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Mauritius🇲🇺 | beachesGrand GaubeFishing harbor, glassy kayaking water, northeast village, snack counters | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Grand Gaube
👀 For curious travelersbeach ranked #15
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Grand Gaube beach gives you a working fishing village with cheap local food and a calm lagoon, without the resort-strip prices of the northwest. It sits on the northeast coast of Mauritius. The sand is narrow and the water is shallow, so serious swimmers will be bored, while paddlers and kayakers are happy. Skip it for surf or diving. Do go for the fishing boats, the quiet and the snack stalls nearby. Arrive in the morning when the water is glassy and the village feels local. Your first day could be a lagoon paddle, then lunch by the road.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #15 beach in MauritiusWhy Grand Gaube should be on your travel list

Grand Gaube beach suits backpackers who want Mauritius without the resort bubble. The draw is the working fishing harbor at the village edge, where small colored boats come and go and the pace stays slow. Prices run lower than on the touristy northwest coast, and the roadside snack stalls serve the same dholl puri and fried noodles locals eat. It also works as a quiet pause on the northeast coast, with the sheltered lagoon calm enough for kayaks and casual snorkeling. Evenings are quiet, so social travelers should pair it with livelier Grand Baie. If you want somewhere to rest, read and watch boats, this is it.

💡 HighlightsDon't-miss highlights and experiences

  1. Fishing harbor and boats: The village’s signature sight. Wooden pirogues and small launches line the water, and mornings bring the best action as catches come in.
  2. Lagoon kayaking and paddling: The shallow, sheltered water is easy for beginners. Go early before the breeze picks up and the surface turns choppy.
  3. Snorkeling the reef edge: Visibility varies, but the shallow patches near the reef hold small reef fish. It suits casual snorkelers rather than serious divers.
  4. Village street food: Stalls and small snack counters near the beach sell dholl puri, gateau piment and fried noodles. This is the cheapest and most local meal you will eat in the north.
  5. Quiet shoreline walk: The coast path past the village is free of crowds and good for photos of boats, casuarina trees and distant islets. Late afternoon
… read more 👉
  1. Fishing harbor and boats: The village’s signature sight. Wooden pirogues and small launches line the water, and mornings bring the best action as catches come in.
  2. Lagoon kayaking and paddling: The shallow, sheltered water is easy for beginners. Go early before the breeze picks up and the surface turns choppy.
  3. Snorkeling the reef edge: Visibility varies, but the shallow patches near the reef hold small reef fish. It suits casual snorkelers rather than serious divers.
  4. Village street food: Stalls and small snack counters near the beach sell dholl puri, gateau piment and fried noodles. This is the cheapest and most local meal you will eat in the north.
  5. Quiet shoreline walk: The coast path past the village is free of crowds and good for photos of boats, casuarina trees and distant islets. Late afternoon is the best time.
Grand Gaube beach pairs a morning kayak session with a late street food lunch, then an unhurried afternoon walk along the shore.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Grand Gaube

Luxury Catamaran Cruise: The Northern Islands

Luxury Catamaran Cruise: The Northern Islands

4.5(123) 6h
From €98
per personViator
Trou-aux-Cerfs - Grand Bassin - 7 Coloured Earth - Wild South Guided Tour

Trou-aux-Cerfs - Grand Bassin - 7 Coloured Earth - Wild South Guided Tour

4.7(86) 8h
From €139
per personViator
Ile Aux Cerfs full day shared catamaran with BBQ lunch & drinks

Ile Aux Cerfs full day shared catamaran with BBQ lunch & drinks

4.8(70) 7h
From €55
per personViator
Car Hire for a Day with Driver - 8 Hours

Car Hire for a Day with Driver - 8 Hours

4.6(66) 8h
From €205
per personViator
Trou-aux-Cerfs - Chamarel - Grand Bassin -Private Guided Tour (Min. 2 persons)

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

5.0(48) 8h
From €163
per personViator
Full Day South Guided Tour Mauritius: Including Lunch

Full Day South Guided Tour Mauritius: Including Lunch

4.7(48) 8h
From €104
per personViator
Waterfall Hike

Waterfall Hike

4.9(21) 6h
From €90
per personViator
Private Transfer - Standard Vehicle

Private Transfer - Standard Vehicle

4.7(22)
From €50
per personViator
Historical Private Guided Tour, City-SugarWorld-Botanical Garden - Min.2 persons

Historical Private Guided Tour, City-SugarWorld-Botanical Garden - Min.2 persons

4.7(21) 8h
From €163
per personViator
Historical Guided Day Tour : City - Sugar World - Botanical Garden

Historical Guided Day Tour : City - Sugar World - Botanical Garden

4.6(23) 8h
From €139
per personViator

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

🌤️ When to go?When to go for the best experience

  • Summer (November to April): Hot and humid, 25 to 32°C (77 to 90°F), with the longest days and the warmest, calmest water. Cyclone risk peaks January to March, and afternoon downpours are common.
  • Winter (May to October): Drier and cooler, 18 to 25°C (64 to 77°F), with shorter days and a breezier sea that suits sailing but cools evening swims.
  • School holidays and Christmas to New Year: Local families fill the north coast and rooms cost 20 to 40 percent more.
  • September to November: Warm water, light crowds and the best-value rooms.
Book December stays months ahead, or arrive in October for easier bargaining.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: good for travelingMARMarch: good for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
when-to-go

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🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

Grand Gaube village itself is the most practical base for Grand Gaube beach, with guesthouses and self-catering apartments a few minutes’ walk from the sand, a fishing harbor, small shops and local snack stands. Expect to cook some meals and chat with the owners rather than meet crowds of other backpackers. If you want a livelier scene, Pereybere, about 15 minutes by bus or car west along the coast, has the north’s densest cluster of budget rooms, cafes and travelers. Cap Malheureux, between the two, is quieter and good for couples or solo travelers wanting calm. Rooms in the village run about … read more 👉
Grand Gaube village itself is the most practical base for Grand Gaube beach, with guesthouses and self-catering apartments a few minutes’ walk from the sand, a fishing harbor, small shops and local snack stands. Expect to cook some meals and chat with the owners rather than meet crowds of other backpackers. If you want a livelier scene, Pereybere, about 15 minutes by bus or car west along the coast, has the north’s densest cluster of budget rooms, cafes and travelers. Cap Malheureux, between the two, is quieter and good for couples or solo travelers wanting calm. Rooms in the village run about US$30 to 60 a night, and Pereybere is similar in low season. Staying in the village is safe, with friendly neighbors and lit main roads.
Best hostels in Mauritius


Best quality hotels in Mauritius

🛡️ SafetySafety Tips and Common Scams in Grand Gaube

Grand Gaube beach is calm and low-risk, since a coral reef offshore keeps the lagoon mostly flat with no real rips. Water is shallow in places and tide changes can expose rocks and sea urchins, so wear reef shoes for wading. Sun is the main hazard, strongest from late morning, and shade on the sand is limited. Local families swim here, especially on weekends, and mornings are quietest. Leave valuables at your lodging rather than on the sand, as opportunistic theft is occasional. Cyclone-season swell and winds are the only times conditions turn rough.
Check Country Safety

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Grand Gaube beach lies on the northeast coast, about 45 to 60 minutes by car from Port Louis and roughly 1.5 hours from the airport. Buses run from Port Louis (Immigration Square) to Grand Gaube via Goodlands for about US$1 to 2, taking around 1.5 hours with a change. A taxi from Grand Baie costs roughly US$25 to 35.
Grand Gaube beach is good for relaxed swimming in the sheltered, shallow lagoon and for easy snorkeling, though the coral is modest compared with the Blue Bay area. It isn’t a surf spot, as the reef blocks most swell. Boat trips to Gunner’s Quoin and other northern islets leave from the area and typically cost US$40 to 80.
Grand Gaube beach is free to visit, with no entrance charge for the public stretch of sand. Parking near the village is free or very cheap, and you only pay for extras like snorkel rental or a boat trip at around US$10 to 80. Bring small change for the snack stands, as prices are paid in rupees.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Mauritian beaches near Grand Gaube

Explore more nearby:

  • Anse La Raie—kiteboarding spot, breezy headland, mangrove patches| 4 km away
  • Bain Boeuf—view of Coin de Mire, narrow beach, fishing boats, volcanic rocks| 7 km away
  • Pereybere—compact beach, clear deep water, nearby cafés, easy swimming| 8 km away

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We 💚 feedbackWhat to keep in mind

Grand Gaube beach is best for slow travelers, kayakers and anyone who likes eating where fishermen eat. Social butterflies and surfers will want elsewhere. I would bring a snorkel, cash for the stalls and a book, then stay two nights at most.

✍️ 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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