Where to Stay in Belle Mare: Luxury Resorts and an Endless Beach on the East Coast

Belle Mare, Mauritius’s benchmark for luxury

Some beaches simply win everyone over. Belle Mare is one of them. This ribbon of white sand stretching over nine kilometres, fringed by a dazzling turquoise lagoon and shielded by a barrier reef that breaks the waves well before they reach the shore, is regularly ranked among the finest beaches in the Indian Ocean. The big hotel groups have known this for a long time, and the Belle Mare coastline today is home to some of the most prestigious properties in Mauritius.

But Belle Mare isn’t only about its palaces. The area also has a handful of mid-range accommodations, secluded villa rentals, and, on its outskirts, guest houses for travellers on a tighter budget. The choice depends on what you’re after: if your goal is to swim in a dream lagoon and enjoy the best-preserved beach on the island, Belle Mare is hard to beat.

To understand the differences between the coasts and choose your base, our east coast vs west coast comparison will give you all the answers. For water activities from Belle Mare, our snorkelling and diving guide details the best spots nearby.

At a glance

Where	East coast of Mauritius, between Palmar and Trou d’Eau Douce
Accommodation type	5-star resorts, a few mid-range hotels, villas and guest houses on the outskirts
Indicative price	About 80 to 200 EUR/night in a small hotel, 300 to 900 EUR/night in a luxury resort
How to get there	About 45 minutes to 1 hour by car from SSR Airport
Best time to visit	April to June and September to October for the best weather-to-price ratio

How long should you stay in Belle Mare?

Belle Mare is well suited to a “do-nothing” style of stay, and the ideal number of nights mostly depends on the rest of your itinerary. For a couple or family who simply want to enjoy the lagoon and the resort, 4 to 5 nights are enough to settle in without feeling stuck. If you’re combining Belle Mare with a 10-day itinerary or longer that includes other parts of the island, 3 to 4 nights at the end or in the middle of the trip let you unwind after the busier sightseeing in the north or south.

Honeymooners and travellers celebrating an anniversary often opt for a full week on-site without moving, betting everything on the quality of the resort and the beach. It’s a formula that makes real sense in Belle Mare precisely because the beach and lagoon are on a level rarely matched elsewhere on the island.

The Belle Mare beach: what sets it apart

The Belle Mare beach is public along most of its length. Luxury hotels have set up shop here, but they cannot legally privatise the shoreline. That means you can access it and stroll along it even without staying at a resort. Sun loungers, parasols and beach services, however, are reserved for hotel guests.

The lagoon is particularly calm and shallow for several hundred metres, making it one of the best beaches on the island for family swimming. The water is clear, warm at between 25 and 29 degrees depending on the season, and virtually free of dangerous currents. Tropical fish can be spotted while snorkelling near the coral reefs.

The atmosphere is calmer than in Trou aux Biches or Grand Baie up north: fewer jet skis, less noise, an international resort clientele looking for peace and quiet. The flip side is that Belle Mare is quieter in the evening, with few independent restaurants in the area. It’s an unapologetic resort destination, not a lively tourist village.

The beach stretches over 9 kilometres between its northern edge (Palmar) and Trou d’Eau Douce to the south. The different sections each have their own character: the central part sees the most resort traffic, while the ends are often better preserved and less crowded. Travellers renting a villa nearby can explore these quieter stretches.

The great luxury properties in Belle Mare

Constance Belle Mare Plage

This is the area’s historic property, often ranked among the five best hotels in Mauritius. Run by the Mauritian group Constance Hotels, it sits on a sprawling beachfront estate with several pools, a benchmark spa, and a highly regarded 18-hole golf course. The clientele is mainly European (French, British, German). High-season rates exceed 700 EUR per night for a double room, but the value-for-experience is generally rated excellent by a loyal clientele that returns time and again.

The spa at Constance Belle Mare Plage is considered one of the best on the island. The golf course sits right next to the hotel and benefits from a remarkably well-kept course with lagoon views. The hotel also offers a full programme of water activities from its private beach.

One&Only Le Saint Géran

Le Saint Géran has a history that goes beyond the hotel itself: the property takes its name from the shipwreck of the same name in 1744, an event immortalised by Bernardin de Saint-Pierre in his novel Paul et Virginie. Now run by the One&Only group, it offers suites and villas on a private peninsula with beach access on both sides. The experience is thoroughly premium, with a very generous space-per-guest ratio and rare personalised service. Budget: from 900 EUR per night.

Shangri-La Le Touessrok

Located in Trou d’Eau Douce, at the northern edge of Belle Mare, Shangri-La Le Touessrok is one of the jewels of the east coast. It sits on a peninsula with access to a private island — Ile aux Cerfs — via a regular shuttle included for guests. Elegant contemporary architecture, a top-quality spa, and several internationally rated fine-dining restaurants. Slightly more accessible than its rivals during certain off-peak periods, it occasionally offers rates around 450 EUR per night.

From Le Touessrok, the excursion to Ile aux Cerfs is particularly easy: the hotel’s private shuttle whisks guests there in a few minutes, to a white-sand paradise that visitors without on-site accommodation must reach from Trou d’Eau Douce instead.

Long Beach Golf & Spa Resort

Set on a beautiful stretch of beach, Long Beach pairs access to a quality golf course with rooms that are more spacious than average for the area’s resorts. The property is often seen as slightly less formal than its neighbours, which suits families with children well. All-inclusive packages are available and represent good value over a full week. The spa is comprehensive, with an indoor pool and a wide range of treatments.

Mid-range accommodation and alternatives to resorts

Small hotels and residences

Belle Mare and its immediate surroundings (Palmar, Quatre Cocos) offer a few alternatives to the palaces: residences with apartments or studios, and small hotels of 10 to 30 rooms run by independent Mauritian owners. Rates range from 80 to 200 EUR a night for a double room. The beach is a few minutes’ walk away, sometimes less well positioned than in front of the big resorts but just as pleasant for a daily swim.

These smaller properties often have a charm the big chains lack: personalised welcome, knowledgeable local tips on the best places to eat nearby, and a flexibility the large groups can’t offer.

Villa rentals

The Belle Mare and Palmar area has a good stock of private villas for rent, often with a pool, garden and quick beach access. This option is especially popular with large families or groups of friends who want space and flexibility. Expect 300 to 800 EUR per night for a villa with a pool, depending on size and quality. Local agencies and international platforms list hundreds of options for the east coast. To compare villas versus resorts, our villa vs hotel comparison guide will help you decide.

Guest houses in Palmar and Quatre Cocos

Looking slightly north of Belle Mare, in the villages of Palmar and Quatre Cocos, you’ll find more affordable Mauritian guest houses. These small-scale properties offer rooms between 40 and 80 EUR a night, without a resort’s amenities but with quick beach access by car or bike. It’s a good option for travellers who want to enjoy the east coast without paying palace rates, particularly for those on a tighter budget who can also check our budget accommodation guide.

When to book in Belle Mare?

Belle Mare and the east coast of Mauritius benefit from a distinctive microclimate: the mountain range in the island’s centre partly shields the east coast from the rain that falls more heavily in the west during the austral summer. As a result, the east coast is often sunny even when the west coast is cloudy, particularly between November and March. It’s one of its lesser-known advantages.

The best months are: April-June and September-October, for the gentlest rates and excellent weather. July-August is pleasant but windier, with prices at their peak. The November-December period is prized for its light and warm waters, with rates gradually rising as Christmas approaches. Weather in Mauritius varies significantly by coast and season — check our guide to plan ahead.

For the big resorts, it’s advisable to book at least 3 to 4 months ahead during high season (July-August and December-January). Last-minute bookings in Belle Mare are rare, and last-minute prices are generally higher than booking early, unlike some destinations where last-minute deals are common.

Eating and going out around Belle Mare

Let’s be honest: Belle Mare is a resort destination, not a hub of lively local life. Independent restaurants are few and far between in the immediate area. The big hotel brands each run several restaurants, covering most culinary needs — but hotel restaurant prices are significantly higher than local dining.

For an authentic culinary experience, you’ll need to drive to Mahebourg to the south or to Centre de Flacq inland. Mahebourg has a lively market and restaurants serving genuine Mauritian cuisine at local prices. The distance is about 20 to 30 minutes.

Nightlife is virtually non-existent in Belle Mare outside of hotel bars and restaurants. This isn’t a destination for a lively evening scene — travellers looking for a party atmosphere will be better off in Grand Baie.

Transport and accessibility from Belle Mare

The east coast is less well served by public transport than the north of the island. Buses run along the main road between Mahebourg and Centre de Flacq, but stops are far from the hotels and frequency is limited. A rental car is almost essential if you plan to move around, unless you intend to stay within your resort most of the time — which many palace guests deliberately choose to do.

For airport transfers, our transfer guide explains all the options: taxi (35 to 50 EUR to Belle Mare from the airport), shared minibus, or a rental car picked up on site. The journey takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on traffic.

If you opt for a car, our driving in Mauritius guide covers the basics, including driving on the left and speed limits in tourist areas.

Activities from Belle Mare

Snorkelling and diving around the east coast reefs are of good quality, particularly around Palmar and Trou d’Eau Douce. Our snorkelling and diving guide to Mauritius details the best spots accessible from the east coast.

The star excursion from Belle Mare is unquestionably Ile aux Cerfs — a white-sand paradise reached from Trou d’Eau Douce by speedboat or catamaran. It’s one of the island’s most popular excursions, and it’s all the easier from Belle Mare given the short distance. A day on a catamaran with lunch on Ile aux Cerfs is the most comfortable way to get there: book the Ile aux Cerfs catamaran with lunch.

Catamaran outings on the lagoons along the east coast are particularly beautiful: the waters are clear, marine life is abundant, and sunsets seen from offshore have a uniquely golden light. For snorkelling without a catamaran, the Blue Bay Marine Park is under an hour away and is well worth the trip: Blue Bay Marine Park snorkelling excursion.

Land-based activities include excursions to Mahebourg and its historical museum, the Rochester Falls on the south coast, and Black River Gorges National Park, about an hour away by car.

Indicative budget for a stay in Belle Mare

For a week in a 5-star resort in Belle Mare on half-board, expect between 5,000 and 12,000 EUR for two people depending on the resort and the season. The most attractive rates are in May-June and September-October.

For a stay in a villa with a pool (4 to 6 people), weekly costs run between 2,000 and 5,000 EUR depending on size and location. For a week in a small residence or guest house in Palmar, expect 500 to 900 EUR in accommodation costs for two, plus food and activities.

Our Mauritius budget guide gives detailed ranges for every spending category.

Verdict: who should choose Belle Mare?

Belle Mare stands out as the top choice for honeymooners and couples celebrating an anniversary who want absolute luxury facing an exceptional beach, families looking for an ultra-calm, safe lagoon for their children, and travellers who want the experience of a great Mauritian resort without compromising on quality.

It’s also an ideal destination for combining a week of beach lounging with a few excursions to the south and east of the island, particularly Ile aux Cerfs and Mahebourg.

For tight budgets or travellers seeking local authenticity, Belle Mare won’t be the first choice. Mahebourg, Tamarin or Grand Baie will suit their expectations better. Addresses that combine good value and a lovely beach on the east coast are found more around Trou d’Eau Douce or towards Mahebourg to the south.

The question that determines the choice between Belle Mare and the west coast often boils down to this: do you prefer a spectacular lagoon with very high-end hotels, or a livelier coast with more diverse tourist infrastructure? Our east coast vs west coast comparison will help you decide for good.