Trou aux Biches, Mont Choisy, Pointe aux Piments: the northern beaches

Fifteen minutes from Grand Baie, the coast changes character. Villages give way to long beaches, and the hotels sit on the sand rather than among the shops. This is the part of the north I recommend to families and to anyone coming primarily for the sea.

Trou aux Biches: the best lagoon in the north

Clear water, sandy bottom, reef close in. It is one of the few places on the island where you can snorkel without taking a boat, and most of the north’s dive centres are based here.

The village is more spread out and quieter than Grand Baie, with a long shaded public beach.

• Le Palmiste Resort & Spa, from 86 € a night. The cheapest address in my whole northern catalogue. Three stars, a few minutes from the beach.
• Casuarina Resort & Spa, from 129 €. Three stars, with the charm of low buildings buried in greenery.

Everything I offer here is on the Trou aux Biches page.

Mont Choisy: three kilometres of sand

The longest beach in the north, a wide arc lined with filao trees. There is enough room that nobody is on top of anybody, even on Sundays when Mauritian families come to picnic — and that Sunday is worth seeing.

The lagoon stays shallow a long way out. It is one of the few places in the north where children can paddle without being watched every second.

• Mystik Life Style Hotel, from 169 €.
• Mon Choisy Beach Resort, from 169 €.
• Coral Azur Beach Resort, from 229 €.

These three sit within a few hundred metres of each other on the same beach. What separates them is the meal plan and the age of the buildings rather than the location. Ask me and I will tell you which fits what you are after.

See also the Mont Choisy page.

Pointe aux Piments: the north without the noise

A stretch of coast between Trou aux Biches and Balaclava, quieter than its neighbours. The lagoon is shallow, with a few passes where you can snorkel. The Mauritius aquarium is here and, further south, the Balaclava ruins.

No nightlife, a few shops along the coast road. The hotels tend to have more grounds than in Grand Baie.

• Ocean’s Creek Beach Hotel, from 159 €. Four stars.
• Le Jadis Beach Resort & Wellness, from 699 €. Five stars on a large estate — the most expensive address in my catalogue, and one for people who want space above all.

A little further south, at Balaclava, The Ravenala Attitude from 319 €: a very large four-star resort, which makes it a practical choice for groups and larger families.

And towards Anse la Raie, Lagoon Attitude from 289 €, four stars built around the lagoon and snorkelling.

Choosing between the three

You are coming to swim and dive: Trou aux Biches, without hesitation. The best lagoon in the north.

You are coming with children: Mont Choisy. Long beach, shallow water, shade.

You want space and quiet: Pointe aux Piments or Balaclava.

And if you prefer life to long beaches, Grand Baie, Pereybere or Cap Malheureux is what you want — I have written a separate guide to that part of the coast.

Excursions from this coast

You are ideally placed for the northern sea trips: Ilot Gabriel, the northern islets, Ile d’Ambre. All of them collect you at your hotel.

On land, Pamplemousses is fifteen minutes away and Port Louis half an hour: see which northern day tour to choose.