Mahébourg and the south east: Blue Bay, islets and history

A town with real local life

Founded under French rule and named after the governor Mahé de La Bourdonnais, Mahébourg has a grid of old streets, small shops and a long **waterfront promenade** looking across the lagoon to Lion Mountain. It feels like a working Mauritian town rather than a resort area, which is its charm. On Mondays the **market** fills the centre with produce, fabrics, household goods and street food, and is one of the liveliest on the island.

History

The bay was the scene of the **Battle of Grand Port** in 1810, the only French naval victory recorded on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, before the British took the island later that year. The **National History Museum**, in an old colonial house at the edge of town, holds relics of the battle, ship bells from wrecks and early maps. A few kilometres north, **Vieux Grand Port** is where the Dutch first settled in 1638; the **Frederik Hendrik Museum** shows the ruins and story of that settlement. Out in the lagoon, the fort on **Île de la Passe** guarded the reef pass during the battle.

Blue Bay Marine Park

Just south of town, **Blue Bay** is a protected lagoon of shallow coral gardens, with some of the best snorkelling in Mauritius. Glass-bottom boats leave from the beach, and the sand is soft and the water calm. Wear reef-safe sun cream, do not stand on coral and do not feed the fish. **Pointe d'Esny**, between Mahébourg and Blue Bay, has a beautiful quiet beach and lagoon.

Île aux Aigrettes

This small coral islet is a nature reserve where conservationists have restored native coastal forest. Guided tours, run by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, show pink pigeons, giant Aldabra tortoises, rare plants and geckos, and explain how the island's wildlife was saved. Tours leave by boat from Pointe Jérôme and need to be booked ahead.

Food and walks

Do not leave without trying manioc biscuits from **Biscuiterie Rault**, a family business still baking them in the traditional way. The waterfront has snack stalls for gateaux piments, samoussas and fresh juice. Fit walkers can climb **Lion Mountain** for views over the lagoon, and the **Ferney Valley** has guided walks in native forest.

Where to stay and getting around

Mahébourg has guesthouses and apartments, while Blue Bay and Pointe d'Esny have villas and a few resorts. Its closeness to the airport makes it ideal for the first or last night of a trip. Buses link the town with the airport area, Curepipe and Port Louis, and taxis are easy to find in the centre. In winter, the south east trade winds can make the coast breezy and cooler. See our places to visit list for more, and use the free trip planner to fit it in.

Who will love it

Mahébourg suits travellers who want local life over resort polish, snorkellers who want Blue Bay on their doorstep, history lovers and anyone with an early or late flight. It is quieter in the evenings than the north, so come for calm rather than nightlife, and plan dinners early, as many small places close soon after dark.