Grand Baie, Mauritius: What We Did in Our First Week
Published 30 October 2026
Grand Baie was our first stop in Mauritius, and it's where we found our feet: a big first grocery shop, a gym with a pool, sunset drinks at LUX and the northern-islands catamaran day that I'd plan a north-coast stay around again. We were there for eight nights, from 13 to 21 August 2026, so a little longer than a week, before driving down to Tamarin.
Quick answer: is Grand Baie worth staying in?
Yes, for the start of a trip or a few nights in the north. It's easy and convenient, with supermarkets, gyms, takeaway and the boat trips to Flat Island and Îlot Gabriel leaving from the harbour, which we could walk to from our Airbnb. For the everyday café-and-beach lifestyle, Tamarin was our favourite base, so I'd make Grand Baie your north-coast chapter rather than the whole trip.
Our first eight nights
We stayed in an Airbnb with a kitchen, a desk to work from and outdoor space. It cost A$615 for the two of us for eight nights, which worked out at about A$38 each per night in August 2026.
After arriving from Seychelles, our first grocery shop felt amazing. We were right near a shopping mall at La Croisette, and the supermarket had everything: really good fruit and veggies, good meat, steaks and a roast chicken covered in a tandoori-style spice we'd never had before. I know it sounds ridiculous, but having a proper supermarket again felt like being back home!
Two practical things from that first week. We took cash out at the airport with our Wise card with no fees, which was handy because a lot of private transfers only take cash. And we hired our car through our Airbnb host, which worked out really well. We kept it for the whole month (MUR13,500 each for the month), and I'd hire one again.
The where-to-stay guide compares Grand Baie with Tamarin and Blue Bay, and our cost article shows what the whole month cost us.
The northern-islands catamaran
This was the day I'd keep in any north-coast stay, and Daniel rated it 9 out of 10. We booked it from a brochure in our Airbnb, walked to the port for an 8:20am check-in and left at about 8:40.
The crossing takes about an hour and 15 to 30 minutes, and the swell was big both ways. It didn't feel too bad on a catamaran, but if you get seasick, take something before you go. There were about 30 people on our boat, and some of the other boats had more.
We went to Flat Island first, where lunch was a proper feast on the island: chicken, sausages, fresh fish, pasta salad, rice, salad and bread, with soft drinks, home-made cocktails with Mauritian rum and local beer. Then a dinghy took us across to Îlot Gabriel, where we spent a few hours just chilling, swimming and snorkelling. We also passed a third island you're not allowed to land on. The water out there was so beautiful!
Our trip cost MUR2,037 each in August 2026. Our catamaran guide has the full day and what to ask before you book. It's a northern-islands trip, so it's a different day from the Île aux Cerfs boats on the east coast.
Sunset drinks at LUX Grand Baie
If you do one evening out in Grand Baie, make it sunset drinks at LUX. The rooftop view is incredible, the cocktails are amazing, they have lots of local beers and there's tapas-style food, plus a restaurant at the top. Daniel gave it a 10 out of 10 for sunset drinks.
It is on the pricier side. We spent MUR2,562 each that evening in August 2026, and the price per head was around MUR2,000, so plan it as a treat. We didn't stay at LUX, we just went up for drinks.
The gym, food and everyday bits
We go to the gym a lot when we travel, and Ennoia in Grand Baie was a really good one: modern equipment, a sauna and a pool with lap lanes, which were included in the price. We got a seven-day pass for MUR2,750 each because we were there for a week, and after a Saturday workout and some pool laps we'd grab a protein shake from the smoothie bar attached.
For food we mostly cooked, with a few easy wins. We're absolute suckers for Nando's (it's been our favourite takeaway this year), so it's a bit of a strange one in Mauritius, but it never disappoints. We also had lunch and worked from Island Babe Healthy Food. The courtyard is beautiful, the smoothies were great and the Wi-Fi was good, but the coffee was from a pod machine and cost about A$10, so I'd go for a smoothie and the setting rather than the coffee.
Beaches near Grand Baie
The northern-island beaches are part of the boat day, so you can't just drive to them from a Grand Baie apartment.
For an easy beach on land, Trou aux Biches is about 15 minutes away. It's really flat and good for swimming, so great with kids, with free parking, toilets, change rooms, outdoor showers and food stalls next to the beach. There's also a dive centre and lots of boats going out. Daniel gave the beach itself a 7 out of 10: nice, but not the nicest we saw in Mauritius.
For the beaches we loved most, read the Mauritius beach guide.
What I'd compare for accommodation
For a self-catering stay like ours, I'd compare Dodo Square Residence for its apartment layout, kitchen and location. For a resort splurge, Royal Palm Beachcomber Luxury is a completely different kind of stay. If you're choosing Grand Baie mainly for the boat day, check the walk to the port from wherever you book.
Moving on from the north
After eight nights we drove south-west to Tamarin, where we spent most of our month. It had the café routine, the gym and easy outings to Le Morne, Black River and Chamarel. The Tamarin guide shows why it became our favourite.
On a ten-day holiday, I'd give Grand Baie two or three nights for the boat day and LUX, then base yourself in the south-west. Our itinerary shows how I'd split it.
Watch our Mauritius trip
Watch our Mauritius vlog on YouTube, 45m21s. This is also our newest public full-length video, verified for this article.
FAQs about Grand Baie
How many nights did you stay?
Eight nights, from 13 to 21 August 2026, in an Airbnb near La Croisette.
Did you stay at LUX Grand Baie?
No. We went up for sunset drinks and tapas. We slept in our Airbnb.
Is the northern catamaran the Île aux Cerfs trip?
No. Our trip went from Grand Baie to Flat Island and Îlot Gabriel. Île aux Cerfs is on the east coast.
Is the catamaran crossing rough?
It was for us. The swell was big on the way out and back, about an hour and 15 to 30 minutes each way, so take seasickness medication beforehand if you need it.
Would you spend the whole month in Grand Baie?
No. Grand Baie was a great start, but Tamarin was the everyday base we loved most.
