World Country Guide

Beaches

Lying in the shadow of the Rivire Noire Mountains, Tamarin has a fine lagoon which is split in two by the Rivire Noire estuary. The bathing at this point is a big attraction, and amenities for surfing in the big ocean swells are available.
The northern coastline beyond Baie du Tombeau has many delightful beaches: Pointe aux Piments, famous for its underwater scenery; Trou aux Biches, with its fringe of filaos (casuarina) and coconut palms and its splendid Hindu temple; further up the coast, Choisy, one of the most popular beaches on the island, offering facilities for safe bathing, sailing, windsurfing and water-skiing; finally, the coastline curves into Grand Baie itself, the main centre for yachting, water-skiing, windsurfing and many other sports.
This delightful little cove is midway on the coast road between Grand Baie and Cap Malheureux. The deep, clear water makes it one of the very best bathing places on the whole island.
This is a fishing village in the extreme north, with a magnificent view of Flat Island, Round Island and Gunner’s Quoin, which are islands of volcanic origin, rising from the light-green sea.
Further along the coast is another charming fishing village where fishermen have earned a well-deserved reputation for their skill in the making of sailing craft and of deep-sea fishing.
These are both favoured seaside resorts, especially in the hotter months, because of the fresh prevailing winds that blow almost all the year round from the sea.
A beautiful white sandy beach with fine bathing is found here. The coast, with its white sweep of sands at Palmar and Trou d’Eau Douce, stretches out lazily to Grand Port, a quaint little village by the sea. There, the beach narrows and the road follows the coastline closely to Mahbourg. Pointe d’Esny, the adjoining white sandy beach with its string of bungalows, leads to Blue Bay.
In a semicircle of filao trees lies one of the finest bathing spots on the island. Situated on the southeast coast, not far from Mahbourg, Blue Bay offers a fine stretch of white sandy beach, and a deep, clear, light-blue bathing pool. There is also scope for yachting and windsurfing.