Best Places to Visit in North Mauritius
North Mauritius is famous for its white-sand beaches, lively villages, and great hotels. This is the list of the best places in North Mauritius you must visit while vacationing there. Explore the northwest coast on a road trip, and visit places such as Port Louis, Grand Baie, Cap Malheureux, Pamplemousses Botanical Garden, and much more.
North Mauritius is well-developed and particularly the northwest part of the island features astonishing beaches, plenty of things to do, and a large variety of accommodation for families, honeymooners, luxury travelers, and even backpackers.
From dipping your toes in the Indian Ocean, enjoying the panoramic views of the fine sand beaches to immersing yourself in a tropical botanical garden, North Mauritius is a mixed bag of a perfect landscape, laidback villages, and friendly people.
The northeast is less developed, less traveled, and there are fewer things to do - great for travelers looking to explore off the beaten path.
Does this sound exactly like something you are looking for?
Great, you should be able to find fine hotels in this area too, which might be an excellent way to get away from the crowds gathering on the northwest coast.
Simply put, North Mauritius is always a great place to base yourself for a holiday.
As we decided to stay in Flic en Flac that lies on the west coast of the island, we visited the northern part of Mauritius on several occasions on day trips from our base.
Today, we are going to explore three North Mauritius districts - Port Louis, Pamplemousses, and Riviere Du Rempart.
Let’s start this ultimate trip with plenty of worthwhile stops along the way.
TOP PLACES IN NORTH MAURITIUS
Wherever you go in Mauritius, you will find natural beauty, laid back villages, and amazing beaches.
We've already covered top places in South Mauritius (so don't forget to check out this article too), and the upper part of the island has sure its charm and must-visit places as well, although we liked the southern counterpart for its breathtaking landscape a bit more.
Let's dive into it!
GRAND BAIE
A coastal village Grand Baie also known as Grand Bay is one of the best places to visit in Mauritius.
Arguably, it's the most popular place with visitors who love great beaches, water activities, vibrant nightlife, or exciting boat trips. Sunny weather, beautiful beaches, and calm sea make from Grand Baie the perfect place to spend your holiday in Mauritius.
There is a large modern shopping mall, local bazaar (market), golf course, and a lot of things to do.
Try fun activities such as undersea walk - it's called Solar Sea Walk here in Grand Baie - where you walk along the sea bed while tropical fish swim around you, scuba dive, play golf, try deep-sea fishing or sail to Northern Islets on a catamaran.
The public beach in Grand Baie is nothing to write home about, but drive a little bit further (doesn't matter if south or north), and you will shortly find much nicer beaches. The whole village is packed with hotels, resorts, and villas, and you should quickly be able to find suitable accommodation regardless of your budget.
From Port Louis, it takes about 30 minutes to get to Grand Baie by car, mind you, this is the fastest route. If you want to drive along the coast, which is a more scenic road, add at least another 30 minutes to your total travel time.
PORT LOUIS
The most populous city in Mauritius is the vibrant capital, Port Louis.
The city was founded in the 17th century during the colonial era and played an important role during this period due to its strategic location in the Indian Ocean.
And of course, thanks to its past, there are many things to see and do.
From the colonial fort that sits on the top of the hill and overlooks the city, modern waterfront packed with shops and restaurants, to the museum featuring the most famous stamp in the world, Port Louis is the perfect place to start your road trip around North Mauritius.
Two Pence Blue and Red One-Penny Stamps are the symbols of the island, and the Blue Penny Museum, which is the official name of this landmark, is definitely worth a visit.
Don't forget to wander around the local market, Caudan waterfront, Chinatown, Jummah Mosque, Aapravasi Ghat, The Citadel, or a horse racecourse while in the city.
Also, the Port Louis' tourist area is very compact, and it's easy to cover the best sights and attractions on foot. And unlike many other towns and villages on the island, Port Louis will keep you busy for at least several hours or a whole day.
So, park your car near the waterfront, and start exploring Port Louis!
PAMPLEMOUSSES BOTANICAL GARDEN
The official name of the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden is Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden (named after the leader of Mauritius' independent movement who became later the first prime minister of the country), and your trip to Mauritius wouldn't be complete without a visit to this incredible place.
We love to visit tropical botanical gardens around the world, as they are so different from those we have here in Europe.
Pamplemousses Botanical Garden is a great introduction to Mauritius's flora, and you will see some amazing native and introduced plants there.
You don't need a guide to walk around the area, however, we recommend you to hire one at the entrance gate. The tour is fairly short and inexpensive, and you will learn a lot of new things about the local plants and trees.
With a long history reaching back into the colonial era, Pamplemousses Botanical Garden is a must-visit place while touring North of Mauritius.
The principal reason to visit this extraordinary botanical garden is a plant called Victoria Amazonica, also known as a giant water lily. But there is much more to see. Pamplemousses Botanical Garden features Baobab trees, Geiger trees, dozens of palm trees, endemic and introduced wild plants and spices, deers, turtles, or fruit bats.
The botanical garden lies only 12 kilometers from Port Louis, and there is a big parking lot in front of the entrance.
BEACHES
Mauritius' beaches are so beautiful, and there is no denying that. For many visitors, stunning beaches are the main reason to come to Mauritius in the first place.
Pereybere Beach, Mont Choisy Beach, Trou Aux Biches Beach, Ponte Aux Piments, Balaclava Beach, these are just a few names of the best beaches in North Mauritius.
Some of the famous beaches are pretty long, and we really enjoyed walking along the sandy stretch of heaven.
Don't forget to pack a strong sunscreen with high SPF.
In general, the beaches in Mauritius are very clean, and lazing on one of those beaches is a lot of fun. Of course, you may find litter strewn around the bushes if you look closely. Private beaches in front of the resorts are extremely clean.
CAP MALHEUREUX
The northernmost point of Mauritius features stunning views of Coin de Mire (Gunner's Quoin) and one of the top attractions on the whole island, the famous Red Church.
Despite the stunning beauty of this place, the word 'malheureux' means unfortunate in English, and the cape got its name after many ships hit the treacherous rocks in the shallow waters and sunk near the northern edge.
Nowadays, this picture-postcard place attracts visitors from all around Mauritius who can't leave the island without getting a perfect shot of the church with the sea in the background. The full name of the church is Notre Dame Auxiliatrice Chapel, and the vivid red roof highly contrasts with the blue waters of the Indian Ocean.
The northernmost tip is about two minutes' drive from the church, and you may want to make another stop there.
CHATEAU DE LABOURDONNAIS
Built in 1859, this wonderfully restored Chateau De Labourdonnais will take you back in time into a colonial-era of the 19th century.
Take a guided tour around the mansion, taste local rum, explore the beautifully kept gardens and grounds, and immerse yourself in a different era.
There are many comparable colonial houses you may visit in Mauritius such as Eureka in central Mauritius, or Le Plantation de Saint Aubin in the south part of the island. They are not that different and offer a very similar experience, so if short on time, a visit to one or two colonial houses should be more than enough.
And how do you get to Chateau De Labourdonnais?
Drive about 6 kilometers northeast from Pamplemousses botanical garden, and you will arrive in Chateau De Labourdonnais in less than 10 minutes.
WHERE TO STAY IN MAURITIUS
Before booking a hotel, you should consider one thing, which area of the island suits your interests the best and where do you want to spend your vacation. Another option would be to stay a couple of nights in one place, then move to somewhere else, stay put for a few days, and repeat the process; this is perfectly feasible if you have a car.
North Mauritius boasts with an excellent range of great hotels, although it's not that easy to find a cheap hostel with good ratings. Luxury hotels are usually well-rated, though the prices for a room are very high.
We've selected the best hotels in popular towns along the northwestern coast, and on top of that, we've included a single hotel in the northeast part of the island.
Grand Baie | Garden Villas - Located on the way to Pointe Aux Cannoniers, Garden Villas offers a quiet location close to the beach, great facilities, amazing views over the bay, and very clean rooms.
Pointe Aux Biches | Voile Bleue Boutique Hotel - The air-conditioned rooms are spacious, clean, and equipped with kitchenette. Staff is very helpful, the hotel has an excellent location, outdoor pool, and a great on-site restaurant. One of the best values in the area.
Pereybere | Toparadis Guest House - Great location close to the ocean, restaurants or a bus stop, free parking on site, outdoor swimming pool, air-conditioned rooms, and friendly staff.
Poste De Flacq | Constance Prince Maurice - Situated in the northeastern part of Mauritius, this luxury hideaway features a floating restaurant, secluded beach, spacious air-conditioned suites, wellness centre, and spa.
HOW TO GET AROUND
We rented a car in Mauritius and based on our experience we think that's the best way to get around the island.
As public transport is not that reliable plus it is pretty slow, a rental a car gives you the freedom to fully explore the island to its full potential, and most importantly, it will save you a lot of valuable time.
Being said that, the public bus runs around the northern coast, and you might give it a try, especially on a day, when you want to get just to the beach and back, or in general if your vacation is purely focused on relaxation.
If you want to visit for example five or six places in a day, then the bus is not a very good option.
Getting around Mauritius by taxi is usually expensive, but you can hire a driver for a day, and talk with him about the place you would like to visit.
Booking a private full-day tour around North Mauritius is a great way to explore the best attractions in the area while not worrying about the traffic or public transport.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
HOW MANY DAYS YOU NEED FOR NORTH MAURITIUS
You are going to need at least three to five full days to explore North Mauritius.
Many travelers decide to base themselves in the northwest part of the island as there are plenty of hotels and great beaches. And if you will follow their footsteps, you won't have to plan your trips around the north so carefully and save some travel time.
However, it will take you more time to get to the south coast and visit incredible places such as Chamarel 7-Colored Earth or Gris Gris.
As we've already mentioned above, we made a compromise and decided to stay in Central Mauritius. During our stay, we made several day trips to the north part of the island, and everything went smoothly.
Allow yourself at least a day for Port Louis (half-day is a bare minimum), 2-4 hours for Pamplemousses Botanical Garden, and another day to drive along the northwest coast to visit the best beaches and Cap Malheureux.
Then add an extra day or two just for the beaches.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
