At a glanceA slow trip in three parts: four nights on the east coast lagoon at Belle Mare, a 90-minute flight to quiet Rodrigues for three nights of hiking, boat trips and family dinners, then four nights at Le Morne on the southwest tip of Mauritius for sunsets and a splurge. It suits couples who want beach time with a sense of discovery. Go from September to November.
Most couples fly to Mauritius, check into one resort and never leave the lagoon. That is a fine honeymoon. This route keeps the resort comfort but adds two things most visitors miss: the contrast between the island's east and west coasts and a few days on Rodrigues, a small, remote island 90 minutes away by air that feels like Mauritius several decades ago.
You start at Belle Mare on the east coast, about 45 minutes to an hour from the airport. Four nights there give you sunrise over the lagoon, a boat to Île aux Cerfs and time to recover from the long flight.
Next you fly to Rodrigues for three nights. There are no big resorts, just small hotels, family guesthouses, coastal footpaths and a huge lagoon. You walk, swim, eat octopus curry at a family table and go to bed early.
The last four nights are at Le Morne, the mountain peninsula on the southwest tip of Mauritius, for sunsets, a scenic flight over the famous underwater-waterfall illusion and the splurge of the trip.
The route
- Belle MareMauritius · 4 nights
- RodriguesMauritius · 3 nights
- Le MorneMauritius · 4 nights
- Best months
- September to November
- Trip length
- 12 days
- Budget
- About $400–1,200 a night for two in Mauritius resorts and roughly $100–300 on Rodrigues (approximate)
Day by day
Days 1–4: Belle Mare
Land at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU), usually via Dubai, Paris or Johannesburg. Belle Mare is one of the shortest transfers on the island, about 45 minutes to an hour. Check in and sleep.
On day 2, wake for sunrise over the lagoon from your balcony, then do nothing more than swim and walk the long beach.
On day 3, take an early boat from Trou d'Eau Douce to Île aux Cerfs before the crowds, with a stop at the Grand River South East waterfall on the way. Swimming off the island's quieter sandbars is the romantic moment of the east coast.
On day 4, book a private catamaran with lunch on board, or spend the afternoon at your resort spa. The trade winds blow here in the cooler months, so mornings are best on the water. Visit the market at Centre de Flacq if you want a taste of local life.
Days 5–7: Rodrigues
Drive to the airport and fly to Plaine Corail Airport (RRG) on Rodrigues on day 5, about an hour and a half with Air Mauritius. Your hotel or guesthouse meets you for the 30 to 45 minute drive over winding hill roads.
On day 6, walk the east coast footpath from Graviers to Trou d'Argent, a hidden cove between cliffs, then continue to other small beaches along the way. Arriving at that empty cove together is the romantic moment of Rodrigues. In the afternoon, visit the François Leguat reserve to see giant tortoises and limestone caves.
On day 7, take a boat across the lagoon to Île aux Cocos, a sandy island with nesting seabirds. In the evening, eat at a table d'hôte, a family-run dinner of octopus, fish curry and local sausages. If you are there on a Saturday, go to the early market in Port Mathurin.
Days 8–11: Le Morne
Fly back to Mauritius on day 8 and drive 75 to 90 minutes to Le Morne on the southwest coast. Check in, walk to the public beach and watch the sun go down behind the lagoon.
On day 9, climb Le Morne Brabant with a guide in the early morning. The final scramble is steep, so turn back at the cross if you prefer. The mountain is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a former refuge for people escaping slavery. Rest in the afternoon.
On day 10, book a seaplane or helicopter flight over the lagoon to see the underwater waterfall, an optical illusion of sand flowing off the shelf. Afterward, drive up to Chamarel for the Seven Coloured Earth and a rum tasting.
Make day 11 your splurge. Take a private boat to Île aux Bénitiers with snorkeling, then a couples spa treatment and a beach dinner. Watching the sky turn orange behind Le Morne on your last night is the romantic moment of the whole trip.
Day 12: Home from Mauritius
The drive from Le Morne to the airport takes about 75 to 90 minutes. Most long-haul flights leave in the evening, so ask for a late checkout or a day room and a final swim.
There are no nonstop flights from the US to Mauritius. Most couples connect through Dubai, Paris, Johannesburg or another hub. If you route through Dubai, a night there breaks up the long trip home.
Getting Between Stops
Belle Mare is 45 minutes to an hour from the airport, which makes it an easy first stop. Le Morne is 75 to 90 minutes away on the far side of the island.
Air Mauritius flies between Mauritius and Rodrigues in about an hour and a half. Seats sell out in holiday periods, so book them when you book your international flights. A passenger ship also sails, but it takes over a day.
On Mauritius, a rental car or a hired driver works best for exploring. Drive on the left and take the mountain bends slowly. Resorts arrange airport transfers. On Rodrigues, rent a car or scooter, or hire a taxi for half a day. Roads are narrow and steep.
Where to Stay
At Belle Mare, Constance Prince Maurice has suites set over a mangrove inlet and a calm, grown-up feel. One&Only Le Saint Géran sits on its own peninsula at Pointe de Flacq. Shangri-La Le Touessrok, at Trou d'Eau Douce, has a private island for guests.
On Rodrigues, accommodation is small scale. A handful of beach hotels sit around Anse aux Anglais, Pointe Coton and Mourouk. Family guesthouses offer a warm welcome and home cooking. Check whether meals, air conditioning and hot water are included.
At Le Morne, LUX* Le Morne sits on a quiet stretch of the peninsula. The St. Regis Le Morne Resort has large suites and a spa. Paradis Beachcomber Golf Resort and Spa includes a golf course. Ask for a sunset-facing room.
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When to Go
September to November is the best window for all three stops. The trade winds ease, rain is light, the sea warms up and boat trips to Rodrigues' islands run smoothly. December is warm and still good before the summer rains build, though prices peak over Christmas.
April and May are also good, with fewer crowds after Easter. From June to August, the island is cooler and the southeast trade winds blow hard on the east coast and Rodrigues, which kitesurfers love but beach loungers may not.
January to March brings heat, humidity, heavy showers and cyclone risk. On Rodrigues, a storm can disrupt flights for days, so avoid tight connections home in those months.
Budget and Booking
Plan on roughly $400–1,200 a night for two at the Belle Mare and Le Morne resorts named here, often with half board. On Rodrigues, beach hotels run about $150–300 a night and guesthouses about $100 with breakfast and dinner. All figures are approximate.
Book the Rodrigues flights first, since seats are limited, then the two Mauritius resorts. Mention your honeymoon, since resorts often add extras.
Other costs include the domestic flights, car hire or drivers, the Île aux Cerfs boat, the catamaran day, a guide for Le Morne Brabant, the scenic flight over the lagoon and spa treatments. Rodrigues is inexpensive, which balances the resort nights.
Make It Shorter or Longer
For nine days, skip Rodrigues and split eight nights evenly between Belle Mare and Le Morne. You keep the two-coast contrast without the extra flights.
With two weeks, add a night or two at Bel Ombre on the wild south coast, between Le Morne and the airport, with its golf courses and green hills. Or add a fifth night on Rodrigues for its offshore islands and a kitesurf lesson at Mourouk.
Mauritius also pairs well with a Dubai stopover on the way out or home. Two nights in Dubai gives you a city break and helps with jet lag.
Honeymoon Tips
Mauritius is relaxed and English is widely spoken alongside French and Creole. Dress casually, but cover up away from the beach and at Hindu temples, where both of you remove shoes.
The lagoons are calm but currents can be strong at reef passes. Swim inside the lagoon and wear reef shoes on coral.
The Le Morne Brabant climb gets steep near the top. Go with a guide, start early and turn back if either of you is uncomfortable.
Rodrigues is quiet and restaurants close early, so book dinners ahead. Cash is useful there. Use repellent at dawn and dusk. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices before booking. Entry and visa rules depend on your citizenship and can change at short notice, so check the official government website before you book.
FAQPlanning this trip
Is Rodrigues worth the extra flight?
Yes, for couples who like quiet places. It is small, green and slow, with coastal footpaths, a huge lagoon and family dinners instead of resort buffets. Three nights is enough to walk, take a boat trip and eat well. Skip it if you want luxury at every stop.
Why stay on both the east and west coasts of Mauritius?
The two coasts feel different. Belle Mare in the east has sunrises, long beaches and a short airport transfer. Le Morne in the southwest has sunsets, a mountain backdrop and the best scenic flights. Splitting the stay also breaks up a long beach week.
What is the underwater waterfall at Le Morne?
It is an optical illusion. Sand and silt washing off the edge of the shelf near Le Morne look like a waterfall plunging under the sea when seen from the air. The only way to see it properly is from a seaplane or helicopter, which take off near the peninsula.
How do we get from Mauritius to Rodrigues?
Fly with Air Mauritius from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International (MRU) to Plaine Corail Airport (RRG), about an hour and a half. Book seats early, since they sell out in holiday periods. A passenger ship also sails from Port Louis, but the crossing takes over a day.
When is the best time for a Mauritius honeymoon?
September to November, when the weather is dry and warm, the trade winds ease and boat trips run smoothly. April and May are a good second choice. Avoid January to March if you can, since it is the hottest, wettest stretch with a risk of cyclones.
