Pereybère Beach, Mauritius: Swimming, Snorkeling & Hotels

Pereybère is a small public beach on the north coast of Mauritius, 2 to 2.5 km north of Grand Baie on the coast road to Cap Malheureux. It is a 200-metre cove of fine white sand with a calm, shallow lagoon, protected by a reef about 350 metres offshore, and one of the easiest places on the island to swim. There is no lifeguard, it fills up with Mauritian families on Sundays, and the best months are October, November, March and April, although the water is good all year.

Everything on this page was checked on the beach in October 2026. Live prices for the hotels and apartments around the beach are on the map at the bottom of the page.

Pereybère beach seen from the steps, with the red swimming buoys and the reef line on the horizon

Pereybère beach at a glance

Location	North coast, between Grand Baie (2 to 2.5 km) and Cap Malheureux (about 3 km)
Length	About 200 m of fine white sand
Swimming	Shallow for the first 30 m or so, gentle slope, calm lagoon
Reef	About 350 m offshore
Lifeguard	None
Boats	No motorboats inside the red buoys; yellow buoys mark the boat lane
Facilities	Free car park, showers, changing cabins, toilets, food trucks, ATM
Sunbeds	Not for hire
Faces	North-west
Best months	October, November, March and April (good all year)
Busiest	Sundays and public holidays
Coordinates	-19.9937, 57.5906

Swimming at Pereybère

The water stays shallow for the first 30 metres or so and the sand slopes gently, so small children can paddle while adults swim a little further out. The reef takes the force out of the waves, and on most days the lagoon is as calm as a pool.

A line of red buoys marks the swimming zone, and motorboats are not allowed inside it. Beyond the red line, yellow buoys mark the lane the boats use to get in and out of the bay. Stay inside the red buoys unless you are snorkeling out to the reef with a buoy of your own.

There is no lifeguard, so keep children within arm’s reach and swim within your limits. The water is around 24 °C in the southern winter, from June to September, and around 28 °C in summer, from December to March.

The wind is what changes the picture. Most of the time the water is crystal clear, but when the wind blows from the north it turns murky, and that is also when jellyfish can drift into the bay. If you see them, get out and come back another day.

Snorkeling at Pereybère

Pereybère is not one of the island’s top snorkeling spots, but there is more to see than the sandy middle of the beach suggests. There are three options, from easy to demanding.

The rocks at both ends of the beach. The easiest option: fish gather along the rocks a few metres from the sand. Wear water shoes, because the rocks are sharp and sea urchins are common around rocks in Mauritius.
The lagoon north of Pointe d’Azur. In front of the small beach known as plage des Blancs, the lagoon is 1.5 to 2 metres deep, with coral patches that get denser towards the reef. It is outside the boat anchorage and a good choice for confident beginners.
The reef, about 350 metres out. Only for strong swimmers and only on calm days. You leave the swimming zone and cross the boat lane, so tow a brightly coloured surface buoy. Tidal currents run near the reef, and on the far side the bottom drops to about 10 metres.

Expect butterflyfish, surgeonfish, wrasses, lionfish and Mauritius clownfish in their anemones. Green and hawksbill turtles turn up from time to time. Snorkel gear is not always for hire on the beach, so bring your own or pick it up in Grand Baie. For scuba diving, Octopus Diving Centre and Orca Dive Club in Pereybère run trips to the reefs off the north coast.

The beach: sand, shade and the steps

The beach is about 200 metres long, a five-minute walk from end to end. Casuarina trees, which Mauritians call filaos, shade the top of the sand, and built steps run along the beach between the trees and the water. They make excellent seats, whether you are keeping an eye on children in the water or just watching the boats.

The western end has more shade and suits families. The eastern end is more exposed and better for sunbathing. Both ends finish in small rocky coves that are fun to explore at low tide.

The bay faces north-west, so it gets the soft late-afternoon light. The bus stops on the coast road are named Pereybère (1st Public Beach) and Pereybère (2nd Public Beach), and locals use the same names.

Facilities

Parking: a free car park right by the beach. It is small and fills up quickly at weekends.
Showers, changing cabins and toilets: public, and generally kept clean.
Cash: there is an ATM near the main car park.
Food: food trucks park by the beach and sell dholl puri, gâteaux piments (chilli bites), samosas, fried noodles (mine frit), roti, fresh coconut water and ice cream at local prices.
Sunbeds and umbrellas: not for hire. Bring a towel or a beach mat and use the shade of the trees or the steps.
Accessibility: there are no dedicated wheelchair facilities.
Crossing the road: the coast road in front of the beach is busy. Use the pedestrian crossing with traffic lights.

When to go

Pereybère is good all year, but October, November, March and April are usually the best months, with warm water, settled weather and fewer people than in the July and December school holidays.

On weekdays the beach is quiet, even in the afternoon. Sundays and public holidays are different: Mauritian families arrive in the morning with picnics and stay all day. If you want a spot in the shade, get there before 9 am. The early morning is also when the water is at its calmest.

Evenings are quiet. For bars and nightlife, head to Grand Baie.

Safety and beach etiquette

There is no lifeguard on duty.
Swim inside the red buoys. Boats use the lane marked by yellow buoys outside them.
Northerly winds can bring jellyfish into the bay.
Stonefish and sea urchins can hide on rocky and coral bottoms, so wear water shoes near the rocks.
You will see people drinking on busy afternoons, but trouble is not tolerated.
Keep an eye on your belongings, and take your rubbish home with you.

Getting to Pereybère

By car or taxi: the beach is on the coast road, about five minutes from Grand Baie and three kilometres from Cap Malheureux. Port Louis is about 22 km away (35 to 45 minutes), and the airport is 65 to 75 km away, roughly one to one and a half hours depending on traffic.

By bus: buses on the coast road stop at Pereybère (1st Public Beach) and Pereybère (2nd Public Beach). From Port Louis, the air-conditioned route 215 runs to Grand Baie in about 40 minutes.

On foot: at low tide you can walk along the shore to Cap Malheureux. Some stretches are rocky, so wear proper shoes.

Where to stay near Pereybère beach

Pereybère is a village of small hotels, guesthouses and apartments rather than big resorts. These three are the closest to the public beach.

Le Beachclub

Self-catering apartments and villas right next to the public beach: 19 units in five buildings, with kitchens or kitchenettes. There is no pool, but the lagoon is on the doorstep, which makes it a good choice for families and longer stays. At weekends the public beach next door gets busy and noisy.

Pereybère Hotel & Spa

A three-star hotel on the coast road, across the road from the beach and a two-to-three-minute walk away. It has a rooftop pool and spa treatments, and restaurants and a supermarket are within walking distance. Rooms facing the road can be noisy.

Hibiscus Boutique Hotel

A 50-room hotel with a pool on the water, about one kilometre from the public beach, or a 10 to 15-minute walk. Its sea access is by steps and a pontoon rather than a sandy beach, so this is where you sleep, and Pereybère is where you swim.

Live prices for these and every other place around the beach are on the map below.

Eat and drink nearby

The food trucks on the beach: the quickest and cheapest lunch.
Island Babe: healthy plates and bowls in a garden setting.
Bloom: a café, restaurant and concept store.
Café Pereybère: Mauritian-Chinese dishes; look for the red shopfront.
Chill&Grill: grilled fish.
Wang Thai: Thai food, above the pharmacy near the Winners supermarket.

For supplies, there is a Winners supermarket and a pharmacy in the village.

Beaches nearby

Grand Baie, 2 to 2.5 km south: the north’s busiest town, with the bay, restaurants and boat trips to the northern islands.
Bain Bœuf and Cap Malheureux, 2 to 3 km north-east: the chapel at Cap Malheureux and the view of Coin de Mire island.
Mont Choisy, about 10 minutes by car beyond Grand Baie: a long, open beach.

Where the name comes from

The village is named after Charles Péreybère, who owned about 700 arpents of land here in the mid-19th century. Malaria kept the area thinly settled for a long time. The first holiday houses and small hotels came later, and Pereybère never went through the rapid build-up that Grand Baie saw in the 1990s and 2000s.

Frequently asked questions

Is Pereybère beach good for swimming? Yes. The lagoon is shallow and calm, protected by a reef about 350 m out, and the swimming zone is closed to motorboats.

Is there a lifeguard at Pereybère? No. Keep children close and stay inside the red buoys.

Can you snorkel at Pereybère? Yes. The rocks at both ends are easy, the lagoon north of Pointe d’Azur is shallow, and the reef is for strong swimmers with a surface buoy.

Can you rent sunbeds at Pereybère? No. Bring a towel or mat and use the tree shade or the steps.

Is there parking at Pereybère beach? Yes, a free car park next to the beach. It fills up quickly at weekends.

When is Pereybère busiest? Sundays and public holidays. Weekdays are quiet.

What is the best time to visit Pereybère? It is good all year; October, November, March and April are usually the best months.

Are there jellyfish at Pereybère? They can appear when the wind blows from the north. Most of the time the water is clear.

How far is Pereybère from Grand Baie? 2 to 2.5 km, about five minutes by car.

Sources

Written by Adam · Last checked on the beach: October 2026

Pereybère Beach, Mauritius: Swimming, Snorkeling and Where to Stay