Grand Baie

The resort and nightlife hub of the north, with Pereybere Beach, catamaran trips to the northern islands, diving, shopping, and dining all in one place. It is the best base for independent travelers.

Grand Baie is located at the northern tip of Mauritius. It is the liveliest resort town on the island and the most common base for independent travelers. The bay is filled with sailboats, and the main street has a Super U supermarket, the La Croisette shopping center, Sunset Boulevard boutiques, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs such as Banana Beach Club. While the rest of Mauritius goes quiet by 9 p.m., Grand Baie stays open late. For beaches, La Cuvette in Grand Baie itself is a small, clean public beach. Pereybere, 2 kilometers northeast, has clearer water and a gentler slope, making it the best public beach for swimming in the north, and locals barbecue and picnic there on weekends. To the west, Mont Choisy has a 2-kilometer sandy beach shaded by casuarina trees. Full-day catamaran trips from the Grand Baie pier (about MUR 2,500-3,500 per person, including lunch and drinks) head to the three northern islands of Coin de Mire, Ile Plate, and Ilot Gabriel, where snorkeling and beaching are the highlights. Grand Baie also has the highest concentration of dive centers on the island (the north has shipwreck and sea turtle dive sites), along with seabed walks, the Blue Safari submarine, and whale-watching trips. Dining options are varied: seafood barbecue, Creole cuisine, Chinese restaurants, and Indian restaurants are all available, and prices are about half those at resort hotels. Twenty minutes south are the red-roofed church at Cap Malheureux, a popular photo spot, and Grand Gaube. Grand Baie is about 40 minutes from Port-Louis and 1.5 hours from the airport. Car rentals, hired cars, and shipping agents can be found all along the main street.

Grand Baie

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby