Mahebourg
Old Town and Blue Bay, Ten Minutes from the Airport
A quiet old town on a wide bay in the south-east, 7 km from the airport, with a Monday market, a waterfront promenade and the national history museum in a colonial mansion; Blue Bay, a few minutes south, is a marine park with one of the clearest lagoons on the island for snorkelling and glass-bottom boats. Île aux Aigrettes, a nature reserve with giant tortoises and pink pigeons, is a short boat ride away. The handiest place for a first or last night, and the cheapest coast to stay on.
Highlights
- Snorkel in Blue Bay Marine Park
- Glass-bottom boat over the coral
- Île aux Aigrettes nature reserve
- Mahébourg waterfront
- Monday market
- National History Museum
Things to do
- Snorkel or glass-bottom boat in Blue Bay Marine ParkMorning · 2h 30m
- Guided visit to Île aux AigrettesMorning · 2h 30m
- Mahébourg waterfront and museumAfternoon · 2h
- Guided Lion Mountain ridge hike above Grand Port bayMorning · 3h 30m
- Mahébourg Monday market (Mondays only)Morning · 1h 30m
- Rault manioc-biscuit factory, run by one family since 1870Afternoon · 1h
- Frederik Hendrik Museum at Vieux Grand Port, the first Dutch settlementAfternoon · 1h 30m
- Afternoon on Blue Bay public beachAfternoon · 2h 30m
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: October – May
Worth knowing
Cyclone Season: Watch the Class Warnings
January to March is the height of the cyclone season. Most weeks pass with heat, humidity and short downpours, but when a cyclone nears, Mauritius Meteorological Services issue warnings from Class I to IV: from Class III everyone stays indoors, buses stop, shops and sights close and flights are often cancelled for a day or two. Keep a spare day before your flight home, take travel insurance that covers weather delays, and follow your hotel's advice.
Heads up
Cyclone Season
The cyclone season runs from November to April, with most storms from January to March. Early and late in the season a cyclone is less likely, but watch the forecast in the week before you fly.
Heads up
Winter Trade Winds on the East Coast
From June to September the south-east trade winds blow onshore here: cooler days (low to mid-20s °C), breezy beaches, choppier lagoons and more showers. Boat trips still run on most days. The west and north coasts are calmer and sunnier at this time; split the stay if swimming matters most.
- Thaipoosam Cavadee — The Tamil festival of Murugan: after days of fasting, devotees carry the cavadee, a wooden arch with flowers and pots of milk, to the kovils (temples), many with their cheeks and tongues pierced. Processions in Port Louis and the towns from early morning. A public holiday.
- Ganesh Chaturthi — Ganesh's festival, kept mostly by Marathi-speaking Mauritians: home and temple prayers, then processions carrying the idols to the sea or rivers for immersion the next day. A public holiday.
- Divali — The festival of lights: houses and temples lit with clay lamps and fairy lights, sweets (gateaux) shared with neighbours, and fireworks after dark. A public holiday, and one of the busiest weeks for flights from India.