Belle Mare is the reason travellers choose Mauritius's east coast over everything else. Nine kilometres of powder-white sand, a calm turquoise lagoon protected by a coral reef, and three of the island's most prestigious resorts. It is quieter than Grand Baie, more exclusive than Flic en Flac, and consistently produces the clearest water on the island.
This guide covers the three hotels physically on Belle Mare beach, the two high-scoring east coast alternatives within 15 minutes, the beach itself, and who the area actually suits. All ratings come from our independent 40-point scoring model — no hotel has paid to appear here.
The Best Hotels in Belle Mare
Three five-star resorts sit directly on Belle Mare beach. They cover the full luxury spectrum — from an ultra-exclusive private peninsula to a sprawling golf-and-beach estate to a contemporary lifestyle resort. All three face the same lagoon; they differ sharply in atmosphere, scale, and what they offer beyond the beach.
1. One&Only Le Saint Géran — 9.0 / 10
The benchmark for luxury on Mauritius's east coast. One&Only Le Saint Géran occupies its own private peninsula with over three kilometres of beach frontage — meaning guests almost never share the water's edge with anyone else. The 77 suites and villas are among the most refined on the island, with butler service that operates with genuine attentiveness rather than performative formality.
Five restaurants cover everything from the freshest catch at the toes-in-the-sand lunch spot to an elegant dinner room serving contemporary Indian Ocean cuisine. The spa is the standout on the east coast — 11 treatment rooms, hydrotherapy circuit, and a dedicated spa villa category if you want the experience woven into your stay. Tennis, a gym, and a watersports centre complete the picture.
Best for: Couples seeking the most prestigious east coast address. Honeymoon suites with plunge pools directly over the lagoon. Guests who value seclusion above all else.
Consider elsewhere if: You want the energy of a larger resort, need an extensive kids' programme, or are travelling with a group that needs multiple beach activities running simultaneously.
Score: 9.0 / 10 · From $1,380/night
Check availability →Affiliate link — we earn a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
2. Constance Belle Mare Plage — 8.9 / 10
The most complete resort on the east coast by raw facilities. Constance Belle Mare Plage spreads across three kilometres of its own beach and offers a depth of amenities that few resorts in Mauritius can match: eight restaurants ranging from a beach grill to a fine-dining room with a 40,000-bottle wine cellar, three swimming pools, an 18-hole championship golf course (plus a 9-hole course), a spa with 18 treatment rooms, a watersports centre, and a kids' club.
The resort scores 8.9/10 because it delivers consistently across every pillar — the beach is extraordinary, the service is polished, the dining options are the widest on the east coast, and the rooms are spacious and well-maintained. Its scale (where One&Only feels intimate, this is a proper resort) means there is always something happening, but the long beach means it never feels overcrowded.
Best for: Families wanting maximum facilities. Golfers. Groups with mixed preferences (beach, spa, activity). Guests who want the top-rated east coast address at slightly lower nightly rates than One&Only.
Consider elsewhere if: You want a quieter, more intimate atmosphere. The scale and energy of a large resort does not appeal.
Score: 8.9 / 10 · From $920/night
Check availability →Affiliate link — we earn a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
3. LUX* Belle Mare — 8.6 / 10
LUX* Belle Mare brings a different energy to the east coast — contemporary, playful, and unabashedly fun. Cinema on the beach. A rooftop bar with DJ nights three times a week. A "Flavours on the Beach" restaurant where you eat barefoot at the water's edge. It is the only resort on Belle Mare that actively tries to create an atmosphere rather than simply a serene backdrop.
Rooms are modern, well-sized, and face the lagoon. The spa is smaller than Constance or One&Only but well-equipped. The beach itself is the same Belle Mare beach — the lagoon is no different from either neighbour. At $730/night, LUX* Belle Mare is the best value-to-beach-quality ratio on the east coast and makes a strong case for guests who want luxury without the stuffiness.
Best for: Younger couples, honeymooners who want a livelier atmosphere, groups looking for the best beach in Mauritius with a more social vibe.
Consider elsewhere if: You want a serious spa programme, championship golf, or the most formal luxury service experience.
Score: 8.6 / 10 · From $730/night
Check availability →Affiliate link — we earn a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Top East Coast Alternatives Near Belle Mare
Two resorts within 15 minutes of Belle Mare score above 9.0 and are worth considering seriously, particularly if you want overwater accommodation or architectural drama that Belle Mare's beach properties do not offer.
Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita — 9.1 / 10
The highest-scoring resort on the east coast, Four Seasons Anahita sits around its own private lagoon at Beau Champ — roughly 10 minutes south of Belle Mare. Overwater villas extend directly into the Indian Ocean, and the resort occupies a finger of land with water on three sides. Service here operates at the Four Seasons standard — meticulous, warm, and personalised from the moment of arrival. The golf course wraps around the lagoon with some of the most dramatic Indian Ocean views anywhere in Mauritius.
Score: 9.1 / 10 · From $1,650/night
Check availability →Affiliate link — we earn a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Constance Prince Maurice — 9.0 / 10
The most architecturally distinctive resort in Mauritius, Prince Maurice sits in a mangrove estuary at Poste de Flacq — 15 minutes north of Belle Mare. Its overwater restaurant, L'Archipel, is suspended above a fish reserve and serves some of the finest cooking in the Indian Ocean. Rooms are housed in villas on stilts above the water or in garden settings. The atmosphere is meditative and sophisticated — a counterpoint to the beach-focused energy of Belle Mare proper.
Score: 9.0 / 10 · From $1,250/night
Check availability →Affiliate link — we earn a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
What Belle Mare Is Like
Belle Mare is a village on the north-east coast, roughly 35 kilometres from Port Louis by road. The beach itself stretches from Belle Mare village south to Palmar — a continuous arc of white sand that is the longest beach in Mauritius. Unlike Grand Baie, there is no strip of restaurants, no catamaran piers, no nightlife. The beach is what Belle Mare is. That is entirely the point.
The lagoon here is notably calm. A coral reef sits offshore, breaking the ocean swell before it reaches the beach. The water is shallow for 100–200 metres from the shoreline, clear enough to see the sandy bottom, and warm year-round. Snorkelling around the reef is excellent — parrotfish, triggerfish, and octopus are common sightings without a boat or guide.
Off the beach, there is little to do within walking distance. The nearest town with restaurants is Trou d'Eau Douce (10 minutes by taxi), a charming fishing village with a handful of good Creole restaurants and the ferry departure point for Île aux Cerfs — Mauritius's most popular day-trip island, with a turquoise lagoon and a championship golf course. Most east coast guests do this trip at least once.
The east coast receives less rainfall than the west. Trade winds from the south-east keep temperatures pleasant from May through November. In summer (December to March), the air is hot and humid, cyclone risk is non-trivial, but hotel rates drop substantially and the lagoon is at its warmest.
Belle Mare vs Grand Baie: 7 Key Differences
| Factor | Belle Mare | Grand Baie |
|---|---|---|
| Beach quality | Longest beach in Mauritius — 9km of white sand | La Cuvette is small; best beaches are a drive away |
| Water calm | Very calm — large lagoon, shallow and clear | Sheltered bay; also calm but smaller |
| Off-resort dining | Limited locally; Trou d'Eau Douce 10 min away | Excellent — 50+ restaurants within walking distance |
| Activity variety | Beach and water sports; Île aux Cerfs day trip | Watersports, diving, island catamaran trips, nightlife |
| Atmosphere | Exclusive, quiet, resort-focused | Lively, social, best for those who leave the resort |
| Best for | Beach purists, honeymooners, golf, families | Social travellers, divers, activity seekers |
| Top hotel score | Four Seasons Anahita — 9.1 (nearby) | Royal Palm Beachcomber — 9.2 |
Who Should Stay in Belle Mare
Stay in Belle Mare if: The beach is the centrepiece of your holiday. You want the finest sand and clearest water in Mauritius. You are honeymooning and want seclusion. You want championship golf adjacent to a luxury resort. You have young children and want a calm, safe lagoon.
Stay elsewhere if: You want a restaurant scene, nightlife, or variety of things to do off-resort. You are travelling as a group with mixed interests (beach, city, watersports from a pier). You want to explore Mauritius from a central base — the east coast is beautiful but remote from Port Louis and the west coast's dramatic mountain scenery.
Find Your Best Match
Our independent scoring ranks every hotel across Mauritius by traveller type:
- Best luxury hotels in Mauritius — One&Only Le Saint Géran and Four Seasons Anahita both feature prominently
- Best honeymoon hotels in Mauritius — the east coast dominates this category
- Best family hotels in Mauritius — Constance Belle Mare Plage scores highly for families
- Where to stay in Mauritius — full coast-by-coast breakdown
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Belle Mare known for in Mauritius?
Belle Mare is home to the longest continuous beach in Mauritius — roughly 9 kilometres of white sand facing a calm, turquoise lagoon. It sits on the east coast and is significantly quieter and more exclusive than Grand Baie in the north. The water is exceptionally clear, the sand powder-fine, and the lagoon shallow and safe for swimming. It is the benchmark east coast beach against which all others in Mauritius are measured.
What is the best hotel in Belle Mare?
One&Only Le Saint Géran scores 9.0/10 in our independent dataset — the highest-rated hotel physically in Belle Mare. It sits on its own private peninsula with butler service, five restaurants, and the finest spa on the east coast. Constance Belle Mare Plage (8.9/10) is the closest rival and offers significantly more facilities including championship golf.
Is Belle Mare good for families?
Yes — Belle Mare is one of the best areas in Mauritius for families. The lagoon is calm, shallow, and safe for children. Constance Belle Mare Plage scores highly for families with its large beach, three pools, kids' club, and extensive facilities. LUX* Belle Mare also caters well for families with a more relaxed atmosphere. The beach itself is long enough that it never feels crowded even in peak season.
How does Belle Mare compare to Grand Baie?
Belle Mare offers a longer, wider, and quieter beach with calmer water — it is more exclusive and peaceful. Grand Baie has the island's best restaurant scene, watersports, day trips to offshore islands, and nightlife. If you want seclusion and the best beach in Mauritius, choose Belle Mare. If you want buzz, restaurants, and things to do off-resort, choose Grand Baie.
What are the best nearby resorts to Belle Mare?
Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita (9.1/10, Beau Champ) is the highest-scoring resort on the east coast — set around a private lagoon with overwater villas. Constance Prince Maurice (9.0/10, Poste de Flacq) is architecturally the most distinctive resort in Mauritius, with an overwater restaurant set above a fish reserve.
When is the best time to visit Belle Mare?
October to November and April to May are the sweet spots — warm, low humidity, little rain, and mild trade winds. July and August bring stronger south-east trade winds; these months are peak season for Europeans despite the breeze. December to March is hot and humid with some cyclone risk, but hotel rates drop significantly and the lagoon is at its warmest.