Mauritius with Kids: Our Ultimate 10-Day Family Itinerary
- Zoë Petit
- Mar 7
- 9 min read
WOW what a vacation! Mauritius was admittedly not on my radar until we were searching for a warm and sunny February vacation spot, and noticed there was a direct flight (11 hours) from Paris. SO GLAD this gorgeous tropical island made the cut!
We all agreed this was one of the best family vacations ever. With calm lagoons, gorgeous beaches, wildlife like dolphins and sea turtles, colorful culture, and incredibly welcoming locals, family travel in Mauritius was both easy and memorable.
If you’re planning a Mauritius family vacation, this guide shares all our practical travel tips, family-friendly hotels, great restaurants, and a 10-day Mauritius itinerary with kids including our Google Map that explores the island from east to north to the southwest. This trip was hours and hours of research, especially for the unique accommodations, and I hope this helps other families have a wonderful time! Buckle up - this is a very thorough post!
Why Mauritius Is Perfect for Families
Mauritius is an ideal destination for traveling with children for several reasons.
First, the island is relatively small. You can drive from one side to the other in about two hours, which makes day trips easy and keeps travel time manageable for kids (we had a carsick free trip for once!!!).
Second, most beaches are protected by coral reefs, which creates calm lagoons with shallow water, perfect for young swimmers.
Third, Mauritian culture is incredibly welcoming toward children. Everywhere we went—restaurants, hotels, and shops—people were kind to the kids, often offering little treats or gifts.
Mauritius checked all the boxes for our ideal family vacation:
relaxing beaches
cultural experiences
outdoor adventures
wildlife encounters
To maximize our exploring, we decided to loop around the island, traveling East → North → Southwest, staying in five different accommodations along the way to experience different parts of Mauritius.
If you prefer a slower pace, you could easily base yourself in two or three locations instead (I think I would skip the Bubble Lodge for instance, and also Otentic if you want AC during your vacation:)).
Family Travel Tips for Mauritius
Rent a Car - While taxis are available, renting a car makes exploring the island much easier. We would not have been able to do nearly as much without a car. Driving distances are short and roads are generally good. Just remember that Mauritius drives on the left side of the road.
Pack water shoes - Some beaches have coral or rocky entry points. Reef shoes make it much easier for kids to walk comfortably in the water.
Ideally come with an underwater camera because you’re going to see some amazing saline!!! I majorly regretted not getting a Go Pro beforehand.
It was quite warm - in the 80s - but it never seemed oppressively hot. You are by the water so much you don’t notice the heat (that said… I am Texan so take this with a grain of salt!).
Mauritius has an incredible history, and in the past was colonised by the Dutch, French and English, until it gained freedom in 1968. The layers of history are so evident, starting with the fact that there is no official language (everyone speaks French, English, and Creole)! I loved the multi-cultural feel, and appreciated that everyone seemed to live in harmony.
Mauritius was quite affordable - kids meals were around 400 MUR (so about 8 euros / 10 dollars) and fresh seafood meals were around 15 euros. There is a very big Indian food influence, from the local curries to the street food, along with plenty of seafood. Tickets to activities for adults were usually around 650 MUR, and full day boat excursions with lunch between 400-500 euros. Hotels ranged between 150/night to 500/ night for a family of 4.
Our 10-Day Mauritius Family Itinerary
This itinerary combines beach time, culture, nature, wildlife, and adventure, making it perfect
for families visiting Mauritius.
Day 1: Arrival and a Private Island Stay
Most international flights arrive at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in the morning. Explore around this area before heading to your hotel.
Stop at Biscuiterie H. Rault
On the way from the airport, stop at the historic cassava biscuit factory Biscuiterie H. Rault.
This charming family-run bakery has been producing traditional Mauritian cassava biscuits since 1870, and is the perfect first stop!
Tours are available in English or French and there’s no need to reserve. I can't remember the price but very inexpensive.
We all loved watching the baking process and tasting flavors like coconut, vanilla, and pineapple.
Stay on a Private Island at Bubble Lodge
Next, head to the beautiful island of Île aux Cerfs for a night at the unique Bubble Lodge Île aux Cerfs.
The stay started off with a bang with a boat transfer through crystal clear blue water a tropical island known for its white sand beaches and turquoise lagoon.
The accommodations were quite unique - a handful of transparent eco-domes that allow you to sleep under the stars surrounded by nature — it felt exciting to sleep directly in nature, and we felt great waking up naturally to the sunlight!
The stay includes:
dinner and breakfast
beach access
golf cart transfers around the island
a one hour gold lesson, even for kids
Spend the afternoon swimming in the lagoon or kayaking along the shoreline before dinner.
Days 2–4: Nature Escape at Otentic Eco Tent
After breakfast, return to the mainland and drive inland to the eco-lodge Otentic Eco Tent Experience.
These safari-style tents sit beside a river surrounded by forest and farmland. When I first realized there was no AC, I was skeptical—but this place has incredible charm and atmosphere, and it ended up being one of my favourite accommodations of the trip! In hindsight we think two nights would be enough, but the experience was very memorable.
Things we loved:
all the sports activities like mountain biking, and kayaking up the river to a hidden waterfall (pull the kayaks out and hike up the rocks behind the waterfall for some hidden calm pools!
archery, darts, libraries
a shady swimming pool
the honesty bar stocked with homemade local juices and rums, and delicious home-cooked meals
the free 12 day boat excursion to the Ile Aux Cerfs island
Meals are cooked by locals and cost roughly 900 MUR (about 10 euros / 12 dollars) for adults and 600 MUR for kids, and you can have all meals there is you want. Breakfast is included.
We also loved that there was no WiFi in the tents or during dinner:)
Activities Near Otentic
Explore Flacq Market
Visit the lively Flacq Market, one of the largest outdoor markets in Mauritius. Try local tropical fruits and street food, and shop for the pretty handwoven bags and spices.
Visit a Hindu Temple
Mauritius has a strong Hindu cultural influence. A beautiful nearby temple is Sagar Shiv Mandir, built on a small island in the lagoon.
Notable meal - head to Chez Tino for a great meal with views of the bay. I loved the papaya salad!
Days 5–7: Beach Time at Sakoa Boutik Hotel
Next, drive north to stay at the beachfront boutique hotel Sakoa Boutik Hotel.
This small hotel sits on Trou aux Biches Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Mauritius.
The lagoon here is shallow and calm, perfect for kids. This was our most 'standard' accommodation, and it was nice with good amenities and breakfast.
The hotel stay also included access to kayaks, the beach with lounge chairs, and an included glass bottom boat ride into the bay.
Activities
Visit the Botanical Garden
Explore the famous Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden, often called Jardin de Pamplemousses, to see the giant water lilies and giant tortoises.
Explore the Sugar Museum
Nearby is the fascinating museum L’Aventure du Sucre.
Interactive exhibits explain the history of sugar production and Mauritian culture.
The tasting room lets visitors sample different types of sugar and local rum. This was a surprise hit, and we learned so much about the history of the island here. Really well done museum.
Book a Full-Day Boat Trip with Serenity Sea Tours
One of the highlights of our trip was a snorkeling excursion with Seretity Sea Tours.
We originally booked with another company (BabaCool, which has a catamaran) but had to change due to rough seas. Serenity Sea Tours turned out to be fantastic though! They leave earlier than most companies, which meant we arrived first at the snorkelling sites.
We swam with manta rays and saw incredible tropical fish—easily the best snorkelling we’ve ever experienced.
The day included, multiple snorkeling stops and a BBQ lunch on a small island.
Expect to pay 400–500 euros for a full-day boat trip. There are so many companies - there is no real need to book in advance if you don’t want to. Payment is in cash before getting on the boats.
Ice Cream Stop
Don’t miss ice cream at Kristen's Kick-Ass Ice Cream. They make creative flavors using local ingredients like passionfruit and coconut.
Days 8–9: Markets, Waterfalls and Dolphins
On day eight, check out and head to the capital city, Port Louis.
Visit the Central Market
Explore the bustling Central Market, Port Louis.
Parking tip: skip city parking and go straight to Caudan Waterfront parking, which is much easier.
The market is full of beautiful woven bags, spices, vanilla beans and tropical fruit. We grabbed a quick lunch of the local favorite dhal puri.
Chamarel Seven Colored Earth
Next, drive to the famous Chamarel Seven Colored Earth Geopark.
These unique volcanic sand dunes display natural shades of red, brown, purple, and yellow.
Nearby you can also visit the impressive Chamarel Waterfall. I personally found this to be a bit expensive and overrated, but it is on all the must lists for the island.
Stay at Kazalala Hosted B&B
Continue to the southwest and stay at Kazalala Hosted B&B.
Located on a historic sugar estate, Kazalala feels like a small village with colorful cottages, fruit groves, and peacocks wandering around the gardens. This boutique property is also located within the Bel Ombre estate, meaning guests can access nearby luxury resorts like Heritage Le Telfair, including its large pool and beach. This felt like such a great deal for how charming and boutique the bed and breakfast was.
Boat Trip with Pearl Charter
A highlight of the trip was our boat excursion with Pearl Charter Ltd.
We swam with wild dolphins and sea turtles (!!!), and the experience felt natural and respectful of the animals. The dolphins even jumped out of the water beside the boat - it seemed like they were showing off and happy to see us!
We also stopped for a barbecue lunch on a small island, and Paul even got to drive the boat on the way back! Note - if you go to the Pearl Fisher restaurant below and book the cruise directly, you can get 10% off to boat ride!
Dinner at The Pearl Fisher
Finish the day with dinner at The Pearl Fisher Restaurant.
This waterfront restaurant serves excellent seafood, and had good kids' menus too (actually all restaurants we went to had good kids' menus:)) The tuna tartare was excellent!
Day 10: Tea Plantations and Mountain Adventures
Before heading home, explore the beautiful interior of Mauritius.
Stop at Grand Bassin
Visit the sacred crater lake Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao). The lake is surrounded by temples and statues of Hindu deities and has a very peaceful atmosphere. You’ll also likely see monkeys wandering around the area!
Visit Bois Chéri Tea Plantation
Next stop: the historic tea estate Bois Chéri Tea Factory.
Tours run regularly in French and English and include tea tastings overlooking the plantation lake.
Prices Adults: about 650 MUR; Kids: about 300 MUR
Final Night at Ferney Nature Lodge
End your trip at the beautiful eco-retreat Ferney Nature Lodge.
The lodge sits within a protected nature reserve just 20 minutes from the airport. There are only 4 little bungalows perched on the top of a mountain with expansive views, and complete calm! The drive up really tested out little rental car - very steep with some off-roading! We learned afterwards you can also park below and get a transfer to the top:)
While staying here, we booked half-board and a guided 4x4 mountain excursion through the hotel. The drive climbs steeply through forested hills before reaching panoramic viewpoints, and a surprise rainstorm during our tour made for some funny memories!
The lodge itself is stunning, with:
an infinity pool overlooking the valley
wildlife like deer and fruit bats - ask to borrow the binoculars!
cozy fireplaces for evening games
We opted for the 1/2 board and had a really nice dinner and breakfast!
It was the perfect peaceful last night in Mauritius, and this was probably my favourite hotel of the five!
Final Thoughts on Visiting Mauritius With Kids
Mauritius exceeded all our expectations as a family travel destination. From snorkeling with manta rays, to kayaking through rivers, exploring markets, and swimming with dolphins, the island offers endless adventures for kids and adults alike.
With its friendly culture, incredible landscapes, and relaxed pace, Mauritius is one of our favorite family vacations ever!
What do you think? Would you ever consider a trip to Mauritius? I know it is quite a hike from the US, but if you ever find yourself not too far away, I think it is so worth the visit!!!
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