Islands In Mauritius For The Nature Lover In You

Home to the nation's capital - Port Louis and the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, Mauritius Island is where you'll put your first step on Mauritian soil. It is known for white sandy beaches, turquoise blue waters, and lavish resorts. It also has several treks and waterfalls that are tucked into forests.

Located around 650 kilometres off the east coast of Mauritius, right in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Rodrigues is a tiny exotic island surrounded by the ocean on all sides. With lush green slopes everywhere, the island is inexplicably beautiful and secluded. The island is a volcanic outcrop located a sizeable distance away from the mainland and is surrounded by a shimmering turquoise lagoon that abounds in more marine life than you can find on the entire mainland.

These islands in Mauritius are sparsely populated and hard to reach. The ferry to Agalega operates just twice a year and there's not much on the other side that you can't find in Mauritius and Rodrigues. The water surrounding these virgin islands boasts of some of the most beautiful fish. 

Ile aux Cerfs Island, also known as “Deer Island”, is a private island located near the east coast of Mauritius. There aren’t any deer left here, but it remains a hugely popular tourist spot for its beautiful beaches, lagoons, and wide variety of activities and facilities. With homestays and hotels available on the island, Ile aux Cerfs is ideal for both day trips and multiple-day stays.

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Ile Aux Aigrettes is a 26-hectare nature reserve 800 meters towards the southeast off the coast of Mahebourg bay and has gained popularity over the years as an ecotourism destination. The reserve was once home to extinct species like the Dodo bird and the endemic Giant Tortoise. It is now home to several reptile species like the Telfair's Skink, Coloured Day Gecko and Aldabra giant tortoises that are non-indigenous. 

Mauritius' south-western tip is where the famous peninsular island of Le Morne Brabant can be found. It is distinguished by its basaltic monolith scaling up to 556 metres above the sea level and it itself covers an area of 30 acres of the peninsula. The beaches are divided into two separate parts. The northern part is devoted for swimmers and those who prefer chilling out in the beach while enjoying the view of the azure waters; the southern part is water sports lovers who are fond of windsurfing and kite surfing. During dry seasons, the peninsula transforms into a relatively arid atmosphere, making it ideal for adventure activities like hiking and trekking along the mountainside.

Le Souffleur is one of the most beautiful natural attractions located in the south of Mauritius, in the village of L’Escalier. With unique rock formations, a secret beach and stunning viewpoints, Le Souffleur is most famous for its blowhole effect. The waves here crash against the rocks creating huge water sprays and making a whistling sound while entering the small holes. While swimming is not recommended here, Le Souffleur is ideal for hiking.

Ile Des Deux Cocos, or as it means the 'Island of Coconuts', lies amidst the Blue Bay Marine Park located on the South-East coast of Mauritius. The private island hosts numerous activities like the tour of the stunning Blue Bay in a glass-bottom boat or water sports like snorkelling and scuba diving. The island is also home to the Blue Bay Maritime Reserve, an underwater reserve where you can get a fantastic view of the lovely corals and colourful marine species. 

Located 11 kilometres to the north of Cap Malheureux, the northernmost point of Mauritius, Ile Plate is also known as the Flat Island. Ranging over an area of 253 hectares, Ile Plate or Flat Island is one of the largest islands of Mauritius. Water activities like diving and snorkelling are popular here. The diving site situated at the Pigeon Rock is known as the “Shark Pit” where you can swim around with the sharks. You can access the diving site after 20 to 45 minutes of a boat ride. 

Known for being the colony of Noddies birds, this Mauritius Island is a nature reserve. Ile aux Chats is famous as ‘Cat Island’ among the tourists for its snorkelling and diving sites, surrounded by coral reefs. The calm water of the lagoon is home to abundant marine life with colourful sea creatures. Right next to the Ile aux Chats towards the southwestern side of Port Sud-Est village is the Hermitage Island. It is reputed for a widespread belief that there is a treasure buried on the island. Hence it is one of the most visited places in Rodrigues.

Also known by the name of Ile aux Fouquet's, this island in Mauritius is one of the first islets to be discovered by the Dutch back in 1598. It is situated in the southeastern corner of Mauritius and is closest to Vacoas Island. It is also reputed as one of the national parks of Mauritius.  In comparison to the other islands, Ile du Phare is relatively hilly. A ruined lighthouse sits on its topmost point, from which the island derives its name. Ile du Phare also has a mini beach.

Ilot Sancho is a perfect fit for people wanting to explore living off the grid and testing their own capacities. This is what makes it so special. It is also an incredible spot for a no-nonsense picnic or a romantic date with your special one. Ilot Sancho, just like the other islands, is filled with greenery and is traversable by foot. It's connectivity to the mainland depends on the time of the day. During low tides, one can walk from the mainland to Ilot Sancho quite comfortably.

Apart from being another beautiful islet, Ile de la passe is filled to the brim with history. The islet was discovered and owned by the French until the British tried to invade it. Other than the usual spots found on an islet, Ile de passe hosts a wide range of activities and things to see for history fanatics. The graffiti wall with the names of the soldiers engraved on it is a must go.

Ile Ronde is a beautiful islet situated north of Mauritius. It was classified as a Nature Reserve in the 1950s and is administered by the National Parks and Conservation Services and Mauritian Wildlife Foundation in conjunction. It is home to a large number of rare reptiles such as the Round island Gecko, Round Island Boa and rare plants like the bottle palm.

Unlike the mountainous and rocky terrain found on the other islands, Pointe Bernache comes as a surprise. It is a relatively small and gorgeous island swanked with tall pine trees all around. Owing to the less footfall it receives, it is much quieter and calmer, making it the ideal spot for getting some sun! It lies close to Ile d’Ambre and can be visited via Pointe Bernache or from the villages of Grand Gaube or Poudre d'Or. 

Gunner’s Quoin is a very unique little islet located 8 kilometres north of Mauritius. Unfortunately, it is not open to the public but continues to be a must-visit island in Mauritius. The water near this island is remarkably clear and the best choice for snorkelling, underwater diving and other water activities. A few companies offer catamaran rides to this island where you could spend a day lazing around, enjoying music and lovely rum native to Mauritius. The island also boasts a wonderful marine life where sightings of whales are quite common.

Ile d’Ambre is one of the largest islands of Mauritius. The island has a ton of fun activities to offer such as beautiful picnic spots, lagoons, well-maintained Nature Walks and ample places to kayak in. Although the island does not have any permanents residents it still houses the older abandoned settlements which make for a great adventure tour. The famous lagoons in Ile d’Amber are surrounded by varied vegetation adding to the natural beauty of this place. The Mangrove forests are also a must-visit.

The serpent island is a small island north of Mauritius. It was once famous for being home to a large variety of snake but they have become extinct since the European invasion. This island in Mauritius is another great spot for diving.

Ile aux Flamants is a small protected islet near Mauritius. This island is a must-visit for people interested in a quick getaway. The lush green palm trees set against sparkling blue water is a sight to behold. Tourists often like to laze around this island on their luxurious catamarans.

Situated in the North of Mauritius, Gabriel island is one of the most enchanting beaches you will stumble upon. A few companies like the Mauritius Catamaran offer luxury rides to the island. Once there, the island is filled with massage services, sunbeds and the like. The island also boasts wonderful water sports, for anyone interested.