Grand Gaube sits in the north-east corner of Mauritius, where the coastline bends between Grand Baie's commercial bustle and Cap Malheureux's boutique quiet. It is the least-visited of the north coast's three distinct resort areas — which, for most travellers who find it, is precisely the appeal.
The defining feature of Grand Gaube is LUX* Grand Gaube's private natural lagoon: a sheltered bay enclosed by a rocky headland, with calm turquoise water that no Grand Baie hotel can replicate. Grand Baie's bay is large and open to boat traffic; Grand Gaube's lagoon is protected and still. This single geographical advantage shapes the entire proposition of staying here — and explains why LUX* Grand Gaube consistently draws repeat guests from the UK and French markets who have done the east coast and want something different.
Two hotels are scored in our dataset for Grand Gaube. This guide ranks both, profiles the adjacent Cap Malheureux alternatives, and explains who the north-east coast suits — and who would be better placed elsewhere.
Hotels in Grand Gaube
Two scored properties sit in Grand Gaube. They serve different markets: LUX* Grand Gaube is the full-service resort option; Mythic Suites is a villa-format property for travellers who want more space and privacy than a standard hotel room.
1. LUX* Grand Gaube Resort & Villas — 8.7 / 10
The headline property of the north-east coast. LUX* Grand Gaube occupies a headland between two coves — the main beach faces west, and the private lagoon wraps around the eastern side of the headland, creating two very different swimming environments within the same resort. The lagoon side is sheltered, calm, and shallow enough for children; the main beach faces open water with more movement and the better sunset light.
The resort scale is genuinely large by Mauritian boutique standards: six restaurants serve everything from Japanese to Creole, which gives a week-long stay genuine dining variety without leaving the property. The spa has 12 treatment rooms, a lap pool, and a wellness programme that draws dedicated spa travellers. The dive centre offers courses through PADI certification and accesses north coast dive sites including Coin de Mire's outer reef.
Scoring at 8.7/10, LUX* Grand Gaube performs equally to the Hilton Mauritius and Lagoon Attitude in our dataset, with stronger scores on amenities (pool variety, restaurant range, dive centre) offsetting a location score that reflects the north-east position's slightly longer transfer time from the airport. For families in particular — who benefit from the lagoon's safe swimming, the kids' club, and the multiple-restaurant variety — this is one of the strongest propositions on the north coast.
Best for: Families wanting resort-scale facilities in a quieter setting than Grand Baie. Couples who want a large, well-equipped property without the ultra-luxury east coast price tag. Divers and snorkellers who want a dedicated dive centre on site. Repeat visitors to Mauritius looking for a different north coast experience with a private lagoon.
Consider elsewhere if: You want an adults-only environment — Cap Malheureux (10 minutes west) has two adults-only boutique hotels. You want walking distance to Grand Baie's shopping and nightlife. You are looking for the highest-scoring resort on the island — the east coast ultra-luxury tier (Four Seasons, One&Only, Royal Palm) scores higher.
Score: 8.7 / 10 · From $680/night
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2. Mythic Suites & Villas by MJ Holidays — 8.4 / 10
A boutique villa-format property that targets a different market to LUX* Grand Gaube. Mythic Suites offers self-contained villa accommodation — each unit has its own private pool, a fully equipped kitchen, and living space that gives longer-stay guests genuine room to spread out. The property is not on the beach directly (it is set slightly back from the waterfront), but the villa format compensates: most guests here are not choosing between pool and beach but between privacy and resort activity.
High-speed connectivity is a specific selling point — the property markets to remote-working professionals and longer-stay guests who need reliable internet for work alongside a luxury holiday setting. At 8.4/10 and $500/night for a private-pool villa, the value proposition is strong for those who need the space.
Dining is handled through the main restaurant and room-service delivery; the kitchen in each villa means self-catering is also practical, particularly for families or groups staying a week or more.
Best for: Remote workers who want a private-pool villa base. Families or couples on longer stays who want more space than a standard hotel room. Travellers who prefer the villa format to the organised resort activity model.
Consider elsewhere if: A private beach, large resort pool, or multiple on-site restaurants are important. You want a full resort programme with included activities and dining variety.
Score: 8.4 / 10 · From $500/night
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Nearby North Coast Alternatives
Cap Malheureux, 10 minutes west of Grand Gaube, has four rated hotels including the 9.0/10 Paradise Cove — the highest-scoring boutique property on the entire north coast. Travellers considering Grand Gaube should be aware of what is available a short drive away.
Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel — 9.0 / 10
The highest-rated hotel on the north coast of Mauritius. Paradise Cove is an exclusively adults-only boutique property in Cap Malheureux — 67 suites, a private beach cove, and a spa that handles fine Ayurvedic and Mauritian wellness treatments. It scores 9.0/10 in our dataset — equal to One&Only Le Saint Géran on the east coast — driven by exceptional guest satisfaction scores and a staff-to-guest ratio that most larger resorts cannot match. For couples and honeymooners who find LUX* Grand Gaube's resort scale too large but want the north coast location, Paradise Cove is the natural alternative.
Score: 9.0 / 10 · From $890/night
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Lagoon Attitude — Adults Only — 8.7 / 10
The second adults-only boutique property in Cap Malheureux. Lagoon Attitude is part of the Attitude Hotels group — a Mauritian-owned brand known for warm, personal service and consistently strong guest satisfaction scores. The property faces the lagoon with Coin de Mire in view, has swim-up rooms, a couples-focused spa, and operates as a genuine couples retreat without the resort-scale programming of LUX* Grand Gaube. At $520/night it is also more accessible than Paradise Cove, making it the most cost-effective adults-only option on the north coast.
Score: 8.7 / 10 · From $520/night
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What Grand Gaube Is Like
Grand Gaube is a fishing village of a few thousand residents on Mauritius's north-east coast. It does not have Grand Baie's resort infrastructure or Cap Malheureux's photogenic church and island view — its appeal is quieter and more functional: calm water, a genuinely local village, and the north coast location that gives easy access to the island's best excursion departures.
The private lagoon. LUX* Grand Gaube's most distinctive feature is a natural bay enclosed by a volcanic headland on the eastern side of the resort. The lagoon is consistently calm regardless of the trade winds — the headland shelters it from the open-ocean swell. It is shallow enough for young children and clear enough for snorkelling directly from the beach. This is unusual on the north coast, where most beaches are exposed to the open sea or Grand Baie's boat traffic.
The village. Grand Gaube village has a small market, a handful of local restaurants serving fresh-catch Creole cooking, and a fishing quay where the morning catch comes in. There is no developed tourist strip — the closest equivalent is Grand Baie, 25 minutes south by road. The village's quietness is its quality for those who want to decompress from resort activity during the day.
The north coast orbit. Grand Gaube sits at the centre of the north coast's three distinct areas: Cap Malheureux (10 minutes west with its boutique adults-only cluster and Coin de Mire view), Grand Baie (25 minutes south with shopping, nightlife, and departure point for Coin de Mire catamaran excursions), and the quieter fishing villages of the north-east coast extending toward Roches Noires. Staying in Grand Gaube gives access to all of these without committing to any one of them as a base.
Coin de Mire. The volcanic island visible from Cap Malheureux — and from the north-facing side of LUX* Grand Gaube — is the primary excursion destination from the north coast. Catamaran day trips depart from Grand Baie and offer snorkelling around the island's reef, dolphin watching in season, and views of the island's dramatic basalt cliffs. This is the best snorkelling excursion available to north coast guests; booking through the hotel is the most straightforward approach.
Grand Gaube vs Grand Baie: 7 Key Differences
| Factor | Grand Gaube | Grand Baie |
|---|---|---|
| Atmosphere | Quiet fishing village; no tourist strip | North coast's commercial hub; busy resort area |
| Private lagoon | Yes — LUX* Grand Gaube has a sheltered natural bay | No — Grand Baie's bay is open to boat traffic |
| Top hotel score | LUX* Grand Gaube — 8.7/10 | Royal Palm Beachcomber — 9.2/10 |
| Price range | $500–$680/night (two hotels in dataset) | $340–$1,150/night (broadest north coast range) |
| Off-resort scene | Minimal — village restaurants only; Grand Baie 25 min | Extensive — shopping, nightlife, water sports |
| Cap Malheureux access | 10 minutes — boutique adults-only cluster nearby | 20 minutes — further from Cap Malheureux |
| Best for | Families, divers, longer stays, quiet north coast | First-timers, social travellers, variety seekers |
Who Should Stay in Grand Gaube
Stay in Grand Gaube if: The private natural lagoon is a priority — particularly for families with children who want safe, calm swimming. You want a full-service resort (six restaurants, spa, dive centre) in a genuinely quiet setting. You are staying more than a week and want variety within the north coast orbit — Cap Malheureux and Grand Baie are both reachable in under 25 minutes. The villa format at Mythic Suites appeals — private pool, kitchen, space to spread out.
Stay elsewhere if: You want the highest-scoring adults-only experience — Cap Malheureux has Paradise Cove (9.0/10) and Lagoon Attitude (8.7/10) 10 minutes away. The Royal Palm Beachcomber (9.2/10, Grand Baie) is 25 minutes south if you want the best-scored hotel on the north coast. You need easy walking access to restaurants, shops, and nightlife — Grand Gaube's village is quiet by design and Grand Baie requires a taxi.
Find Your Best Match
Our independent scoring covers every hotel on the north coast:
- Cap Malheureux hotels guide — 10 minutes west; the boutique adults-only alternative
- Grand Baie hotels guide — 25 minutes south; the north coast's widest hotel range
- Best family hotels in Mauritius — LUX* Grand Gaube ranked among north coast family options
- Where to stay in Mauritius — full coast-by-coast breakdown
- Best luxury hotels in Mauritius — how the north coast compares to the east coast ultra-luxury tier
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Grand Gaube known for in Mauritius?
Grand Gaube is a quiet fishing village on Mauritius's north-east coast, best known for LUX* Grand Gaube Resort & Villas — one of the few hotels in Mauritius with a private natural lagoon. The headland position gives the resort sheltered swimming water that no Grand Baie hotel can offer. The village retains a genuinely local character, with none of the tourist-resort development that defines Grand Baie 25 minutes south.
What is the best hotel in Grand Gaube?
LUX* Grand Gaube Resort & Villas scores 8.7/10 in our independent dataset. It has six restaurants, a spa, a dive centre, and its private natural lagoon gives it a swimming environment no other north coast hotel can match. For families and couples wanting full resort facilities in a quieter setting than Grand Baie, it is the clear first choice in Grand Gaube.
Is Grand Gaube good for families?
Yes — LUX* Grand Gaube is one of the better-equipped family resorts on the north coast. The private lagoon provides safe, calm swimming for children. There is a kids' club, a dive centre with junior PADI courses, and six restaurants for dietary variety. The quiet village setting is easier for families with young children than the busier Grand Baie zone.
How does Grand Gaube compare to Grand Baie?
Grand Baie is the north coast's commercial hub — the most developed resort area in Mauritius, with shopping, nightlife, and the broadest hotel range. Grand Gaube is 25 minutes north-east and entirely quieter: no nightlife, a natural private lagoon, and a village feel. Grand Baie suits those who want variety and social activity. Grand Gaube suits those who want seclusion within easy reach of the north coast's facilities.
What is near Grand Gaube worth visiting?
Cap Malheureux (10 minutes) is the most photogenic north coast village — home to the iconic red-domed Notre Dame church and Coin de Mire island views. Catamaran excursions to Coin de Mire depart from Grand Baie (25 minutes south) for the best north coast snorkelling. Pamplemousses Botanical Garden is 30 minutes south-west. Balaclava Marine Park is 40 minutes west for the best north coast diving.
When is the best time to visit Grand Gaube?
May to November is the dry season and most comfortable time. LUX* Grand Gaube's private lagoon is sheltered from the July–August trade winds that affect more exposed north coast beaches, making it a good choice year-round. December to March brings heat, humidity, and some cyclone risk; rates drop and the lagoon water is warmest. The Coin de Mire view is clearest in the dry-season months.