There are so many offshore islands to explore during your holiday in Mauritius. Be indulgently lazy on the sparkling white sands of Ilot Gabriel. Discover the nature reserve of Île aux Aigrettes, home to rare plants, tortoises and beautiful birds such as the pink pigeon and Mauritius fody. And don’t miss Île aux Cerfs on the east coast, a beach paradise that’s also home to one of the world’s most stunning golf courses.
This is your first glimpse of paradise as you glide over clear ocean waters. Destination: Ilot Gabriel. Life is super laid-back on this castaway island, where choosing the best spot for sunbathing is about as taxing as it gets. Ilot Gabriel is located around 20km from the north coast of Mauritius. Hop on a boat or catamaran from either Grand Baie or Pereybere and you’ll be whisked away to pristine sands, calm waters and a verdant nature reserve.
Say hello to Île aux Aigrettes off the southeast coast of Mauritius. This small islet is surrounded by a ring of coral and ebony forest covers its landscape. In 1965, Île aux Aigrettes was declared a nature reserve and incredible conservation work has helped create a habitat for rare species that had long disappeared from the island. You can enjoy a guided tour, keeping a lookout for rare plants, reptiles, tortoises and beautiful birds, including the pink pigeon, Mauritius fody and Mauritius olive white-eye.
Grab your golf clubs (or sunbathing essentials) and jump on board a catamaran or small boat to skim across the ocean to a lush island paradise. Welcome to Île aux Cerfs: a beautiful private island off the east coast of Mauritius where you’ll find paper-white beaches, glistening lagoons and a 19-hole golf course designed by two-time Masters champ, Bernhard Langer. Just try not to let the sparkling Indian Ocean views distract you from your shot. If you’re just there to experience beach life, grab a shady spot under the trees and order a drink at one of the rustic bars, later taking a dip in the clear water. This is paradise!
Situated just five minutes from Ilot Gabriel, Ile Plate was used as a quarantine station from the mid-19th century to the 1930s for those suffering with cholera, smallpox and malaria. Some overgrown structures remain on this uninhabited island, and a historic white lighthouse continues to be a beacon for fishermen. Experienced divers can visit an internationally-renowned dive site known as The Shark Pit. Situated at the foot of a huge rock known as Pigeon Rock, divers can witness grey reef sharks and silvertip reef sharks swimming in a circular pattern in the pit.
Following its designation as a nature reserve in 1957, this diminutive island represents one of the longest-running island restoration projects in the world and an ecological success story. Habitat restoration, eradication and reintroduction have all led to the resurgence of reptiles, birds and plants on this uninhabited island, including the recovery of the Round Island Boa from the brink of extinction. Access is not permitted unless for scientific research purposes, but the rough seas and rocky shoreline mean this rotund rock is best appreciated from a distance.
This mountainous island is the most remote and inaccessible of the five northern islands of Mauritius. Despite its name, there are no snakes on the island, but it is home to a large colony of seabirds. The water around the island is a popular spot with divers, with excellent visibility. A wall that drops to a depth of 50m creates ideal conditions for observing colourful batfish; elsewhere, reef sharks are regular visitors to a place known as Shark Arena. Access to the island is not permitted, but the surrounding waters offer plenty to enthral visitors.
*Disclaimer: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Please visit the operator’s website for further information. The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) makes no representations whatsoever about any other websites which you may access through this website. Some websites which are linked to this website are independent from the MTPA and are not under the control of the MTPA. The MTPA does not endorse or accept any responsibility for the use of websites which are owned or operated by third parties and makes no representation or warranty in relation to the standard, class or fitness for purpose of any services, nor does it endorse or in any respect warrant any products or services by virtue of any information, material or content linked from or to this site.
