Why Honeymoon in Belle Mare
Space is the big draw. The beach here is long enough that even with several large resorts sharing it you can walk for half an hour and pass only a few people. The sand is soft and the water deepens gently, which makes for easy swimming at most tides.
The resorts on this coast are some of the most established on the island, with wide grounds, big spas and multiple restaurants. Several have private beaches and golf courses, so it is possible to spend a week without leaving the property and still not repeat a meal.
For couples who also want a little life, the fishing villages of Trou d'Eau Douce and Poste de Flacq are a short drive away, with small restaurants, colorful boats and a slower local pace. Belle Mare is the best choice on the island for a calm, high-comfort stay close to the airport.
When to Go
September to December is the strongest window. The trade winds ease after the winter peak, rain is light and the sea warms up. April and May are also good, with fewer crowds after Easter.
June to August is the coolest and breeziest time on this coast. Daytime temperatures are comfortable but the wind can make the lagoon choppy and the beach feel cool in the late afternoon. It is still pleasant for walks, golf and spa time.
January to March brings heat, humidity, heavy showers and cyclone risk. The east coast catches more rain than the west, so if you travel in summer, plan a few indoor activities and take good insurance. Prices peak over Christmas and New Year.
Where to Stay
The coastline from Pointe de Flacq south to Trou d'Eau Douce holds a run of well-known resorts. One&Only Le Saint Géran sits on its own peninsula at Pointe de Flacq. Constance Belle Mare Plage and Constance Prince Maurice are close neighbors, the second with suites set over a mangrove inlet. LUX* Belle Mare and Long Beach sit on the main beach itself. Shangri-La Le Touessrok, at Trou d'Eau Douce, has a private island for guests.
Villa rentals and smaller hotels along the coastal road in Palmar and Belle Mare village cost far less and put you a short walk from public beach access. They work well for couples happy to self-cater and eat out.
Ask for rooms on the beachfront rather than garden view. The east coast sunrises are the scenery here, so a balcony facing the water earns its price.
Romantic Things to Do
Take an early boat from Trou d'Eau Douce to Île aux Cerfs. By late morning the main beach fills with day-trippers, but the far sandbars stay quiet and the lagoon around the island is ideal for floating. Many trips also stop at the Grand River South East waterfall, where the river drops into a narrow gorge just before the sea.
Book a private catamaran with lunch on board, or a glass-bottom boat if one of you does not snorkel. On land, the Constance courses at Belle Mare Plage and the course on Île aux Cerfs are both popular with golfers.
Visit the big market in Centre de Flacq for fruit, spices and street snacks. Walk the beach at sunrise with coffee. Book a couples massage for the windy afternoons and let the trade winds do their thing outside.
Getting There and Around
The airport is about 45 minutes to an hour away along the eastern road, one of the shortest transfers on the island. That makes Belle Mare an easy first stop after a long flight or a smart last stop before going home.
Resorts arrange private transfers. For exploring, a rental car or a hired driver works best. The coastal road connects all the villages. The motorway gets you to Port Louis in about an hour or to the west coast in roughly 90 minutes.
Boats to Île aux Cerfs leave from the jetty at Trou d'Eau Douce and from several resorts. Local operators sell seats on shared boats, while private boats can be arranged on the spot or through your hotel. Buses run along the coast but are slow for sightseeing.
Food and Drink
Resort restaurants range from beach grills to Indian, Japanese and fine dining. The larger hotels usually have enough choice to justify half board.
Still, get out at least twice. In Trou d'Eau Douce, Palmar and Poste de Flacq, small family restaurants serve grilled fish, octopus salad and Creole curries at a fraction of resort prices. Ask what came in on the boats that day.
For a quick lunch, look for roadside stalls selling dholl puri, thin split-pea flatbreads wrapped around bean curry and chutney. Mine frite, fried noodles from the Chinese Mauritian kitchen, is another cheap favorite. Wash it down with a cold Phoenix beer or alouda, a sweet milk drink with basil seeds and agar jelly. The fruit at the Flacq market is excellent, especially pineapple and lychee in season.
Honeymoon Tips
Go to Île aux Cerfs first thing. The difference between 8 a.m. and noon is the difference between a quiet beach and a crowded one.
If you visit in winter, request a room or beach area on the sheltered side of the resort. Some properties on this coast have coves or headlands that cut the wind.
Use the short airport transfer. Booking Belle Mare as the last stop means you can enjoy a final morning swim before the flight home rather than spending it in a car.
Compare half board and all inclusive carefully. Drinks add up quickly at resort prices, but the all inclusive plans at some hotels exclude premium restaurants or spirits.
Bring a light layer. Evenings on the east coast can be breezy and cool in July and August.
