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Mauritius🇲🇺 | beachesBelle MarePublic white sand, east-facing sunrise, casuarina picnics, Palmar walk | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Belle Mare
🏆 Top pickbeach ranked #3
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Belle Mare beach has a long, public stretch of white sand where you can walk for kilometers without ever paying for a sunbed. It sits on the east coast of Mauritius, roughly an hour’s drive from the capital Port Louis, facing the Indian Ocean. The sand is soft and clean, lined with casuarina trees that give free shade, and the lagoon is shallow, calm and clear thanks to the reef offshore. Go early, before the hotel crowd wakes up, and you may have a quarter mile to yourself. The trade-off is cost: big resorts dominate the shore, so rooms and restaurant meals run pricey, though small guesthouses and takeaway stalls in the village keep a budget possible. Surf is minimal and the reef limits real diving from shore. Couples, families and slow-travel types will love it. Party seekers and surfers will find it too quiet.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #3 beach in MauritiusWhat sets this place apart

Belle Mare beach earns its stop because the lagoon behind the reef stays shallow and flat, so you can wade out a long way and swim in water that rarely feels rough. That suits anyone who wants real rest after the rougher bus rides across the island. The public beach has casuarina shade along the full stretch, which means you can spend a whole afternoon without renting anything. Locals come on weekends with picnics and cooler boxes, and the mood shifts from sleepy weekday to relaxed family gathering on Sundays, a good time to meet Mauritians over shared food and music. The beach also works well as a base on the east coast. Trou d’Eau Douce and the boats to Île aux Cerfs are a short hop south, while Palmar beach is close enough to reach on foot at low effort. Add small village shops for cheap … read more 👉
Belle Mare beach earns its stop because the lagoon behind the reef stays shallow and flat, so you can wade out a long way and swim in water that rarely feels rough. That suits anyone who wants real rest after the rougher bus rides across the island. The public beach has casuarina shade along the full stretch, which means you can spend a whole afternoon without renting anything. Locals come on weekends with picnics and cooler boxes, and the mood shifts from sleepy weekday to relaxed family gathering on Sundays, a good time to meet Mauritians over shared food and music. The beach also works well as a base on the east coast. Trou d’Eau Douce and the boats to Île aux Cerfs are a short hop south, while Palmar beach is close enough to reach on foot at low effort. Add small village shops for cheap snacks and you have a practical, quiet pause that costs little if you pick your meals carefully and skip the resort bars.

💡 HighlightsMust-see experiences and standout moments

  1. Public Beach Walk at Dawn: The long white strip is the reason people come. Early morning means cool air, empty sand and fishermen wading the lagoon. Walk north toward Palmar for the quietest stretch.
  2. Swimming in the Lagoon: The reef keeps the water shallow, calm and clear, which makes this one of the safer places on the island for a relaxed swim. Low tide leaves it very shallow in places, so time your swim for higher water.
  3. Snorkeling Near the Reef Edge: The lagoon offers easy snorkeling over sandy patches and small coral heads. Go on a calm day, bring your own mask to save on rental, and avoid the reef passes where currents run stronger.
  4. Casuarina Shade Picnic: The tree line behind the sand is where Mauritian families spread out on weekends. Buy fried snacks such as gato pima or dholl puri from
… read more 👉
  1. Public Beach Walk at Dawn: The long white strip is the reason people come. Early morning means cool air, empty sand and fishermen wading the lagoon. Walk north toward Palmar for the quietest stretch.
  2. Swimming in the Lagoon: The reef keeps the water shallow, calm and clear, which makes this one of the safer places on the island for a relaxed swim. Low tide leaves it very shallow in places, so time your swim for higher water.
  3. Snorkeling Near the Reef Edge: The lagoon offers easy snorkeling over sandy patches and small coral heads. Go on a calm day, bring your own mask to save on rental, and avoid the reef passes where currents run stronger.
  4. Casuarina Shade Picnic: The tree line behind the sand is where Mauritian families spread out on weekends. Buy fried snacks such as gato pima or dholl puri from nearby vendors and eat under the trees for a cheap, local lunch.
  5. Sunrise Over the Indian Ocean: The beach faces east, so the sun comes straight out of the sea. The sky turns pink over the reef line, and you can watch it with a coffee in hand before the day’s heat arrives.
Belle Mare beach pairs a dawn walk with a late-morning lagoon snorkel, since the calm air and clearer water are best before the afternoon breeze builds.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do near Belle Mare

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Trou-aux-Cerfs - Chamarel - Grand Bassin -Private Guided Tour (Min. 2 persons)

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Full Day Private custom Tour with Drive-Guide in Mauritius

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Port Louis Market plus Botanical Garden and Temple Mauritius Tour

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3 Days Authentic Mauritius Private Tour with hidden gems

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Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Weather, crowds, and seasonal trade-offs

  • Summer (November to April): Hot and humid, with highs of 30 to 33°C (86 to 91°F) and sea temperatures near 27 to 29°C (81 to 84°F). Cyclones and heavy downpours are most likely from January to March, and daylight stretches to about 13 hours.
  • Winter (June to September): Dry and breezier, with days of 23 to 26°C (73 to 79°F) and cooler nights near 17 to 19°C (63 to 66°F). The east coast catches the trade winds, so mornings can feel fresh. Daylight drops to about 11 hours.
  • Shoulder months (May, October, November): Sunny days of 25 to 29°C (77 to 84°F), calm water and fewer people on the sand. Rooms cost less than in peak season.
  • Peak crowds and prices: Mid-December to early January and July to August push room rates up by 30 to 60 percent, and Mauritian families fill the public beach on weekends.
… read more 👉
  • Summer (November to April): Hot and humid, with highs of 30 to 33°C (86 to 91°F) and sea temperatures near 27 to 29°C (81 to 84°F). Cyclones and heavy downpours are most likely from January to March, and daylight stretches to about 13 hours.
  • Winter (June to September): Dry and breezier, with days of 23 to 26°C (73 to 79°F) and cooler nights near 17 to 19°C (63 to 66°F). The east coast catches the trade winds, so mornings can feel fresh. Daylight drops to about 11 hours.
  • Shoulder months (May, October, November): Sunny days of 25 to 29°C (77 to 84°F), calm water and fewer people on the sand. Rooms cost less than in peak season.
  • Peak crowds and prices: Mid-December to early January and July to August push room rates up by 30 to 60 percent, and Mauritian families fill the public beach on weekends.
Book Christmas stays months ahead, or come in late October for warm water and lower rates.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: highly recommended for travelingAUGAugust: highly recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: good for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

The best base for backpackers near Belle Mare beach is the stretch between Belle Mare village and Palmar, with Trou d’Eau Douce a few kilometers south as the sociable alternative. Belle Mare itself is mostly resort frontage, so budget travelers do best in the village behind the coast road, where family-run guesthouses and self-catering apartments sit a 5 to 15 minute walk from the public beach. Expect roughly US$35 to 70 a night for a double, and kitchens let you cook with produce from the Belle Mare market and nearby roadside stalls.

Trou d’Eau Douce, about 10 minutes by bus or taxi, has the … read more 👉
The best base for backpackers near Belle Mare beach is the stretch between Belle Mare village and Palmar, with Trou d’Eau Douce a few kilometers south as the sociable alternative. Belle Mare itself is mostly resort frontage, so budget travelers do best in the village behind the coast road, where family-run guesthouses and self-catering apartments sit a 5 to 15 minute walk from the public beach. Expect roughly US$35 to 70 a night for a double, and kitchens let you cook with produce from the Belle Mare market and nearby roadside stalls.

Trou d’Eau Douce, about 10 minutes by bus or taxi, has the stronger backpacker scene. It is the departure point for boats to Île aux Cerfs, has small restaurants and shops, and makes it easy to meet other travelers. Rooms there run around US$30 to 60.

Palmar, just north, is quieter and suits couples or anyone after calm and a good beach, with a few budget apartments tucked between the larger hotels. Dorms are rare on this coast, so solo travelers wanting a crowd often split their stay with Flic en Flac or Grand Baie. Buses along the coast road are frequent, so staying a little inland costs little time.
Best hostels in Mauritius


Best quality hotels in Mauritius

🛡️ SafetyScams, Hazards, and Annoyances

Belle Mare beach is among the calmer and better-managed stretches of the east coast, and most visitors swim here without incident. A reef lies offshore, so the lagoon is shallow and sheltered, with gentle water for most of the day. Waves break far out, and strong currents are mainly found near gaps in the reef, so avoid swimming toward those channels. Tides change the depth noticeably. At low tide you may be wading over sand and patches of seagrass, and sea urchins and sharp coral fragments sit near the rocks, so reef shoes help. Sharks are not a concern inside the lagoon.

The sun is the most common problem. It is strong all year, and the breeze hides the burn, so cover up between late morning and mid-afternoon. Shade under the casuarina trees is plentiful. The public beach is busy on weekends … read more 👉
Belle Mare beach is among the calmer and better-managed stretches of the east coast, and most visitors swim here without incident. A reef lies offshore, so the lagoon is shallow and sheltered, with gentle water for most of the day. Waves break far out, and strong currents are mainly found near gaps in the reef, so avoid swimming toward those channels. Tides change the depth noticeably. At low tide you may be wading over sand and patches of seagrass, and sea urchins and sharp coral fragments sit near the rocks, so reef shoes help. Sharks are not a concern inside the lagoon.

The sun is the most common problem. It is strong all year, and the breeze hides the burn, so cover up between late morning and mid-afternoon. Shade under the casuarina trees is plentiful. The public beach is busy on weekends and holidays, and locals swim there often. Keep phones and cash with you rather than leaving them on the sand, particularly if you are walking away to the water alone. Summer brings occasional cyclone warnings, so follow local advice on those days.
Check Country Safety

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Belle Mare beach is about 55 km east of Port Louis and roughly 1 hour 15 minutes by car or taxi, which costs around US$50 to 70. By public transport, take a bus from Port Louis to Centre de Flacq (about 1.5 hours, under US$2), then a local bus toward Belle Mare, which takes 20 to 30 minutes. From the airport near Mahébourg it is around 45 minutes by taxi, and rental cars start at about US$25 a day.
Belle Mare beach is excellent for swimming, thanks to a reef-sheltered lagoon with shallow, clear water for most of the day. Snorkeling is possible near the reef edges, though visibility and fish life are better on organized boat trips from nearby Trou d’Eau Douce, which cost about US$40 to 60. Surfing is not an option here because the waves break on the outer reef, and kitesurfing is more common in the southeast and at Le Morne.
Yes, Belle Mare beach is free to visit, and the public beach has no entry charge. Parking along the coast road is generally free, though resorts keep their beachfront areas reserved for guests, so use the public access points. Sunbeds belong mostly to hotels, but you can bring a mat and buy snacks from nearby stalls for roughly US$2 to 5.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Mauritian beaches near Belle Mare

Explore more nearby:

  • Grand Gaube—fishing village, offshore islets, local boats, calm bay| 24 km away
  • Pointe d’Esny—white sand, quiet residential area, shallow turquoise lagoon| 26 km away
  • Anse La Raie—kiteboarding spot, breezy headland, mangrove patches| 28 km away

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We 💚 feedbackWhat to keep in mind

Belle Mare beach suits two or three nights, which is enough to settle into the rhythm of early swims and long lazy afternoons. Stay longer and you may start to miss variety, since nightlife is thin. I would book a guesthouse in the village, bring a snorkel mask, and use the extra days for short trips south along the coast.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Mauritius. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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