The south coast of Mauritius impresses with unique natural landscapes and landscapes. In addition to equipped beaches near the villages of Blue Bay or Bel Ombre, you can spend a day or two on absolutely wild stretches of the coast, and then go to the Champagne plain, the mountainous Piton de la Riviere Noire plateau and other natural beauties of the region. Near the south coast, there are also many islets, among which Ile de la Passe stands out.
Transport on the south coast of Mauritius
In the south of the island, the country’s main transport hub is the SSR International Airport. You can get to it either by passing buses from Mahebourg to Port Louis and Curepipe, or by taxi. Depending on the distance of the trip, it will cost from 300 to 600 MUR. For example, a taxi to Souillac will cost 500 MUR, Mahebourg – 350 MUR (15 minutes on the way).
The prices on the page are for September 2021.
In addition, Maheburg and the entire south coast can boast of good bus links, including with the capital: express trains from Port Louis stop every half an hour in Maheburg, and every 15 minutes from Curepipe. Most of these cars also make a stop at the airport along the way. Shuttles to Blue Bay leave every half an hour, buses run every 20 minutes to Center de Flac via Vieux Grand Port. Buses head south to Souillac.
You can also travel by taxi in Mauritius: the island is not so big. The fare from Mahebourg to Port Louis is approximately 620 MUR.
Beaches on the south coast of Mauritius
According to wholevehicles, Souillac is a small village on the rocky coast of Savane County. The main attraction in the eyes of tourists here is the well-equipped Gris Gris beach. You can’t swim on it (it’s too dangerous), but the beauty that opens from the observation decks partly compensate for this sad fact. At the eastern end of the beach is the picturesque “weeping rock” of La Roche-qui-Pleur – a favorite place for tourists to take photos. Nearby are the Rochester waterfalls, not the best in Mauritius, but for local vacationers they are quite suitable for the definition of “local attraction”. You can get to Souillac both from the capital, Port Louis (buses leave every hour), and from Curepipe (three buses a day) and Mahebourg (departure every half an hour). From Shanti Ananda Hotel you can take a taxi for 150 MUR. From the Shanti Ananda hotel you can take a taxi for 180 MUR.
Blue Bay (Blue Bay) is one of the most picturesque corners of the south coast, ideal for families with children. The nearby marine park offers excellent prospects for snorkeling fans, and on the beach itself they offer a lot of excursions: on a glass-bottomed boat, and daily snorkeling, and “dive safari” to the nearest islands.
At the eastern end of Gris Gris beach is the picturesque “weeping rock” of La Roche-qui-Pler, a favorite place for tourists to take photos.
1 km from the shores of the Blue Bay is the “Island of Egrets” Ile aux Aigrettes, a popular eco-tourism destination. You can go there only with the help of the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF), who have taken “patronage” of the island and periodically arrange one and a half hour excursions to it, starting from the Le Preskil hotel. They must be booked in advance. Another popular excursion is a day trip to Maheburg, which can be reached on your own by taxi (100 MUR) or by bus (departs every half an hour).
Bel Ombre is the last developed town on the south coast, which is almost entirely located on the territory of a former sugar plantation. Some of the most luxurious hotel complexes in Mauritius are located here: Shanti Ananda, Movenpick and Heritage Le Telfair. The main entertainment for tourists who have fallen into the local paradise is a walk to the Bel Ombre plantation (Domaine de Bel Ombre), which was founded by the Irish botanist Charles Telfair in 1816-1833. Other sights are of natural origin: flowers, gardens, waterfalls, birds and gourmet restaurants with dishes at appropriate prices.
Entertainment and attractions of the south coast of Mauritius
Mahebourg is a town with a rich past, located next to the Vieux Grand Port. In addition to walking along the picturesque sleepy streets and shops, it is worth visiting the confectionery factory and the Notre-Dame-des-Anges church. In Mahebourg, the castle of Château Robillard, built at the entrance to the city, is also interesting, which now houses the Museum of National History with old maps and engravings, swords of corsairs and the remains of sunken ships.
Vieux Grand Port boasts the ruins of a Dutch fortress, the oldest in Mauritius.
Nature lovers will appreciate the Domaine du Chasseur, where wild boars, deer and monkeys live in their natural habitat. A restaurant overlooking the sea is also open here, in the menu of which some inhabitants of the reserve (namely deer) occupy a very worthy place.
Diving on the south coast of Mauritius
The main dive sites on the south coast line up from Maheburg past Blue Bay and further south. For beginners, it is better to dive at the site, which is located directly in the Blue Bay and is called Blue Bay. The average depth there is 7 m, which allows you to dive even with a mask and fins.
One of the best diving spots is at the Roches Zozo island (33 m). There is an interesting seascape, rocky peaks, canyons and tunnels. To the south is the small site of Grotte Langouste, where, as the name implies, lobsters and lobsters live in abundance. Another dive site nearby is the Colorado Canyon, which stretches for 400 m and is framed on both sides by high cliffs. There is also a wreck on the south coast of Mauritius – an old English warship Sirius (18 m), which sank in 1810 during the Battle of Mahebourg.
