Welcome to Trou aux Biches! Swim in water so clear you’ll swear you’re inside a screensaver, feast on sizzling seafood caught just offshore, and snorkel through coral gardens right from the beach — Trou aux Biches is where most visitors come for its calm, turquoise lagoon — the island’s best spot for beachside snorkeling.
☑️ Trou aux Biches Checklist
- Book your Flight: Land at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU), about 75 minutes from Trou aux Biches
- Reserve your Hotel: Stay beachfront in a resort or self-catered villa for direct sand-to-sea access
- Join your Tour: Book a catamaran cruise or guided snorkel to Coin de Mire in advance
🐠 Day 1: BEACH & LAGOON
- Morning Dip at Trou aux Biches Beach: Wade into glassy, waist-deep water with barely a ripple — perfect for spotting reef fish within minutes of leaving your towel
- Beachfront Breakfast: Grab tropical juice, fresh baguette, and a flaky pain au chocolat from a local stand just off the sand
- Snorkeling Session: Swim straight out from shore with mask and fins — the coral here is shallow, colorful, and full of surprises (yes, that was a clownfish)
- Fish Lunch on the Sand: Order grilled dorado or octopus curry from a roadside grill, then eat with your feet buried in the warm sand
- Glass Bottom Boat Ride: Hop aboard for a dry look at sea life — the floor turns into your personal reef theater
- Sunset Paddleboarding: Rent a board and drift just offshore as the sun lowers and the whole lagoon turns peach-colored
- Dinner at the Beach Shack: End the night with spicy creole seafood, a cold Phoenix beer, and the sound of sega drums drifting from the next cove over
🛥️ Day 2: ISLANDS & MARKETS
- Catamaran to Flat Island: Set sail early — it’s an all-day cruise with snorkeling stops, grilled lunch on deck, and a swim at one of the island’s wild white-sand beaches
- Coin de Mire Snorkeling Stop: Drop anchor near this rocky outcrop and dive in — it’s a magnet for parrotfish, sea turtles, and even the occasional reef shark
- Island BBQ Lunch: Feast on grilled chicken, garlic prawns, and rum cocktails while the boat bobs in shallow blue water
- Swim & Lounge at Îlot Gabriel: Wade ashore and nap under a casuarina tree — no shops, no roads, just sand and sea
- Return to Coast by Sunset: Snap a photo as the catamaran cuts back across the sun-glinting water
- Trou aux Biches Night Market: Pick up souvenirs, local snacks, and handmade sarongs under string lights
- Backyard Curry Dinner: Book a local-hosted meal for freshly pounded spices, roti hot off the griddle, and banana flambé served in a courtyard lit by oil lamps
🐚 Day 3: CULTURE & COAST
- Morning Visit to Maheswarnath Shiv Mandir: Wander barefoot past coconut offerings and colorful statues at the island’s largest Hindu temple
- Triolet Market Stop: Just inland, this local market is packed with jackfruit, spice pyramids, and unfiltered slices of everyday Mauritian life
- Sugarcane Field Drive: Catch a taxi or scooter through the green grid of cane fields that frame this part of the island — windows down, camera ready
- Lunch at a Beach Snack Van: Try a stuffed dholl puri, samosa, and tamarind sauce combo that locals swear by
- La Cuvette Beach Swim: Head just south to this calm, tucked-away cove for a change of scene and some quiet floating
- Souvenir Shopping: Pick up handcrafted dodo bird carvings, locally bottled rum, vanilla pods, or embroidered pareos from coastal stalls
- Sega Dance Dinner Show: End the trip Mauritian-style — barefoot on the sand, eating grilled lobster under the stars while dancers spin to rhythmic sega beats beside a bonfire
📅 Trou aux Biches Calendar
- Cavadee Festival (Jan–Feb): A Tamil celebration filled with body piercings, flower garlands, and temple processions
- Chinese New Year (Jan–Feb): Fireworks, red lanterns, and street food in nearby Port Louis
- Maha Shivaratri (Feb–March): Pilgrims in white walk to Grand Bassin lake — the island’s biggest religious gathering
- Independence Day (March 12): Flags fly high and local villages celebrate with parades and sega music
- Ganesh Chaturthi (August–Sept): Watch clay statues of Ganesh paraded and immersed in the ocean
- Divali (Oct–Nov): Rows of lamps light up homes and temples across the island in the Hindu festival of lights
- End of Year Beach Parties (Dec 31): Countdown fireworks, open-air concerts, and late-night dancing right on the sand
💡 Trou aux Biches Tips
- Reef-Friendly Sunscreen Only: Help protect the coral — standard sunscreens are banned in marine parks
- Cash is King at Stalls: Small beach shacks and vendors rarely take cards
- Shoes Off for Temples: Shoulders and knees covered too — bring a scarf or sarong
- Plan Around Sunday Closures: Many small shops close mid-Sunday — markets stay open longer
- Watch for Sea Urchins: Stick to sandy areas when wading; coral zones can hide them
- Bargain Respectfully: Haggling is common, but always polite — especially in markets
- Drink Bottled Water: Tap is safe in resorts, but bottled is safer elsewhere
🐟 Trou aux Biches Menu
- Grilled Dorado (Mahi Mahi): Flaky and fresh off the boat, served with chili-lime sauce and lentils
- Octopus Curry: Tender and rich, cooked in tomato masala with turmeric and coconut
- Dholl Puri: Thin, warm flatbread stuffed with yellow split peas, served with pickles and bean curry
- Seafood Skewers: Prawns, calamari, and reef fish grilled on sticks, straight from roadside grills
- Gateau Piment: Crunchy little chili fritters, best eaten hot with mint chutney
- Roti Chaud: Rolled roti with butterbean curry and shredded cucumber salad, wrapped and ready for beach snacking
- Banana Flambé with Rum: A sweet, sticky island classic — especially when served flaming under palm trees