Photo: Tihomir Šarčević via Google
The verdict
- Best forFamilies wanting calm, shallow lagoons, shade and easy facilities, where young children can paddle safely and there is plenty to do nearby.
- Top pickMont Choisy for its long calm lagoon and shade, with Trou aux Biches the gentle, well served runner up.
- One thing to knowThe reef rings most of the coast, so the sheltered north and west beaches give families warm, shallow, gently shelving water with little surf.
Published 21 January 2026. Last reviewed 16 May 2026. Conditions are typical and never guaranteed.
Mauritius is one of the easiest beach islands in the world for a family, because the reef that rings most of the coast turns the lagoons into vast, calm, shallow swimming pools of warm clear water. On the sheltered north and west coasts the sea barely has a wave, the sand shelves gently, and casuarina trees throw shade right to the water, which is close to ideal for young children and nervous swimmers. Add easy facilities, food nearby and plenty of day trips, and family days plan themselves.
We have ranked the beaches that work best for families, weighing how calm and shallow the lagoon is, how much natural shade and how many facilities sit behind the sand, and how easy each beach is to reach and spend a whole day at. The standouts pair gentle, gently shelving water with shade, parking, toilets and food close by, plus snorkelling or a glass bottom boat to keep older children happy, so the whole family is looked after in one place.
Best family beaches in Mauritius
Scored on calm shallow water, shade and facilities. The honest note on which beaches to skip with children is below.
Mont Choisy
The family favourite, a long sweeping bay with a calm, shallow lagoon and a deep band of casuarina shade behind the sand, room to spread out and easy parking. The water stays gentle a long way out, there are food vans and facilities nearby, and the sheer size means it rarely feels cramped even on a busy weekend.
Trou aux Biches
Often rated the island's best all rounder, with a calm, shallow turquoise lagoon, soft sand, shade and good facilities including snorkelling off the beach. It is gentle and safe feeling for children, pretty enough for the adults and well served with shops and restaurants close by, an easy and reliable family day.
Pereybere
A compact, lively village beach with a calm, shallow lagoon and shops, cafes and ice cream right behind the sand, handy when you have children to feed and entertain. It is busier and smaller than Mont Choisy, but the convenience and the gentle water make it a popular, practical family choice in the north.
Belle Mare
A long, beautiful white sand beach on the east with a wide, shallow lagoon and plenty of space, good for families who want room to roam. The east is breezier than the north, which keeps it fresh, and the calm inner lagoon is fine for paddling, though it can be windier so check the day before settling in.
Blue Bay
Famous for its clear, protected lagoon and marine park, Blue Bay is a winner for families with snorkellers, with calm shallow water and glass bottom boat trips over the coral. The beach itself is small and can get busy, but the gentle water and the easy reef life make it a memorable, child friendly outing.
Flic en Flac
A very long west coast beach with a calm lagoon, sunset views and a good spread of shops and restaurants behind the sand. There is space for everyone, gentle water for paddling and easy facilities, making it a dependable family base, though the central stretch can get lively at weekends with local visitors.
Who it suits, who should skip
For families, the sheltered north and west are the safe bets, and Mont Choisy is the standout, a long shady bay with calm shallow water and room to spread out. Trou aux Biches matches it for gentleness and adds good snorkelling, Pereybere puts everything within steps of the sand, and Blue Bay turns a beach day into a reef adventure for older children. These beaches give you warm, gently shelving lagoons, shade and facilities in one place, which is exactly what a day with young children needs.
Some of the island's most dramatic beaches are wrong for small children, and it is worth knowing which to skip. Gris Gris on the south coast has no protecting reef, with waves crashing on rocks and no safe swimming, so it is for the view rather than a paddle. Le Morne is glorious but its lagoon is a kitesurf zone with wind and equipment about, better admired than used as a toddler beach. The east coast beaches like Belle Mare are lovely but breezier, so pick a calm day. There are no lifeguards on most public beaches, so supervise children closely, keep them in the shallows, and remember we describe typical conditions only with no safety guarantees.
Where to book a daybed
Mauritius is not a beach club island in the Mediterranean sense, so a serviced family day usually means a resort with a beach and pools rather than a standalone club. The luxury here lives inside the hotels, each with its own beach bar, pool and often a kids club, open year round whatever the weather.
The one genuine public beach club is C Beach Club at Bel Ombre on the south coast, open to visitors as well as resort guests, with day beds, a pool, a restaurant and a day pass that can suit families wanting a polished base for the day. Tell us your dates and party size and we will pass your enquiry on so any day pass or minimum spend can be confirmed. See our Mauritius beach clubs guide for the detail.
Book a beach club in Mauritius
Before you go
Which is the best beach in Mauritius for families?
Mont Choisy in the north is the standout, with a long calm shallow lagoon, deep casuarina shade and easy parking and food nearby. Trou aux Biches is an equally gentle alternative with good snorkelling, and Blue Bay suits families who want to snorkel a protected reef. All sit on sheltered coasts with warm, gently shelving water.
Are Mauritius beaches safe for young children?
The sheltered north and west lagoons are calm, shallow and gently shelving, which is close to ideal for young children, though most public beaches have no lifeguards. Supervise children closely, keep them in the shallows, and avoid the wild south coast beaches like Gris Gris where the reef gap brings waves and rocks. We describe typical conditions only and make no safety guarantees.
Which beaches should families avoid in Mauritius?
Gris Gris on the south coast has no protecting reef and is not safe for swimming, suited to the view rather than a paddle. Le Morne is a kitesurf zone with wind and equipment, better for watching than for small children. The east coast can be windy, so check conditions. Stick to the calm north and west lagoons with young children.
Do family beaches in Mauritius have shade and facilities?
The best ones do. Mont Choisy and Trou aux Biches have deep casuarina shade, parking, toilets and food nearby, and Pereybere puts shops and cafes right behind the sand. Bring your own water and sun protection too, as facilities vary and the tropical sun is strong even on cloudy days.
Is snorkelling good for children in Mauritius?
Yes, in the calm lagoons. Trou aux Biches has gentle snorkelling off the beach, and Blue Bay marine park is excellent, with glass bottom boats for children who prefer to stay dry. Keep young snorkellers in the shallows with a buoyancy aid and an adult close by, away from boat channels and the deeper water beyond the reef.
When is the best time for a family beach holiday in Mauritius?
The cool, dry winter from May to November is the most comfortable, with calm water on the sheltered coasts and lower humidity, and the shoulder months of April, May, September and October are ideal. The warm summer from December to April is hotter and wetter with a small cyclone risk early in the year. Conditions are typical and never guaranteed.