A shadow moves beneath the glass-bottom boat. We lean in as a sea turtle rises, breaking the clear blue surface for a quiet breath before slipping back below. This is Mauritius, where the Indian Ocean shimmers and wildlife feels wonderfully close.
Around 2,000 kilometres off Africa’s south-east coast, east of Madagascar, Mauritius is a volcanic island fringed by coral reefs and calm lagoons. Surprisingly accessible, it has direct overnight flights from London. With mild year-round sunshine, any time is good to visit, though November to April brings short, sharp showers.
Known for its kaleidoscopic marine life, powder-soft beaches, and rich cultural tapestry shaped by African, Indian, Chinese, and European influences, Mauritius is the ultimate honeymoon hideaway. Yet beyond the resorts lies an island of depth and contrast.
We traced the coastline from Shandrani Beachcomber beside a marine park, to Paradis Beachcomber with Le Morne Brabant behind the palms, and on to Trou aux Biches Beachcomber, where sunsets fade into soft pink and orange. There are places you visit, and then there are places that stay with you, and it's safe to say Mauritius is firmly the latter.
Where to stay in Mauritius
On an island as beautiful as Mauritius, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to where to stay. For our first night, we checked into the newly refurbished Shandrani Beachcomber Resort & Spa, just a 15-minute drive from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport - ideal after a long-haul flight. We arrived in the morning and were welcomed with a refreshing ginger-infused mocktail and a cool towel, a thoughtful touch after 12 hours of travel. Staying in the adults-only wing, we had a beach-view room that balanced comfort with understated luxury.
With only one night there, we made the most of it. After breakfast at one of the four on-site restaurants, we headed straight to the spa for a tailored treatment - easily one of the highlights of our stay. The indoor-outdoor setting feels lush and tropical, and afterwards guests are invited to unwind with a light refreshment by the spa’s quiet pool. While we opted for the adults-only section, the wider resort is equally suited to families, with multiple outdoor pools, a children’s pool and a complimentary kids’ club, making it a flexible choice for different types of travellers.
Nightly rates start from £219 for 2 adults sharing on a half board basis.
From there we moved on to Paradis Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa, where we spent the next few days. Set on the Le Morne Peninsula with the lagoon on one side and an 18-hole championship golf course on the other, the resort sits beneath the dramatic backdrop of Le Morne Brabant, a UNESCO-listed landmark. The property is much larger, so golf buggies are on hand to help guests move between the beach, restaurants and villas. Accommodation ranges from spacious suites overlooking the sea, to 13 private villas, making it particularly well suited to families or groups travelling together.
Dining is a highlight here. Blue Marlin quickly became a personal favourite, serving seafood with uninterrupted ocean views. We were welcomed with an impressive spread of meats, octopus, breads and antipasti that set the tone for the evening. And when it comes to food, there’s plenty of variety across the resort (more on this below). From beachfront Italian at La Palma to international dishes at Le Brabant, plus access to additional restaurants at the neighbouring Dinarobin Beachcomber, you’ll never go hungry. Beyond the food, there’s a calm outdoor pool (heated in winter when needed), a dedicated kids’ club, a wide range of complimentary land and water sports, and a spa for slower afternoons. You could easily spend a week or months here - like one particular guest we met who visits every, single year!
Nightly rates start from £363 for 2 adults sharing on a half board basis.
Finally, we settled into one of the private villas at Trou aux Biches Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa - the perfect end to a week of coastal hopping. Set along a stretch of white sand on the island’s northwest coast, the resort is known for its calm lagoon and particularly beautiful sunsets. We stayed here for the remainder of our trip, and the villa felt like a home of our own. Each one comes with three bedrooms and a private pool, including a generous master suite with both an indoor and outdoor shower, plus an outdoor bathtub. It was ideal for slow mornings and relaxed afternoons when we didn’t feel like heading to the main pool. There’s also a private barbecue area, and breakfast can be served in-villa, which made it easy to fully switch off. With six restaurants on site, a large spa, and the beach just steps away, it struck a comfortable balance between privacy and full resort living.
Nightly rates start from £338 for 2 adults sharing on a half board basis.
What to do
Board a glass bottom boat
Known for its rich underwater life, a glass-bottom boat trip is well worth booking while in Mauritius. During our trip, we were lucky enough to see a sea turtle gliding through the water - a quietly magical moment that felt almost unreal.
Snorkeling
If you’d prefer to get right in and swim with the fish, we highly recommend going snorkeling. Try to set off early in the day, when the sea is calmest and the water is clearest, giving you the best chance to spot the colourful wildlife up close.
Go shopping at Le Caudan Waterfront
On a Friday morning, we wandered around Le Caudan Waterfront, and it was hard to tear ourselves away. This vibrant hub in the heart of Port Louis combines shopping, dining, banking, cinemas, and a marina, all brightened by the colourful umbrellas overhead. It’s clean and full of life, with stalls selling fresh fruit, juices, and local trinkets alongside boutique shops.
Visit the Central Market in Port Louis
For a more authentic slice of local life, head to the Port Louis Central Market. Unlike the polished atmosphere of Le Caudan Waterfront, this open-air market is bustling and vibrant, packed with stalls selling fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish. You’ll also find clothes, trinkets and plenty of dodo-themed souvenirs - a playful nod to the flightless bird that once called Mauritius home.
The market is loud, lively and rich with culture, with friendly vendors happy to haggle. I picked up souvenirs for friends and family and treated myself to a freshly pressed sugarcane juice, made right in front of me. Fun fact: Sugarcane covers around 40% of the island and roughly 80-85% of its arable land.
Visit Beautiful LocalHands
If you’re into local crafts and supporting meaningful initiatives, Beautiful Localhands is a must-visit. Founded by the Fondation Espoir et Développement Beachcomber, it gives talented artisans - many of them women, the elderly, or disabled - the chance to create and sell traditional Mauritian handicrafts. Beyond shopping for unique souvenirs, you can attend events and see the artists at work, helping preserve cultural heritage while supporting small businesses and local communities.
A little (or a lot) of sports
If you’re feeling active, the Beachcomber resorts make it easy to keep moving, or just try something new for fun. From swinging a club on the championship golf course at Paradis to hitting the courts for tennis or padel at Trou aux Biches or Shandrani, there’s plenty to choose from. You can mix it up with water sports too, or simply take it slow with a swim in the pool.
Have a spa day
If you’re looking to completely switch off, a spa day is is an absolute treat - and yes, I may have indulged a little too much! Each hotel has its own spa, and they all follow the same brilliant approach: you’re guided through exactly how you want to feel afterwards, and get to choose your own body butter (heavenly vanilla the first time, tropical mango the next, for me). I had two full-body massages during my stay, and both were so relaxing I literally dozed off for a whole hour each time - a perfect use of free will, if you ask me.
Rum tasting
You could say I saved the best for last… We had a private rum-tasting session that was truly unforgettable. Benito, our mixologist, guided us through a selection of local rums and led a cocktail-making class. He was incredibly attentive, crafting personalised drinks based on our individual tastes and effortlessly adapting recipes for mocktails or lower-alcohol options. His energy and knowledge made the experience both fun and educational, and by the end of the session, we were sipping cocktails we’d actually created ourselves.
What to eat
With a culture as rich and diverse as Mauritius itself, food is a huge part of the experience - and across the Beachcomber resorts the dining is every bit as memorable as the beaches. Between Paradis, Shandrani and Trou aux Biches, the restaurants span Italian, Mediterranean, Indian, Thai and traditional Mauritian cuisine, meaning every evening feels like a new culinary adventure. Breakfast at Shandrani was a particular highlight: an expansive spread with multiple cooked-to-order stations, plus a beautiful glass conservatory-style room dedicated to continental options. Think flaky pastries, cakes, yoghurt, fresh fruit, salads and vibrant juices. At Shandrani we also dined at a quaint Italian restaurant, where the meal ended with the most delicious dessert wine infused with lychee.
One of the most memorable meals of the trip was at Rangoli at nearby Dinarobin, just a short buggy ride from Paradis. The modern Indian restaurant is stunning, with decor inspired by mandalas, warm tones and intricate handcrafted details that blend tradition with sophistication. We opted for the set menu, beginning with a mango lassi-style shot followed by a trio of starters (the prawn dish was a standout) before moving on to a generous selection of curries with naan and rice. The butter chicken was rich and comforting, while the sea bass curry was beautifully fragrant, and thoughtful wine pairings throughout the meal elevated each dish even further. By the end I was completely, happily full.
For something different, a traditional Mauritian dinner on the beachfront at Paradis is a must for a first taste of the island’s cuisine. Blue Ginger at Trou aux Biches also delivers fantastic Asian fusion, from fresh sushi to pad thai and flavour-packed stir-fries. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.
Grace Henry is Cosmopolitan UK’s Acting Entertainment and Lifestyle Director. She oversees the Entertainment and Lifestyle strategy across print, digital and video. Grace joined Cosmo in March 2025, after working as the Online Entertainment and Factual Editor at Radio Times. As a journalist for almost a decade, Grace has interviewed the likes of Caitlyn Jenner, Eva Longoria, Morgan Freeman, Sylvester Stallone and more. Grace loves all things reality TV, and when she’s not interviewing a big celeb you can find her binging old episodes of The Real Housewives, with Atlanta and Potomac being her top two faves from the franchise. She also loves a female-led drama series – think OITNB and Sex and The City – and is a sucker for a true crime doc!
