Trip Report: Two Weeks in Mauritius with Kids
Updated: August 2019
| In brief | |
|---|---|
| Where | A mix of the north coast, the interior (Chamarel), and the southeast coast (Blue Bay) |
| Price | Car rental around 400-600 euros for two weeks, excluding flights and lodging |
| Time needed | Two weeks for a comfortable pace, one week as a viable minimum |
| How to get there | Direct flight from Paris CDG (about 11h); an airport-to-hotel transfer is recommended on arrival |
| Best time to go | Year-round for families; outside cyclone season (January-March) for more peace of mind |
Taking Kids to Mauritius: The Honest Version
I wish I’d found an article like this one before we left. Not a “top 10 activities for kids in Mauritius” listicle written by someone who’s never boarded a plane with a five-year-old. An article with the real information — what happens when your 9-year-old gets heatstroke on day three, how to handle a child who doesn’t like fish in a country where 80% of restaurants serve it, and whether 12 hours on a plane with a 5-year-old girl is actually a good idea.
The answer to that last question: yes, it is. Under certain conditions.
For families planning their trip, our family activities guide to Mauritius and our family itinerary complement this trip report with practical recommendations and ready-made programs.
Our Setup
We traveled as a family of four: me, my husband, our daughter Camille (5) and our son Thomas (9). Two full weeks, including 10 nights across two different lodgings and a few nights in a guesthouse in the center of the island. Mid-range budget — no 5-star hotel, but no dorm room either.
The Flight: Less Rough Than We Expected
We took a direct flight from Paris CDG with Air Mauritius — about 11 hours. The airline offers individual screens with a decent catalog of movies and cartoons for kids. I’d packed a tablet with offline downloads, coloring books, and a few small travel games.
Camille slept five hours straight, which helped enormously. Thomas watched movies for pretty much the whole flight. The return leg was a bit tougher (the kids had built up a solid resistance to sleep during the holiday), but manageable.
Practical tip: book window/aisle seats for the parents, with the kids in the middle. You’ll have aisle access without disturbing everyone at 3am. Reserve your seats as soon as you buy the tickets.
Also arrange a private airport transfer ahead of time. Arriving exhausted after 11 hours of flying with two kids and then having to negotiate a taxi in the arrivals hall at SSR airport is not ideal. A driver waiting for you with your name on a sign is the best possible start to a holiday.
Where We Stayed: Our Choices and What We Learned
First stop: family hotel in Trou-aux-Biches (5 nights)
We spent the first five nights at a mid-range family hotel in Trou aux Biches, on the north coast. Pool, beach, half-board, kids’ evening activities. The classic family choice.
What worked well: the pool (Camille spent about 70% of her time there), the safe and easily accessible beach, and being able to drop the kids off at the “kids club” for a few hours while we caught our breath. Trou-aux-Biches beach is a calm lagoon with little wave action — perfect for young kids just learning to swim.
What surprised us: the half-board food was a bit bland. Thomas, who normally eats anything, turned his nose up at the evening buffets, which leaned too heavily on generic “international tourist cuisine.” We quickly got into the habit of eating lunch out.
Tip: even with half-board, eat out for lunch as often as you can. That’s where you’ll actually discover the local food.
Second stop: family guesthouse in Chamarel (2 nights)
The real highlight of the trip. A small 4-room guesthouse in the hills of Chamarel, run by a Mauritian family who welcomed us like old friends. A tropical garden, hammocks, cats lounging everywhere, meals eaten together around one big table.
Chamarel sits in the interior of the island, among the sugarcane fields and forests of the southwest. The kids loved it: the giant tortoises at the neighboring park, the seven colored earths ten minutes away by car, the Chamarel waterfall. And sleeping in a real Mauritian home with a Mauritian family — that alone was worth more than any hotel.
Our Chamarel guide covers all the attractions of this exceptional inland region.
Third stop: apartment in Blue Bay (5 nights)
For the last stretch of the trip, we wanted a stable base and a great beach. Blue Bay, in the southeast, is known for its lagoon and marine park. We rented an apartment with a kitchen — meal flexibility is precious with kids.
Blue Bay is a gorgeous beach, but it can get busy. Go early in the morning for space and quiet.
The Activities: What Was a Hit, What Wasn’t
What was a hit
Snorkeling is the top activity for kids from age 6-7 up. In the Blue Bay lagoon, the water is clear and shallow, colorful fish are everywhere, and discovering the underwater world is an experience that stays with kids. Thomas came home wanting to be a marine biologist. A guided snorkeling trip in Blue Bay includes equipment and a guide who knows the best spots to see turtles and colorful fish.
The market in Port Louis was a revelation. I thought it would be too chaotic for the kids — I was wrong. Camille was mesmerized by the spices, the colors, the vendors calling out. Thomas discovered chili cakes (gateaux piments) and ate three in a row while crying and asking for a fourth. A moment for the ages.
The giant tortoises at the Chamarel park. Kids can get close to them, touch them gently, watch them eat. An interaction with semi-wild animals that leaves a lasting impression.
A catamaran trip on the lagoon, with a stop for swimming and an onboard picnic. Operators run family outings with lunch included. The setting is idyllic, the kids are safe (life jackets provided), and even the parents manage to relax. A catamaran excursion to Ile aux Cerfs is the ultimate family activity — kids love the boat, the swim in the lagoon, and the creole lunch served on board.
Driving through the south and west — the kids were enchanted by the colors of the Chamarel earths, the waterfalls, the monkeys crossing the road in the Macchabee forest. At 9, Thomas was taking his own photos with a disposable camera.
The pool at every place we stayed — we suspected it, but it’s worth confirming: kids can spend entire hours in a tropical pool under the Mauritian sun. Build in free time for it.
What didn’t work as well
The heatstroke on day three — Thomas played by the water too long without a hat between noon and 2pm. Nausea, headache, a high fever for 24 hours. Lesson learned the hard way: hats are mandatory, retreat to the shade between noon and 3pm, sunscreen every two hours on wet sand.
The hike up Le Morne — we tried it with both kids. Camille couldn’t make it to the top, which was predictable given her short legs. Thomas could have finished but got discouraged when his sister gave up. Save this hike for families with kids over 10-12. Our Mauritius hiking guide offers more suitable alternatives for families.
Long car rides — the island is small but the roads can be slow. Bring snacks, music, and a charged tablet for any trip over 45 minutes.
Overly fancy restaurants with kids — a mistake on our part. Some evenings, tired of searching, we picked restaurants too formal for the kids’ age. Result: Thomas got bored and Camille wanted to leave after 20 minutes. Next time: relaxed local spots, simple dishes, kid-friendly hours.
Health and Safety: What Doesn’t Get Said Enough
Mosquitoes are present in Mauritius, especially during the rainy season. Apply a kid-safe repellent from sunset onward. Mosquitoes transmit chikungunya and dengue fever — take this seriously.
Spicy food can be an issue for young children. At local restaurants, ask for dishes “sans piment” (no chili) — Mauritians understand and will happily adjust.
Tap water isn’t recommended for young kids’ sensitive stomachs. Bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth for the first few days, while their systems adjust.
Pharmacies: there is an on-duty pharmacy system in Mauritius, but not all common medications found in France are available. Bring a full first-aid kit: kid-safe pain relief, anti-diarrheal medication, antiseptic, bite cream, and any regular medications your kids take.
Swimming: while the lagoons on the north and west coasts are generally calm and safe, some areas on the east and south coasts are rougher. On the east coast (such as Roches Noires), waves can be strong — not suitable for young children. Our Mauritius beach guide rates the safety level of each beach.
Practical Logistics
Renting a car is essential for a family. Buses are impractical with luggage, kids, and shifting schedules. Car rental in Mauritius for two weeks costs around 400-600 euros depending on the vehicle — an investment that pays for itself many times over in freedom.
Two weeks is the right pace with kids — enough time to avoid rushing everywhere, enough variety to keep them interested. The first few days are unsettling (slight jet lag, heat, new surroundings), but kids adjust quickly.
Build in days with nothing planned. The best moments are often the ones with no agenda at all — a morning at the beach with no plan, an afternoon by the pool with a book. Kids need downtime as much as adults do.
What We’d Do Again
Pretty much everything, honestly. Two weeks is the right pace with kids — enough time to avoid rushing everywhere, enough variety to keep them interested. The mix of coastal hotel / inland guesthouse / apartment at the end worked really well.
If we did it again, we’d go straight for the apartment and skip the all-inclusive hotel entirely. The meal freedom, the space for the kids, the contact with local life — it’s priceless.
We’d also book the airport-to-lodging transfer ahead of time. After 11 hours of flying with two kids, that’s not the moment to improvise transport.
Mauritius with Kids: The Verdict
Mauritius is a fantastic destination for families. The lagoons are safe, Mauritians are extraordinarily kind to children, there’s no shortage of family-friendly activities, and the beauty of the landscapes is an experience in itself for younger kids.
It’s a trip that requires some sensible planning (health, logistics, pace), but it pays off enormously. My kids still get stars in their eyes when they talk about it.
For planning your own trip, our family itinerary for Mauritius offers a day-by-day program that’s tried and tested. And for the budget side, our Mauritius budget guide gives precise figures for family travel.
It’s worth everything else.
What We Wish We’d Known Beforehand
Looking back, there are several things I wish someone had explained to us before this family trip. Here they are, unfiltered.
Jet lag is almost nonexistent. Mauritius is UTC+4, a 2-3 hour difference from France depending on the season. Kids adjust within a day or two at most. It’s one of the big advantages of Mauritius compared to other far-flung destinations like the Caribbean or Asia.
Morning weather is a reliable guide. In Mauritius, if the sun is shining at 8am, chances are it’ll shine all day. Tropical showers tend to form in the mid-to-late afternoon. Plan your outdoor activities for the morning, and save afternoons for more flexible or shaded activities.
Mauritian kids are everywhere. Unlike some destinations where children are largely absent from public spaces, in Mauritius they’re everywhere — in the markets, on the beaches, in the restaurants. Your own kids will never be the only ones in the room, and Mauritians are extraordinarily patient and warm toward foreign children.
Pack something to cover up in the evenings. Mauritius’s coasts are hot during the day, but evenings can be cool in the highlands or windy on certain sides of the island. After sunset, a light jacket or long-sleeved sweater is appreciated, especially for kids.
An Activity-by-Activity Breakdown
To help those planning their own trip, here’s a quick breakdown of activities by age group, based on our experience with Camille (5) and Thomas (9).
| Age | Recommended activities | To avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6 | Pool, calm-lagoon beach (north/west coast), Chamarel giant tortoises, botanical gardens, market with parents | Long hikes, diving, multi-hour boat excursions |
| 6-10 | Lagoon snorkeling with a life jacket, catamaran excursion, Chamarel earths, Port Louis market, seaside cycling | Le Morne hike (too demanding), scuba diving |
| 10 and up | Le Morne hike, introductory scuba dive, dolphins at Tamarin, kayaking, distillery visit | Few restrictions at this age, adapt based on the child’s stamina |
For under 6s: pool, calm-lagoon beach (north coast, west coast), aquarium (if there’s one in your area), giant tortoises, botanical garden visits, market with parents.
For 6-10s: lagoon snorkeling (with a life jacket), catamaran excursion to Ile aux Cerfs, visiting the Chamarel earths, the Port Louis market, cycling along the seafront.
For 10 and up: hiking Le Morne (tough but doable), an introductory scuba dive, swimming with dolphins at Tamarin, kayaking in the lagoon, a distillery visit (Chamarel).
The Best Beaches for Young Children
Not all beaches in Mauritius are equal when it comes to swimming with little ones. The lagoons on the north and west coasts, protected by the coral reef, generally offer calm, shallow water: Trou aux Biches, Mont Choisy and Flic en Flac are especially well suited.
On the east coast, some areas like Roches Noires get more swell and wind, better saved for older kids who are comfortable in the water. Our guide to the best beaches for families breaks down the safety and amenities (shade, nearby food) at each spot.
The Lodging Question: Our Final Verdict
After this trip, I’m convinced that with kids, an apartment or a family guesthouse is by far the best option.
An all-inclusive hotel is a comfortable option, but it creates a bubble that isolates you from the country. You eat in the same place every night, you see the same tourists, you barely speak to any Mauritians. The kids have a blast in the pool, sure — but they come home having learned nothing about Mauritius.
An apartment with a kitchen, on the other hand, pushes you (in a good way) to shop at the local market, look for a neighborhood restaurant, ask locals for recommendations. Thomas had his own conversation in Kreol with the local baker and still talks about it. Camille learned to pick out a ripe papaya at the market. These small things are priceless.
Our Mauritius accommodation guide lists the best apartments and family guesthouses across every region of the island.
Our Practical Kit for Family Travel
Looking back, a few pieces of gear and habits really made a difference: wide-brimmed hats and high-SPF sunscreen for both kids, reusable water bottles, an age-appropriate mosquito repellent, and a full first-aid kit, since some common medications from France aren’t easy to find on the island.
Our Mauritius health guide and our packing checklist cover these preparations in detail. As for the flight, jet lag is a non-issue — keeping kids entertained for eleven hours in the air is trickier; our roundup of useful travel apps includes offline ideas for long journeys.