Travel to Mauritius | Dive into the best water activities

From thrilling water sports to marine exploration in turquoise waters, here are three not-to-be-missed activities to make your vacation in Mauritius unforgettable.

Surf at Tamarin

With its many beaches and pleasant year-round climate, Mauritius is an ideal destination for surfers. And yet, the island’s spots are not part of the famous WSL (World Surf League) circuit… In Mauritius, you have to earn the waves! Waves in Mauritius are dependent on the swell that hits Reunion Island first, making surfing in Mauritius very inconsistent. But possible 🙂

Of all the spots in Mauritius, the best known is undoubtedly Tamarin Bay. In 1974, the film“The forgotten island of Santosha” evoked a mystical surf spot on a mysterious island in the Indian Ocean. It didn’t take long for Tamarin Bay to gain recognition, with surfers from all over the world flocking here in search of thrills and spills. Given the variable weather conditions, many of them are disappointed or so eager to get into the water that they come up against “white shorts” (local surfers) who are very (too) protective of their spot. Nevertheless, Tamarin Bay remains a very popular spot, and rightly so.

The Rivière du Rempart, which flows into Tamarin Bay, creates currents that allow even the youngest children to glide down to the beach on a bodyboard. Pleasure guaranteed!

➜ Whether you’re a surfing fan or not, Tamarin beach is a very pleasant place, especially at the end of the day when you can admire the surfers there at sunset.

There are several surf shops along Tamarin beach. They offer surf lessons for all levels as well as equipment rental.

➜ With accommodation just 5 minutes from Tamarin beach, surf sessions soon became a daily occurrence, or almost… Given the cost of renting equipment, we decided to invest in a board for the kids. A purchase that paid for itself during the stay 🙂

Spend a day on the island of Deux Cocos

Located in the south-east of the island, near Blue Bay, the island of Deux Cocos is one of the most beautiful islands in Mauritius. This private island nestled in the turquoise waters of the lagoon is above all a place apart, where you can disembark and play Robinson for a day…

The meeting point is near the Blue Bay public beach. We board a glass-bottomed boat bound for Blue Bay Marine Reserve. The boat stops for a snorkeling session.

After a few minutes’ crossing, the pontoon of the Ile des Deux Cocos is in sight. Staff greet each visitor with a welcome cocktail and invite them to take a tour of the island while waiting for the buffet to be ready.

We visit the Maison du Gouverneur, once known as the “villa des folies”. The only residence on the island, this century-old villa was built by the eccentric British governor Sir Hesketh Bell, in a blend of European and Moorish styles. With two bedrooms and a swimming pool, the villa can be privatized on request.

Then it’s time for the buffet, served on the beach. Wide choice of salads, grills, desserts… At the end of the meal, a tasting of rhum arrangé is offered. Delicious!

Afternoon activities include beach volleyball, Frisbee, pétanque and snorkelling. You can also simply enjoy the deckchairs on the beach 🙂

Good to Know

• The excursion to the island of Deux Cocos takes around 6 hours. The morning departure is from the Blue Bay jetty.
• Several companies offer day trips to the island of Deux Cocos.
• The excursion costs €85 per adult, €45 per child. Transfers from the hotel are often not included in the basic price, but can be discussed.

Watch the sunset on a catamaran

Several boat expeditions are available in Mauritius: dolphin watching, catamaran day trips to Ile aux Cerfs, expeditions to Gabriel Islet, etc. After playing Robinson on the island of Deux Cocos, we opted for a sunset cruise from Rivière Noire, on the island’s west coast.

Departure is from La Balise marina, where you board a small motorboat. Outside the channel, the catamaran waits at anchor. Two crew members are on board, ready to welcome us. Safety instructions before moving to the bow of the catamaran. Off we go for a 2-hour sail along the coast to Tamarin Bay…

Good to Know

• We called on JPH Charters to organize this cruise.
• The sunset cruise lasts 2 hours 30 minutes (from 4.30pm to 7pm).
• The cruise on a private catamaran with Delight menu (peanuts, sausages, fish and chicken kebabs) and drinks served on board cost us +/- 350€ for 4 adults and 3 children.