Grand Baie and the north coast: beaches, boats and nightlife

Why stay in the north

The north is sheltered from the trade winds that blow on the east coast in winter, so the sea is usually calm and the weather often sunnier. It has the widest range of accommodation on the island, from apartments and guesthouses to big resorts, and the best choice of places to eat out. It is also close to Port Louis and the Pamplemousses garden for day trips.

Beaches

**Pereybère** is a small, sheltered public beach with clear water and fish right off the sand, lined with snack vans and cafés. **Mont Choisy** is a long curve of white sand shaded by casuarina trees, popular with local families at weekends. **Trou aux Biches** has calm, shallow water and soft sand, and is one of the best swimming beaches on the island. Grand Baie itself has a small public beach but is more about the bay and boats than the sand.

On the water

The classic day out is a catamaran trip to **Coin de Mire**, **Île Plate** and **Île Gabriel**, with snorkelling, a barbecue lunch and a swim in the lagoon between the islets. Choose a licensed operator, check life jackets and avoid days with strong winds. Grand Baie and Trou aux Biches are also the island's main dive centres, with gentle reefs for beginners and several wrecks. For something different, the **Blue Safari** submarine takes you below the surface without getting wet.

Sights nearby

At **Cap Malheureux**, the little red-roofed church of Notre Dame Auxiliatrice faces Coin de Mire across the water, a favourite photo at sunset. Inland, the **SSR Botanical Garden** at Pamplemousses has giant water lilies, talipot palms and spice trees, and next door **L'Aventure du Sucre** tells the island's sugar story in an old mill. **Château de Labourdonnais** is a restored colonial mansion with orchards and rum tastings. The **Maheswarnath Mandir** at Triolet is the largest Hindu temple complex on the island.

Food and nightlife

Grand Baie has the island's busiest night scene, centred on the main coast road with bars and live music. For dinner, you can choose seafood by the bay, Indian, creole or Chinese restaurants, or cheap fried noodles and dholl puri from roadside vans at Pereybère. La Croisette mall has restaurants and a cinema for rainy evenings.

Getting around

Buses run along the coast road between Grand Baie, Pereybère, Cap Malheureux and Port Louis, and taxis wait near the main junctions. Agree on taxi fares before you set off. Traffic into Port Louis can be heavy on weekday mornings.

Where to stay

Pereybère and Grand Baie suit travellers on a budget who want to walk to restaurants. Trou aux Biches and Mont Choisy are quieter with better beaches. Cap Malheureux and Calodyne are calm and close to the islets. See our places to visit list for stays and restaurants, and use the free trip planner to fit the north into your route.

When to go

The north is pleasant all year. From May to October it is drier and cooler, and the coast is sheltered from the strongest winds, which makes it a good winter base. From December to March it is hot and humid, with heavy showers and a cyclone risk, but the sea is warm and clear between storms. School holidays and the end of year bring the biggest crowds, so book stays early for December and August.