5 Days in Mauritius: Ultimate 5-Day Itinerary

Camille L.

5 Days in Mauritius: Ultimate Itinerary for Beaches, Culture & Adventure

Planning a short stay in Mauritius? Discover how to experience the island’s highlights in just 5 days!

This optimized itinerary saves you time and maximizes your getaway—featuring the best beaches, cultural gems, and my handpicked hotels.

Pro Tip: Rent a car upon arrival! While buses serve the island, a car unlocks flexibility and efficiency.

Day 1: Northern Beaches & Coastal Charm

Once you have collected your car and left your luggage at the hotel, take the road towards the north of the island. The North coast is perfect for getting into the bath as it is one of the most attractive and lively corners.

Kickstart your trip exploring Mauritius’ vibrant north coast:

Grand Baie → Cap Malheureux

Northern Highlights:

Small anthology of things to do in the North of Mauritius:

Tips for your Mauritius itinerary:
In terms of restaurants, there are several that I really like in the North. I particularly recommend Le Poivrier in Grand Baie where you can enjoy delicious cuisine in a bucolic setting. The outdoor room is set in a small tropical garden. The best for a successful first evening!

Accommodation in the north of Mauritius

Grand Bay Beach

Day 2: West Coast Wonders

Flic en Flac → Black River Gorges

After a good night’s sleep, I now invite you to discover the west coast of Mauritius. The town of Flic en Flac is the nerve center, with its magnificent beach which stretches over 8 km.

Flic en Flac beach is one of the most popular on the island. With its white sand and its translucent waters populated by multicolored fish, it is the ideal place to indulge in idleness and snorkelling. You will also find a host of diving centers in the surrounding area if you want to discover the seabed in a bottle.

Tips for your Mauritius itinerary:
Several small trailers offer snacks and fresh fruit to enjoy facing the sea. I recommend that you try the famous “Roti Aka” at the trailer of the same name which is located at the start of the beach.

“Roti” (also called “farata”) is a local specialty that resembles an Indian naan filled with different curries and sauces. You can eat them all over the island, but the Roti Aka from Flic en Flac are particularly delicious!

About 15 km from Flic en Flac is the Black River Gorges National Park which I recommend you visit as well. It is a nature reserve in the middle of the tropical forest. You can walk the trails to discover the Mauritian flora and fauna. Be careful, it climbs quite a bit!

On the course, you will have the opportunity to admire magnificent views of the coast and the ocean.

In order not to miss the most beautiful corners of the park, I recommend that you take a guide. There are many different trails and it’s much better to be accompanied for the first time. I advise you to book your guided tour here.

Between the beach and the natural park, you will easily have enough for the day. It’s up to you to see in which order to do them according to your desires. And if you like to go out in the evening, you can even spend the evening/night in Flic en Flac since there are many restaurants, pubs and nightclubs there.

Accommodation near Flic en Flac

Flic en Flac beach

Day 3: Southwest Mystique

Grand Bassin → Chamarel

For this third day of your 5-day trip to Mauritius, head south-west. I propose here a short road-trip between different sites to see, among others, the sacred lake of Grand Bassin and the Earth of the 7 Colors of Chamarel.

Here is the itinerary that I propose for this condensed visit of the South-West :

1) Leave in the morning towards  Grand Bassin (also called “Ganga Talao”): this sacred lake is a place of pilgrimage and prayer for Mauritian Hindus. The site is overlooked by two huge and impressive statues of the gods Shiva and Durga.

You can visit several temples, have a “tika” drawn on your forehead, enjoy the landscape and even rub shoulders with wild monkeys (very mischievous for some, be careful with your belongings )

2) Starting from Grand Bassin and heading south, you will pass through the small wild region of Plaine Champagne, famous for its dense forest and countless fruits. Many families come to pick Chinese guavas (a delicious sweet-tangy little fruit, if you have the opportunity to taste it!) in the middle of the year.

Following the main road, you will come across the Alexandra waterfall a little further . I advise you to stop (there is parking) to admire this impressive waterfall.

3) Around noon or early afternoon, you will arrive at the Earth of the 7 Colors of Chamarel : it is the great natural curiosity of the island that attracts all visitors. It is a preserved natural area made of multicolored volcanic earth. A feast for the eyes. The Earth of the 7 Colors is in a private domain and the entrance is paying.

4) On the same private site as the Earth of the 7 Colors is also the Ebony Forest nature reserve which I advise you to visit if you have 2 hours in front of you. On the program: walk in the middle of the native forest and breathtaking view of the whole valley from the Sublime Point.

5) And to end the day in style, nothing beats a guided tour of the Rhumerie de Chamarel, followed by a tasting of the best vintages (not recommended if you take the wheel right after of course ).

Tips for your Mauritius itinerary:
To enjoy a smooth and smooth day, I strongly recommend that you do this road trip with a guide. It’s much easier not to have to worry about the road, especially for a short stay where every minute counts (and it allows you to taste the different rums at the Rhumerie ).

To book your guided excursion (which is really super well organized), just click on the link below:
Book my excursion to Grand Bassin and Chamarel now!

Accommodation in the southwest of Mauritius

The Earth of 7 colors – Chamarel

Day 4: East Coast Bliss

Belle Mare → Île aux Cerfs

Your 5-day itinerary in Mauritius continues, now heading to the east coast of the island!

On the program for this fourth day, I suggest several heavenly beaches and a boat cruise to Île aux Cerfs. Are you tempted? So let’s go.

Belle Mare beach is emblematic of the East of Mauritius. Impossible to miss with its 10 km of white sand. The  shallow turquoise blue lagoon invites snorkelling and swimming-relaxation. It is a beach very popular with locals who come here in large numbers to camp on weekends.

Going down to the south, you will then come across the much wilder Palmar beach , before arriving in the picturesque village of Trou d’Eau Douce. Its small beach lined with villas is worthy of the most beautiful postcards!

From Trou d’Eau Douce you can take the boat to Île aux Cerfs, another must-see destination in Mauritius. Ile aux Cerfs is a small offshore island, uninhabited but very popular with tourists. What awaits you there? White sand, translucent lagoon and idleness galore.

Accommodation on the east coast of Mauritius

Ile aux Cerfs

Day 5: Culture & History

Option A: Port-Louis

I suggest you end this 5-day Mauritius itinerary with a cultural visit. History to see something other than the beaches before leaving, if that tells you! I therefore recommend that you go to Port-Louis, the capital, for this last day . You will discover the colonial history of Mauritius through:

Visiting Port-Louis also means immersing yourself in local life and experiencing the hustle and bustle of a bustling city (except on Sundays when everything is rather calm!). To fully experience all this, stroll freely through the streets and then go to the Central Market. This large covered market filled with colorful fruits, vegetables and spices will allow you to do some shopping.

Tips for your Mauritius itinerary:
Small warning: merchants can be very (too) insistent with tourists, so know how to say no if you don’t want to leave with 3 tons of goods under your arm

To finish this day and this stay quietly, then go to the Caudan Waterfront. This shopping center built on the seafront is the oldest on the island. It promises you a pleasant stroll and it’s an opportunity to have a snack (ice cream, fresh fruit, cassava pancakes and snacks of all kinds await you!).

At Le Caudan, don’t miss the Craft Market to discover local crafts and why not treat yourself to a little souvenir.

And if you wish, you can also dine at Le Caudan in one of the restaurants with a view of the port. On weekends, there are often concerts in the small square on the seafront which makes the experience even more fun!

Accommodation in Port Louis

Don’t think about finding a hotel in Port-Louis, the city is not at all suitable for sleeping there and nothing is planned for that. You can stay in the north or west for easy access.

The alley of the Caudan umbrellas

Option B: Mahébourg & Blue Bay

When you spend only 5 days in Mauritius, you really have to make choices. If you have a preference for the coast and the beaches rather than the city, I suggest you visit Mahébourg and the South-East coast instead for your last day of travel.

Mahébourg is the first city built in Mauritius by settlers. You will surely notice it when you arrive: the atmosphere is different from the rest of the island. There reigns a really special atmosphere, much more “roots”, calm and quiet.

It is also one of my favorite corners in Mauritius, where I come to recharge my batteries when I want to take a breather and take a few days off.

Take the time to stop at the Mahébourg seafront which is truly magnificent, then head to Blue Bay, the neighboring village.

The public beach of Blue Bay is superb and the beach of Pointe d’Esny (a few kilometers away) is even more beautiful. Wilder and more intimate, it invites calm and is truly breathtakingly beautiful (my favorite beach on the island!).

Mauritius Travel Story:
In July 2020, Mauritius experienced the largest oil spill in its history with the grounding of the Wakashio, a Japanese tanker, off the South East coast. The entire coast, including the beaches of Blue Bay, Pointe d’Esny and the surrounding islets, were devastated by this huge oil spill.

The Mauritian people have been tremendous and have set up an incredible chain of solidarity. Thousands of little hands have worked for weeks cleaning the lagoon by hand and making sausages using sugar cane and hair.

These sausages were placed all around the lagoon and made it possible to contain the oil and absorb a large part of it. The beaches were thus saved by the Mauritian people.

Tips for your Mauritius itinerary:
When I go to spend a weekend in the Mahébourg region, it is impossible for me not to go to lunch at Karay Mario, a great restaurant where you can taste delicious Creole cuisine. And for the evening, it’s at L’Ajupa that I’m going to have a good time. This small snack with a Jamaican atmosphere is unique in Mauritius.

Accommodation near Mahébourg

Blue Bay – Mahébourg

Your journey ends here! I hope this itinerary will allow you to spend a pleasant short stay in Mauritius and will make you want to come back.

Feel free to share your experience with me in the comments, or ask me questions if you have any.

Essential Mauritius Tips

  1. Driving: Left-hand traffic! Pre-book rentals early.

  2. Beach Safety: Monitor tide flags (red = strong currents).

  3. Local Etiquette: Cover shoulders/knees at religious sites.

Organize your trip to Mauritius easily

Here are all my other travel guides to Mauritius: Just click on the links below to read the articles.

Routes

Regions to visit + Where to stay

Unmissable visits

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