South Coast
The island’s wildest coast, with cliffs at Gris Gris and the resort area of Bel Ombre.
Hero image: jokin.lacalle, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The South Coast runs from Bel Ombre east through Saint Félix and Riambel to Souillac and the cliffs at Gris Gris. In places the reef is broken and the swell reaches the shore, most dramatically at Gris Gris, and the coast is generally less developed than the north, east or west.
Bel Ombre is the main resort area, set between the sea and the forested hills of the south-west; Souillac is a small town with a seafront garden, and the beaches between them are quieter and more local in character.
South Coast at a glance
- Main places
- Bel Ombre, Saint Félix, Riambel, Souillac, Gris Gris
- From Port Louis
- South across the plateau or around the west coast
- Suggested stay
- Three to seven nights
- Best time
- Year-round; winter brings bigger southern swell
- Landscape
- Cliffs, open sea, cane fields and forested hills
- Signature drive
- The coast road from Bel Ombre to Souillac
Where to stay and what to book
Places to stay
In this South Coast guide
Why visit the South Coast
The South Coast suits travellers who want space and a quieter, greener setting, with the south-west’s nature — Chamarel and the Black River Gorges — within reach.
It is not the place for nightlife or walkable restaurants, and swimming is limited to reef-sheltered stretches. Expect a resort- or car-based stay.
Our South Coast destination guides: Bel Ombre.
Main towns and places
Bel Ombre
The south coast’s main resort area, set on a reef-protected beach between the sea and the forested hills of a former sugar estate.
Souillac & Gris Gris
A small coastal town near the Gris Gris cliffs, where the reef is broken and waves reach the shore, with Rochester Falls inland.
Saint Félix & Riambel
Quieter beaches between Bel Ombre and Souillac, including the public beach at Saint Félix, with a small number of hotels and guesthouses.
The wild south
At Gris Gris, near Souillac, the reef gives way and waves break against black basalt cliffs; nearby, La Roche qui Pleure is a rocky point where the sea surges through the rocks. These are places to look, not to swim.
Getting there and around
The South Coast is reasonably close to the airport via the south-east. From Port Louis and the north it is a longer drive across the plateau or around the west coast.
A hire car is the most practical way to explore; buses run along the coast road but are infrequent.
Best time to visit
The south is warm year-round. In the cooler months the trade winds and southern swell are strongest, and the coast is at its wildest. The summer months are hotter and include the cyclone season.
Destination guides
- Bel Ombre — The south coast’s main resort area, between sea and forested hills.
Nearby regions
South-East CoastHistoric Mahébourg and the Blue Bay lagoon, the closest coastal base to the international airport.Explore South-East Coast 
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 Read next
- Where to stay on the South Coast of Mauritius
- Self-drive Mauritius
- Chamarel guide
- 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 South 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 South Coast to choose an area, then browse South Coast accommodation and Mauritius tours and activities.