worthy dive sites scattered around the entire coast. Solitude should be sought in the area of the resorts of Cap-Maleret and Grand Gaube. But for entertainment – a direct road to Grand Baie. And it’s better not to the surrounding beaches, but to the bay itself, where most of the shops, restaurants and nightclubs are located. Finally, if tourists take out and put white sand, azure waters and other lyrics, then it’s better than the beaches of Pereybere and Trou aux Biches. In addition, holidays in the north of the country, regardless of the resort, will be seasoned with a lot of opportunities for water sports and a good range of attractions.
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Will it be too little? No question: off the northern coast of Mauritius there is a whole group of picturesque islands: Cuen de Mir, Ile Rond, Gabriel, Ile Plat, Ile d’Ambre and the island of the Serpent. All of them are famous for their untouched tropical nature, rich underwater and surface wildlife. The pearl of this collection, Ile Plat, completely empty (except for the lighthouse), is considered an ideal viewing platform for admiring the ocean and its surroundings. A beneficial addition to the visual effects on it is a full range of water sports: diving, snorkeling, water skiing, swimming, fishing for big fish.
Transport on the north coast of Mauritius
Since the resorts of the northern coast of Mauritius are located closest to Port Louis, there are no problems with bus service here. From the capital there are daily buses to Cap Malheure via Mont Choisy, Trou aux Biches and Grand Baie, stopping every 500 m along the beach line. Taxi from Mont Choisy – Trou aux Biches to Grand Baie will cost 250 MUR, to Port Louis – 350 MUR, to the airport – 900 MUR. From Grand Baie, it is easy to get to the Pamplemousses Garden on your own: buses leave there every hour. A taxi there and back plus the waiting time will cost the tourist 1000 MUR.
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Cap Maleray (Cape of Failures) is not only a picturesque resort, but also a part of the country’s history: it was here in the distant 1810 that the British defeated the French and finally took possession of the island.
However, many believe (and the sports editors of Subtleties cannot but agree with this) that the best way to travel around the resort is by bike. You can take two-wheeled friends not for hire both in the center of Grand Baie and in almost every hotel (100-150 MUR per day).
A taxi from Grand Gaube to Port Louis costs 500 MUR, Grand Baie – 300 MUR, airport – 1000 MUR.
A taxi from Cap Malheuret to Port Louis will cost 600 MUR, the airport – 1000 MUR.
There is no direct bus service from this part of the island to the airport: you need to get there with a transfer in the capital or catch a taxi.
Beaches on the north coast of Mauritius
The Pointe aux Piments area is interesting for its rocky coves, relative peace, turquoise lagoons and its aquarium, where non-divers can observe the underwater life of the Indian Ocean in all its glory for a moderate fee. Starting from Pointe aux Pimentes and further south to Balaklava, chic hotel complexes stretch, which can only be reached by taxi (300-350 MUR from Port Louis): buses do not go there.
Cap Malheureux (Cape Malheureux) is not only a picturesque resort, but also a part of the country’s history: it was here in the distant 1810 that the British defeated the French and finally took possession of the island, making it their next colony. However, the name of the resort did not come from this historical event at all, but from the crashed boats found in huge numbers near the cape. Rest here is preferred by lovers of solitude, silence and picturesque views. The rugged, rocky coastline of Cap Malheuret has a small number of pretty beaches where, with a bit of luck, you can go all day without seeing a soul. Of course, we are not talking about some kind of developed entertainment industry outside the territory of hotels.
Grand Gaube is the end of the tourist infrastructure of northern Mauritius, literally. Located 6 km from Cap Malheuret, this resort boasts sparsely populated corners, deserted beaches and just a couple of hotels. Further, from Grand Gaube to the resorts of central-eastern Mauritius, Belle Mare and Trou d’Eau Douce, there are no beaches.
Entertainment and attractions of the northern coast of Mauritius
Relaxing in the resorts of northern Mauritius and not going on an excursion to Port Louis is just as stupid as not visiting the Pamplemousses botanical garden located next to the capital. It is interesting for its giant water lilies and a collection of plants from which spices are made. A few kilometers away is the gallery L’Aventure du Sucre – an old building of a sugar factory, today turned into a museum that tells about the colonial history of Mauritius. An authentic gift shop and Le Fangourin restaurant with traditional Mauritian cuisine are included.
In Turtle Bay, it is worth visiting the ruins of the French arsenal of Balaklava, part of which is today located on the territory of the Maritim Hotel.
Diving on the north coast of Mauritius
The north coast attracts divers from all over the world. This is not surprising: it combines the optimal balance of dive sites for beginners and professionals, wrecks and caves, diverse flora and fauna. The most spectacular diving is at the islands of Ile Plat and Cuen de Mir. The local dive site in the northwest of Ile Plata, La Fosse aux Requins, is famous for its impressive shark population. Can de Mira, on the other hand, has coral-rich landscapes (The Wall and Carpenters) and even one wreck, the Djabeda, a Japanese vessel lying at a depth of 30 m.
Further west to Trou aux Biches, there are many more worthy dive sites: basalt rocks of volcanic origin with crevices and grottoes Peter Holt’s Rock (18 m), Lobster Rock for beginners (20 m), and Tombant de la Pointe aux Canonniers for “pros” (they dive to 32-60 m). Also popular are the Caravelle, Crosaire Wall and Kingfish, as well as the wreck, the 45m Stella Maru, a Japanese fishing boat that sank in 1987.
To the north, from Grand Baie to Grand Gaube stretch the sites of Bain Boeuf with beautiful corals, standing on the stern of the Silver Star wreck flooded in 1992 and Pointe Vacoas (Cape Vacoa).
