North Coast
Sheltered lagoon beaches, the island’s liveliest resort town and boat trips to the northern islets.
Hero image: Z thomas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The North Coast of Mauritius runs from Balaclava and Pointe aux Piments on the north-west shore, past Trou aux Biches, Mont Choisy and Grand Baie, to Pereybère, Cap Malheureux and Grand Gaube at the island’s northern tip. It has the largest concentration of accommodation on the island and the widest choice of restaurants and activities.
Its beaches face west and north, sheltered from the prevailing south-east trade winds, which keeps the lagoon calm for much of the year. Inland, the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden at Pamplemousses is the region’s best-known sight, and Port Louis is close enough for a day trip.
North Coast at a glance
- Main places
- Grand Baie, Pereybère, Trou aux Biches, Mont Choisy, Cap Malheureux, Pamplemousses
- From Port Louis
- North via the M2 motorway and the coast road
- Suggested stay
- Four to seven nights
- Best time
- May to December; sheltered in winter
- Landscape
- Flat coastal plain, sheltered lagoons, offshore islets
- Signature drive
- The coast road from Pointe aux Piments to Grand Gaube
Where to stay and what to book
Places to stay
In this North Coast guide
Why visit the North Coast
The North Coast suits travellers who want a beach holiday with plenty to do: walkable restaurants in Grand Baie and Pereybère, boat trips to the islets, diving and snorkelling, and easy day trips to the capital and the botanical garden.
It is also the busiest coast. If you want seclusion, look at the edges of the region — Balaclava and Pointe aux Piments to the south-west, or Grand Gaube to the east — and treat Grand Baie as a place to visit rather than stay.
Our North Coast destination guides: Grand Baie, Pereybère, Trou aux Biches & Mont Choisy, Pamplemousses.
Main towns and places
Grand Baie
The north coast’s main resort town, set around a sheltered bay with restaurants, shops, nightlife and boat departures for the northern islets. It has the widest choice of accommodation on the coast.
Pereybère
A small village just north of Grand Baie with a sheltered public beach in a cove, popular for swimming and snorkelling. Apartments and small hotels dominate.
Trou aux Biches & Mont Choisy
Long, gently shelving beaches on the north-west coast with a calm lagoon and sunset views; Mont Choisy’s public beach is one of the island’s longest.
Cap Malheureux & Grand Gaube
The northern tip of the island, with its red-roofed chapel and views to Coin de Mire, and quieter villages at Bain Boeuf, Anse la Raie, Calodyne and Grand Gaube.
Balaclava & Pointe aux Piments
A quieter stretch of the north-west coast around Baie aux Tortues (Turtle Bay), with resort hotels and the Balaclava Marine Park offshore.
Pamplemousses
An inland village best known for the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden and its giant water lilies, an easy half-day from the coast.
Islets and boat trips
Off the northern tip lie a group of islets, including Coin de Mire (Gunner’s Quoin), Île Plate and Îlot Gabriel. Catamaran and speedboat trips from Grand Baie and the north-coast hotels combine sailing, snorkelling and beach time; operators adjust routes to wind and swell.
Getting there and around
The airport at Plaine Magnien is in the south-east, so reaching the North Coast means crossing the island via the motorway through Port Louis. Allow for traffic around the capital at peak times.
Buses run along the coast road and to Port Louis. Taxis are easy to find in Grand Baie, and a hire car makes day trips simple.
Best time to visit
The cooler, drier months from about May to October are comfortable and the coast stays sheltered from the winter trade winds. Summer (about November to April) is hotter and more humid and includes the cyclone season.
Destination guides
- Grand Baie — The north coast’s busiest resort town, built around a sheltered bay.
- Pereybère — A small, popular public beach in a sheltered cove north of Grand Baie.
- Trou aux Biches & Mont Choisy — Long, gently shelving lagoon beaches on the north-west coast.
- Pamplemousses — The island’s historic botanical garden, famous for its giant water lilies.
Nearby regions
West & South-WestCalm lagoons and sunsets from Flic en Flac to Le Morne, with Chamarel and the Black River Gorges inland.Explore West & South-West 
Port Louis & Central PlateauThe capital’s markets and heritage sites, and the cooler towns and sacred lake of the uplands.Explore Port Louis & Central Plateau 
East CoastLong white-sand beaches, wide lagoons and boat trips to Île aux Cerfs, freshened by the trade winds.Explore East Coast Read next
- Where to stay on the North Coast of Mauritius
- Self-drive Mauritius
- Things to do in Mauritius
- All Mauritius destinations
Official sources
Opening hours, entry fees, boat and transport schedules, access rules and park conditions change; check the official source before you travel.
- Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) — official visitor information
- Mauritius Meteorological Services — forecasts, warnings and cyclone bulletins
Plan your North Coast trip
Choose a base, then use the destination guides to plan your days.
Where to stay, and what to book
Read where to stay in the North Coast to choose an area, then browse North Coast accommodation and Mauritius tours and activities.