Tamarin Bay
Photo:BPPrice / Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

๐Ÿ–๏ธ Beaches ยท Tamarin

Tamarin Bay

A wide bay at the mouth of the Tamarin River: surfers, local life, dolphins offshore and big sunsets. Not a reef-protected lagoon.

๐Ÿš— From the villa10 min ยท 4 kmoff-peak estimate
โฑ๏ธ Time needed1โ€“2 hnot counting the drive
๐Ÿ•“ Best time of dayโ˜€๏ธ Morning ยท ๐ŸŒ‡ Sunset
๐Ÿ’ฐ PriceFree

Tamarin Bay is one of the few places in Mauritius without a barrier reef, so the Indian Ocean rolls straight in. That makes it the island's historic surf spot, a lively local beach and a place where you sometimes see spinner dolphins from the shore in the early morning.

Swimming is fine on calm days near the middle of the beach, but the river makes the water less clear and there can be currents near the channel. Come for the atmosphere, a surf lesson or a late-afternoon walk.

  • Surf lessons for beginners
  • Dolphins sometimes visible from the beach at dawn
  • Local weekend atmosphere

๐Ÿ–๏ธ The beach

Swimming
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
Snorkelling
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
Shade
Yes, trees
Facilities
Toilets, food vans at weekends.
Wind
Partly exposed; swell rather than wind.

Getting there

Driving route from the villa

๐Ÿš— By car: 10 min (4 km) off-peak. Public car park at the end of Avenue Rose (free). Directions in Google Maps โ†—

  • ๐Ÿšฒ Bike: close enough to cycle along the coast road (take care with traffic).

Tips

  • ๐Ÿ’ก Stay away from the river mouth when swimming: currents.
  • ๐Ÿ’ก Watch your belongings on busy weekends.