Sakoa Boutik Hotel

The capital of the north is Grand Baie. The town has become the leading tourist destination in Mauritius thanks to sustainable development. We must take into account that the city is the starting point for various boat trips and other maritime activities.

A good option to get the pulse of the city is to stroll through the narrow streets just behind the main road and enjoy what the small local boutiques offer. The city is also known for its great variety of restaurants and its lively nightlife.

Another picturesque town in the north of Mauritius is Cap Malheureux, with its famous red-roofed church, its views of the northern islands, and its important fishing community.

WHAT TO SEE IN THE NORTH

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden

The Pamplemousses botanical garden is known by botanists around the world for the large collection of both native and exotic plants that grow in it, including the giant water lilies “Victoria amazonica” and the various species of palm trees. It has an area of 37 hectares of vegetation and was created by Pierre Poivre in the 18th century. The Celián palm or corypha umbraculifera is especially curious since legend has it that it blooms only once every fifty or sixty years and then dies.

The Red Roof Chapel, Cap Malheureux

Cap Malheureux is the northernmost point of the island. This is where Commander-in-Chief John Abercromby landed his troops when the British attacked the island for the second time in 1810 and took possession of it. Cap Malheureux also owes its fame to a small chapel: Notre Dame Auxiliatrice (Our Lady of Help), known as the Red Roof Chapel, one of the most photogenic images on the island, located in a privileged environment in front of a bay of turquoise waters and next to a fishing port. As a curiosity, its holy water font is a giant clam shell. It was built in August 1938 by the Belgian missionary Abbot Albert Glorieux.

The Maheswarnath Mandir of Triolet

Triolet is not only the longest town on the island, but there you can visit the largest Hindu temple, the Maheswarnath Mandir. The Shivala was built in honor of the gods Shiva, Krishna, Vishnu, Muruga, Brahma, and Ganesha, among others. To enter the temple, please do so with the utmost respect and we must remove all leather objects.

Monument of Paul et Virginie, Poudre d’Or

The most famous myth of Mauritius is undoubtedly that of «Paul et Virginie». It was inspired by the shipwreck of the Saint Géran on the north coast. A small monument indicates the place where the ship sank.

The legend tells that while Paul, of humble origin, waited for his beloved Virginie, of noble origin, to return, his ship, the St Géran, crashed against the rocks. It is said that Paul jumped into the water and swam to his beloved who, shy and chaste as she was, refused to take off her clothes to swim to shore with him. In the end, her soaked Victorian clothes dragged her to the depths and she drowned. The book by Bernardin de Saint-Pierre tells that Paul died shortly after of sadness.

History of Pamplemousses

Pamplemousses, which means grapefruit, was named after this fruit imported by the Dutch, the first settlers of Mauritius in the 17th century. Places worth visiting are the old cemetery, the church of San Francisco de Asis, from the 18th century, and «L’Aventure du Sucre», a fascinating museum that tells the story of the Mauritian sugar industry, offering us an insight into the close relationship between slavery, sugar, and rum production.

BEACHES

The north of the island offers dream beaches. The most popular among Mauritians and tourists are Trou aux Biches beach and Mont Choisy beach. The more adventurous or those looking for peace and tranquility can take a walk from the public beach of Pereybere and discover the private coves of Casita and Bain Boeuf with their clear and turquoise waters, as well as enjoy its exquisite views. In the months of the austral winter, when the trajectory of the sun is further north, an atmospheric optical phenomenon occurs, the famous “rayon verte,” a green flash that can appear shortly after sunset and before the moon rises.

SHOPPING

Grand Baie and Pamplemousses

Shopping lovers cannot miss Sunset Boulevard in Grand Baie. Other shopping centers in Grand Baie such as La Croisette and Super U have outdoor play areas, skateboard parks, and bumper cars that are great for keeping children (and the young at heart) busy while you go shopping.

Those who want to take home a souvenir can go to Pamplemousses where they will find a wide variety of handicrafts, fashion items, models of boats and airplanes, paintings, and jewelry. In Pamplemousses there is also a famous factory known for its models of boats and other typical souvenirs related to the world of navigation.

SPORTS PRACTICE

Navigation

Grand Baie is the paradise of navigation in Mauritius thanks to its protected bay. From here you can join a multitude of excursions and maritime activities by yacht, catamaran, and even rent a private sailboat to go your own way.

Diving

The north has some of the most interesting diving spots on the island. There is a wide variety of options for both beginners and advanced divers. Some of the most popular places are: Gunner’s Coin, with a depth of 26 meters where you can see large parrot fish on each dive; Whale Rock, with a depth of 26 to 38 meters, where the lucky ones will be able to meet hammerhead sharks face to face; and Holt’s Rocks, with a depth of 16 to 25 meters, whose name suggests the formation of huge rocks under the sea. There are other places to dive in Trou aux Biches, which is more appropriate for families, and in Pointe aux Piments where you can swim with turtles. Don’t forget to bring a submersible camera.

Other underwater activities

One of the most spectacular ways to explore the ocean is to take a short trip in the Blue Safari submarine or on a submersible water scooter. This allows people who do not practice diving to enjoy a magnificent encounter with the marine fauna of Mauritius.

EXCURSIONS TO THE NORTHERN ISLETS

The islets of the north

This group of small islands in the north of Mauritius has become a must-see stop for boats and divers. Whether by catamaran or motorboat, excursions to the northern islands are a must if you stay in that area. You can snorkel in the crystal clear waters of Gunner’s Coin, in whose cliffs seabirds nest, or swim and have your picnic on Flat and Gabriel Island. Round Island is a unique nature reserve that is prohibited from accessing (unless you have a special permit) in order to protect its vegetation and its endemic reptiles.