Destinations / Mauritius
Mauritius with kids
Mauritius is one of the few beach destinations where family resorts include a free kids' club for 3 to 11 year olds and a teens' club for older children, so parents get real time off. The reef-protected lagoons are calm on the north and west coasts, and unlike the Maldives you can leave the resort for a safari park, a lagoon island or a day on the road. It suits families who want both beach and a few outings.
Mauritius
Which ages it suits
Ages 0–2 · Good
Baby care rooms and babysitting at the Beachcomber resorts; the long flight is the main issue.
Ages 3–6 · Great
Free kids' clubs start at age 3 at the Beachcomber resorts, and the lagoons are calm and shallow in places.
Ages 7–12 · Great
Casela's animal activities, snorkelling and a day on Ile aux Cerfs keep this age occupied.
Ages 13–17 · Great
Free teen clubs (12–17 at Beachcomber) plus water sports and diving.
When to go with children
Weather for kids and school-holiday crowds together. Best: May, June, September, October, November.
- January · 28°C
- Hot, humid and the peak of the cyclone season (roughly November to April); heavy rain spells are common.
- March · 28°C
- Still within the cyclone season; fine days are common but heavy rain or a named storm can disrupt trips.
- May · 26°C
- Cyclone risk drops, weather is dry and warm, and prices are below the July and August peak.
- July · 24°C
- Cooler, drier winter; windier on the east and south coasts, and European school-holiday prices apply.
- October · 25°C
- One of the best months: dry, warm and relatively quiet.
- December · 27°C
- Christmas pricing and school holidays; warm, humid and showery, with cyclone risk building.
Parks and days out, by car
Typical minutes by car from Trou aux Biches. School-holiday traffic can add a lot.
A day on the northern lagoon islands with snorkelling and lunch; check life-jacket sizes for young children when booking.
Best for 5–17 · Tickets on GetYourGuide
A 350-hectare park on the west coast with a petting farm, a toboggan, a drive-through big-cat section and guided lion and cheetah encounters; open daily 9am to 5pm and closed 25 December and 1 January. The official page lists no standard foreign-visitor price, so check before you go.
Best for 3–14 · Tickets on GetYourGuide · Official site
A small island with white beaches and shallow water, open daily 09:00 to 18:00, reached by a shuttle boat every 30 minutes from Pointe Maurice or by independent speedboat tours from Trou d'Eau Douce; offers snorkelling, parasailing and other water sports and has little shade.
Best for 4–17 · Official site
The UNESCO-listed mountain at the island's south-western tip; treat it as a view and a lagoon-kite-surf area rather than a hike for younger children.
Best for 10–17
Beachcomber resorts offer free land and water sports; check conditions with staff, as the lagoon is shallower and calmer on the north-west coast than on the exposed east coast.
Best for 5–17
Where to stay
North and Grand Baie
Calm bay, lots of restaurants, and the safest base for small children; resorts here are a longer transfer from the airport.
North-west (Trou aux Biches)
Quiet lagoon beach with a family-sized resort, close to Grand Baie.
East coast (Belle Mare)
Long white beach and the departure points for Ile aux Cerfs; breezier and more exposed, so water is less calm.
South-west (Le Morne)
A wide lagoon below Le Morne mountain, popular with kite-surfers; better for older children.
Family resorts we checked
A free kids' club with its own pool and restaurant, plus villas with private pools, on nearly two kilometres of lagoon beach.
A vast lagoon beside the resort and a free kids' club with its own pool.
Free kids' and teens' clubs and two-bedroom apartments at the mid end of the Beachcomber range.
A beach-front free kids' club and a baby care room.
All-inclusive with kids' clubs from 4 months and a dedicated family pool.
⚠ A guest review dated 10/10/2026 on the Club Med page reports maintenance problems; there is no official closure notice.
The same free 3–11 club as the dearer Beachcombers, in the lowest-priced tier of the group.
A 10-night trip, paced for kids
Arrive and settle
Plan for a transfer of up to about an hour and a quarter. Spend two days at the resort, with the kids' club for an hour or two.
Lagoon days
Snorkel and swim in the morning in calmer water, and rest in the afternoon heat. Try one catamaran or boat trip.
Casela
Go for the day when it opens at 9am for the animals and the petting farm, with a pause for lunch. Keep the next day quiet.
Ile aux Cerfs
Take the shuttle boat from Pointe Maurice or a speedboat tour, taking hats and shade. Return by late afternoon.
Beach and Port Louis
One cultural morning at Port Louis market, then a last beach afternoon before the flight.
Good to know
- The catch
- Travelling between coasts takes longer than the map suggests, so pick one coast as a base and pair it with only one or two excursions.
- Flights
- Direct flights from London in roughly 12 hours exist; from Germany and the US expect one stop via Paris, Dubai or Johannesburg. Check current schedules.
- Jet lag
- Mauritius is UTC+4: about 3 to 4 hours ahead of the UK and 8 to 9 ahead of the US East Coast; most children adjust in a day or two.
- Health
- No malaria on the island; dengue and chikungunya have occurred in past outbreaks, so use repellent; strong sun year round; tap water is usually safe but many drink bottled.
- Safety
- Generally low-crime and welcoming to families; check the current UK FCDO and US State Department advice, especially in the cyclone season.
- Getting around
- A rental car (drive on the left) or private driver is best; bring child seats, as availability varies; main roads are good but narrow in towns.
- Budget
- About $330 a night for a mid-range family room for four, $800 for luxury, plus about $90 a day for food, transport and outings.
Pairs well with: Maldives, South Africa, Bali
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