Grand Baie

Why Grand Baie works

Grand Baie is Mauritius's social heart on the coast: a horseshoe bay on the sheltered north shore where calm, shallow lagoon water makes it the island's natural base for watersports, from stand-up paddleboarding at dawn to sunset catamaran cruises that sail out toward Coin de Mire, a dramatic uninhabited islet whose silhouette anchors the view from nearly every beach along this stretch of coast. The town itself has grown into Mauritius's liveliest tourist hub, with a bayfront promenade lined by restaurants serving fresh-caught vindaye fish and rum-based cocktails, a lively Sunday market for spices and souvenirs, and dive centres running trips to nearby reef sites and, further out, whale and dolphin encounters off Trou aux Biches. La Cuvette public beach and the more manicured Mont Choisy nearby offer calmer, family-friendly alternatives to the busier central bay, both backed by casuarina trees that provide welcome shade through the middle of the day. Cap Malheureux, a short drive north, is famous for its small red-roofed church perched almost at the water's edge, one of the island's most photographed landmarks and a glimpse of a quieter fishing-village Mauritius just beyond the resort strip. Grand Baie works equally well as a full-stay base or as the lively counterpoint to a quieter south-coast resort on a two-centre Mauritius itinerary.

Trip Snapshot

Suitable For