Rivière Noire, Pointe d’Esny, Cap Malheureux, Trou aux Biches, Pointe aux Piments, Roches Noires, Pereybère… In the heart of the Indian Ocean, ranked 5th in the BARNES 2022 top oceanfront destinations for UHNWI, this tropical gem spans 2,040 sq.km (776 sq.mi). It fine sandy beaches, its turquoise lagoon, its ocean floor populated with colourful fish, its unique vegetation, its mountains, and its cosmopolitan culture all make it an idyllic destination. Home to the world’s best kitesurf spots, top-level golf courses, international schools and modern infrastructures, Mauritius also has a highly advantageous tax system and a stable democratic regime.
The real estate market: booming
Prior to 2005, non-Mauritians could not own property in Mauritius. Since then, international investments have been authorised, but are strictly regulated via official development schemes like the IRS, Integrated Resort Scheme, designed for private foreign individuals looking to become home owners or establish their tax residence on the island.
Prices have risen 5% per year over the last ten or so years, and have stabilised in the past five years. Villas near a golf course, for example, have seen their value increase from between €500,000 and €800,000 to €2M to €3M. Average prices are around €2,500 per sq.m, but can reach up to 3 or 4 times this amount for exceptional properties.
Our advice
“Now’s the time to buy. The development opportunities are astounding, and prices remain very moderate. You won't find these types of bargains on any other island”. Outi de Falbaire, founder BARNES Mauritius.
The advantages of Mauritius? Same time zone as the European continent, English and French spoken fluently, international schools, state-of-the-art hospitals, cinemas, shopping centres, security and a functioning democracy, soft tax regime (taxes capped at 15%).
The best spots in Mauritius? Although the authentic east side of the island is popular with Mauritians, the most popular areas with the international clientele are Grand Baie in the north and Tamarin/Rivière Noire in the southwest which combine coastlines, restaurants, shops and schools.
Lifestyle: A balance between sport and relaxation
BARNES has put together a selection of top recommendations for those looking to escape to Mauritius and discover all that this Indian Ocean paradise has to offer. Diaries at the ready!
The hottest reservations in town
Brasserie Correspondances
©VisitMauritius
Part-restaurant, part-artists’ home, this trendy new venue in Grand Baie was opened by artist Max Sungkur in 2021, With a menu showcasing dishes incorporating elements of typical French brasserie cuisine with a sophisticated Mauritian touch. Guests can even try their hand at art, and it’s not unheard of for the host here to paint a canvas while diners sample the delights on the menu.
Chemin 20 Pieds Pereybere MU Pereybere MU, 30546, Mauritius
Le Chamarel
©Facebook Le Chamarel Restaurant
It really is the setting that makes this place so special. From its hilltop position, the stilted wooden terrace of Le Chamarel affords breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape of south-west Mauritius, from the Morne Peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the Tourelle du Tamarin. The perfect place to enjoy traditional Mauritian cuisine as you take in the idyllic panoramic views, from dawn to sunset.
Le Chamarel Restaurant, La Crête, Main Road, Chamarel
La Demeure de Saint-Antoine
©Facebook La Demeure Saint Antoine
Travel back in time on this magnificent colonial estate built in 1830. Step inside the gates of this rare Mauritian heritage property and take a seat on the verandah of La Salle à Manger to enjoy dinner, lunch, a tea party or a theme night. Dine on fine Mauritian cuisine in a magical setting of century-old trees and lush banyans.
XM55+237, Goodlands, Mauritius
Beach Rouge
©Facebook LUX BELLE MARE
The LUX* Belle Mare hotel, in the north-east of the island, is home to this beach club and Boho-chic restaurant, nestled between palm trees and fine sand on the edge of the lagoon. With a menu showcasing the flavours of the Mediterranean. The ideal place to enjoy the “tropical island at the world’s end” vibe right through until sunset, when a DJ steps things up a gear.
RQ2J+CXR, Quatre Cocos, Mauritius
Well-being / Shopping
L’Atelier aux Merveilles
©Facebook Patrick Mavros
A favourite jeweller of a certain Kate Middleton, Patrick Mavros, originally from Zimbabwe, creates jewellery with a strong emphasis on elements of the African savannah. As well as a trendy boutique in London and others in Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Namibia and South Africa, one of his workshops is located in Pamplemousses, in the north of Mauritius. A fantastic space for exhibiting and manufacturing jewellery, other decorative pieces and tableware.
Temple of well-being
©Facebook Dinarobin Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa
The Dinarobin Spa, located at the bottom of Le Morne mountain, is a true gem right at the water’s edge. With thatched pavilions surrounding the open-air indoor pool, edged with palm trees and tropical plants, you won’t find a much more serene setting than this. So what can you expect in the way of relaxation? In addition to swimming and yoga classes, you’ll find a whole host of treatments and massages inspired by ancient techniques from Japan, China and India to choose from, some of which can be enjoyed on the beach in the shade of a rustic hut. Divine!
Spa of the Dinarobin Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa Hotel, Le Morne Peninsula, Case Noyale 91202, Mauritius
An authentic find
Head for the market in Port-Louis (the capital), an institution on the island for over 200 years and a real Mauritian Ali Baba’s cavern where you’ll anything and everything, from clothes, decorative pieces and souvenirs to food, vegetables, fruit, newspapers and, most importantly, delicious tropical fruits and exotic vegetables. A great way to immerse yourself in the local cuisine and the authentic Mauritian way of life.
Top tours
The Seven Coloured Earths
©Seven_coloured_earths_mauritius
The Mauritian answer to Colorado lies in the south-west of Mauritius, where you’ll find the Terres de Chamarel and their multicoloured tones of brown, orange and ochre, all set amid breath-taking natural surroundings. The immense waterfall nearby, La Chute de Chamarel, only adds to the idyllic picture.
Pamplemousse gardens
©Flickr Michel Letertre
37 hectares (over 90 acres) of plant species from the 4 corners of the world, making for a true wonderland of species and colours. The baobab and the giant water lily, the Victoria amazonica, lounging in the ornamental pond, are worth special mention. A real paradise for the senses at the heart of Mauritius.
The Blue Bay lagoon
Blue Bay, a protected marine park with corals of every colour you could possibly imagine and 72 species of fish, is a veritable slice of paradise on Earth. Unsurprisingly, then, it’s also the ideal place for snorkelling and diving in its deliciously warm, clear, turquoise waters, not to mention lazing on its fine sandy beach.
Rodrigues Island and its treasure
The most adventurous of visitors will no doubt enjoy escaping to this protected little island of the Mascarene archipelago located a 90-minute flight from Mauritius. Its wild beauty incorporates a 200 sq.km (77 sq.mi) lagoon dotted with small uninhabited islets and magnificent hiking trails. But the real pièce de résistance are the Aldabra giant tortoises that live in the François Leguat reserve.
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