Pointe D'esny Area Profile

Pointe D'esny at a glance

Not as developed as its surroundings, the peaceful east coastline is picked straight from a postcard. The picturesque coast has kilometres of white sandy beach and clear blue ocean. The coast is dotted with resorts and boutique hotels where you'll often spot celebrities and the odd royal enjoying all that the east has to offer. Some more recognizable villages are Belle Mare, Ile aux Cerfs, Poste Lafayette, Central Flacq, Poste de Flacq, Beau Champ, Pointe d'Esnay, Grand River South East, Vieux Grand Port, Blue Bay and Bambous Virieux.

With the east being the windiest coast of all, you can expect a cool summery breeze and some epic onshore for some kitesurfing and sailing fun. From Roches Noires and Post Lafayette in the northeast down to Bois des Amourettes and Vieux Grand Port in the south, the East coast is made up of the Flacq and Grand Port Districts.

Once you leave the wild Northern coastline, you'll arrive at quaint fishing villages and peaceful white sandy beaches. This coastline is perfect for a lazy day at the beach shaded by trees and some fun in the sun. Île Aux Cerfs, Belle Mare and Blue Bay are spectacular beaches, and the azure sea invites you in for a family swim.

Flacq, Poste de Flacq and Centre de Flacq

Flacq is an interesting place and an excellent showcase of the melting pot that is Mauritian life. The Flacq district takes its name from the Dutch word "vlak" or flat land. This region is covered in sugar cane crops, dotted with Hindu temples as well as a few old deserted lime kilns. Poste de Flacq is situated on the coast and is beautiful for mountain biking, leisurely walks and although more rocky than the remaining coastline, swimming in the bright blue ocean. Bent over filao trees shade the beaches and rocky reef is perfect for snorkelling.

Travel inland, and you'll find Centre de Flacq, the main village in the Flacq district and the central point of transportation. Know simply as Flacq to locals, this village hosts the biggest open-air market on the island with budget-friendly apparel, fruit and vegetables on offer.

Bras d'Eau is a definite must just north of Poste Lafayette. Over 1000 acres this national park is a lush seaside forest to explore. Grab a map from the visitor's centre, take a scenic walk, enjoy the natural pools and see if you can spot the enigmatic Mascarene paradise flycatcher.

Domaine de l'Étoile

This sugar estate was initially built for the production of Paul and Virginie, a seventies film written by Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre a French author and botanist. Lying at the base of the Bambous Mountains, Domaine de l'Étoile is a staggering 16 000 hectare eco-estate where plenty of family-friendly adventures await.

There are plenty of activities here to keep you busy such as hiking, archery, horse-riding and quad biking to the Le Fenêtre, a viewing point overlooking panoramic views of Port Louis. Make sure to check out the self-guided treks through the ebony and cinnamon trees. There are also buggy trips on offer that can be taken day or night. Try out the night time drive to try and spot Javanese deer. One of the main attractions is the longest zipline experience in the world clocking in at a whopping 3.5 km.

Grande Rivière Sud Est (Grand River South East)

Grand River South East is the longest river in Mauritius, and it winds for 35km before opening up as it meets the sea at Grand River bay. The name was coined by Dutch settlers, Groote Rivier, and used as a storage and shipping area for the transportation of ebony in the 17th century. It is now filled with speedboats and sailors zooming up and down the bay.

The waterfalls are small but beautiful, and their spray can be visited up the river in kayaks and small fishing boats. A walkway is being built in Camp des Pêcheurs that will take you to a viewing deck of the falls, but the best way to experience it in all it's glory is to book a guided sunset trip with tour groups like Otentic and see if you can spot the indigenous macaque monkeys.

Belle Mare

The wonderful Belle Mare or Beautiful Sea is an exquisite 10km beach strip with powdery white sandy shores and is shaded in part by the local Casuarina trees. It is most definitely one of the island's most pristine beaches with a beautiful array of boutique and upmarket hotels. However, it still has a laid back quality to it, and the village is mostly a farming settlement.

This region is bustling all year round as visitors explore the scenery, the breathtaking Mauritian sunrises, the remarkable beaches, and the epic lagoon. With protected reef and sea life, the top activity here is snorkelling and diving at The Pass, which is just offshore. It's also an excellent spot for fishing excursions and day hikes.

Trou d'Eau Douce and Île Aux Cerfs

Trou d'Eau Douce is a small fishing village with a population of around 5800 people. It is small, and not much goes on here in this sleepy hamlet, but it has several restaurants and other attractions. A thoroughfare for much of the tourist travel in the area, Trou d'Eau Douce or Sweet Waterhole is an excellent base for travelling the East Coast. This is by no means a bustling village, but it's primary attraction is the pristine Île aux Cerfs which is a quick boat ride across the bay.

Île aux Cerfs is a 280-hectare island just off the coast and is home to exquisite white sandy beaches and picture-perfect azure water. It is truly a picturesque Mauritian experience and the most popular tourist destination on the island. Here there are restaurants to enjoy, watersports, a round of golf on offer at Le Touessrok course and adventure acrobranching awaits at the Le Parcours Aventure. Shuttle boat trips are easily arranged from Pointe Maurice to visit this spectacular Mauritian must-see.

Vieux Grand Port and Surrounds

Vieux Grand Port is the oldest village on the island and the first place the Dutch landed in Mauritius in 1598. It lies below Lion Mountain, and you can visit the colonial ruins at Fort Frederik Hendrik Museum that commemorates the area where the Dutch first landed. Vieux Grand Port is a sleepy seaside village and a wonderful place to visit if you're looking for some lazy beach reclining.

Lion Mountain is a must-see and one of the island's most distinct peaks at almost 500m high and shaped like a ferocious feline it towers over Vieux Grand Port. It is a two-hour climb to its peak, and you can go alone or book with a tour company to hear about the local history and this mysterious mountain.

From here you can explore the rough coastal roads south to find the Bambous Mountain. Here in the laid back Grand Port district, there are eco-parks to visit and lovely glamping facilities to enjoy near Grande Rivière Sud Est. Just south you can follow the winding route to Grand Port Bay.

Pointe du Diable and the Battle of Grand Port

Pointe du Diable or Devil's point named after it's dubious geomagnetic forces that once threw ships off course provides a breathtaking view of Grand Port, one of the area's largest bays. French cannons can be found at the viewpoints once used in the 18th century Battle of Grand Port where the French and British Naval armies vied for possession of the bay during the Napoleanic Wars. Notably, this battle is commemorated on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris being one of the only naval battles that the British lost to the French during the Napoleanic era.