Mauritius 5 days lets you experience both Mauritius coasts. Days 1-3 are the 3-day essentials (NW or SW base + Chamarel + Le Morne + west circuit + sunset). Day 4: Drive east + check into Belle Mare premium resort + Île aux Cerfs day trip. Day 5: East-coast resort relaxation + Port Louis Caudan Waterfront + final Creole farewell dinner. 5 days = canonical Mauritius first-visit duration for honeymooners. Hotel formula: 2-night NW or SW + 2-night east-coast premium + Day 5 morning at east-coast resort. Pre-book all major day trips 1 week ahead.
Five days hits the sweet spot for Mauritius — three days for the major districts, plus two days for nearby destinations that show a different side of the country. The pace stays relaxed, you get more variety in your photo album, and the day trips break up the urban intensity nicely.
5-Day Total Budget at a Glance
Budget
$750
Per person, flights excl.
Mid-Range
$1,620
Per person, flights excl.
Luxury
$3,400
Per person, flights excl.
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Day-by-Day Detailed Schedule
Arrival + resort + first sunset
SSR Airport transfer + resort + lagoon + welcomeActivities
- 10:00 Arrive SSR Airport + transfer to NW or SW resort 1.5 hours
Transfer to Trou aux Biches (NW) or Le Morne (SW). 60-75 min drive.
Cost: Rs 1,500-3,000 ($33-65) TIP: Resort transfer often included in honeymoon package. - 13:00 Resort check-in + welcome lunch 2 hours
Standard check-in 14:00. Most resorts allow early access.
Cost: Half-board included TIP: Tip Rs 100-200 bellhop. Snorkel gear deposit refundable. - 15:30 Lagoon snorkel + beach time 2 hours
House-reef snorkeling 50-200m from beach.
Cost: Free at resort TIP: Best 15:00-17:00 sun angle. SPF 50 mandatory. - 18:30 Sunset cocktail + welcome dinner 3 hours
West-facing resort sunset. Welcome dinner buffet.
Cost: Half-board included TIP: NW + SW + W coast for sunset views.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Airline meal
MRU · Included on flight
Light pre-arrival breakfast.
Lunch
Resort beach restaurant
Resort · Half-board included
Mauritian-influenced beach buffet.
Dinner
Resort welcome dinner
Resort · Half-board included
Buffet for variety.
Resort transfer SSR + walking inside.
DAY 1 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
West coast circuit — Chamarel + Le Morne + Tamarin sunset
7-color earth + rum + UNESCO + dolphin coastActivities
- 09:00 Chamarel 7-color earth + waterfall 1.5 hours
World's only naturally occurring 7-shade volcanic soil + 100m waterfall. Aldabra tortoise enclosure.
Cost: Rs 250 ($5) TIP: Before 10 AM for vibrant colors. - 11:30 Chamarel Distillery rum tasting 1 hour
Rhum agricole tasting flight Rs 350.
Cost: Rs 350 ($8) TIP: VSOP + gold rum exceptional. - 13:00 Lunch at The Alchemist (Rhumerie de Chamarel) 1.5 hours
Valley-view terrace Creole-French menu.
Cost: Rs 800-1,400 ($17-30) TIP: Book 3 days ahead. - 15:00 Le Morne hike (UNESCO, 2.5h with guide) 3 hours
556m basalt cliff peninsula + abolition memorial.
Cost: Rs 600 ($13) guide TIP: Closed in rain. Final 100m chains. - 18:30 Tamarin Bay sunset + dinner at Tamarina 2.5 hours
West-coast sunset + Tamarina Golf restaurant.
Cost: Rs 1,500-3,000 ($33-65) TIP: Book 3 days ahead.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Resort breakfast
Resort · Included
Full breakfast + dholl puri.
Lunch
The Alchemist (Rhumerie)
Chamarel · Rs 800-1,400 ($17-30)
Modern Creole-French.
Dinner
Tamarina Golf restaurant
Tamarin · Rs 1,500-3,000 ($33-65)
West-coast sunset dinner.
Rental car or hired car for west circuit.
DAY 2 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Black River Gorges + Grand Bassin + dolphin watching
Hiking + Hindu sacred lake + west-coast dolphinsActivities
- 06:30 Black River dolphin watching tour 3 hours
Boat departure 07:00-09:00 from Black River. Spinner + bottlenose dolphins year-round.
Cost: Rs 1,500-2,500 ($33-55) TIP: Book 1 week ahead. Conservation regulation (no swimming with dolphins since 2020). - 10:30 Black River Gorges National Park hike 2.5 hours
Mauritius' largest national park — endemic pink pigeon + Mauritius kestrel. Multiple trails 1-4 hours.
Cost: Free TIP: Macchabée Trail (3h) is the canonical option. Pack water + snacks. - 14:00 Lunch at Domaine de l'Ylang Ylang or Chamarel area 1 hour
Light Mauritian lunch en route to Grand Bassin.
Cost: Rs 500-1,200 ($11-26) TIP: Pre-pack from resort breakfast if light eater. - 15:30 Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao Hindu sacred lake) + 33m Shiva statue 1.5 hours
Hindu sacred lake at island geographic center + 33m Shiva statue (built 2007). Maha Shivaratri pilgrimage destination (Feb-Mar peak).
Cost: Free TIP: Modest dress (shoulders + knees covered). Sarongs provided at entrance. - 18:00 Resort sunset cocktail + relaxed dinner 3 hours
Back to resort for sunset + relaxed dinner.
Cost: Half-board included TIP: Resort-day cap on a heavy outdoor day.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Pre-tour resort breakfast (light)
Resort · Included
Light fuel before dolphin boat.
Lunch
Domaine de l'Ylang Ylang or local
Chamarel area · Rs 500-1,200 ($11-26)
Light Mauritian lunch.
Dinner
Resort dinner
Resort · Half-board included
Resort à la carte after long day.
Rental car or hired car for Black River + Grand Bassin.
DAY 3 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
East coast transfer + Île aux Cerfs day trip
Drive east + Belle Mare resort + Deer Island BBQActivities
- 09:00 Check out + drive to east coast (90 min) 1.5 hours
Drive across the central plateau (Curepipe + Quatre Bornes) to Belle Mare east coast. 60-90 min depending on traffic.
Cost: Resort transfer Rs 2,500-4,500 or rental car return + new rental TIP: Plateau road has cooler temperatures + heavy traffic morning rush. - 11:00 Check in to east-coast premium resort 1 hour
Constance Belle Mare Plage, LUX Belle Mare, One&Only Le Saint Géran, Shangri-La Le Touessrok, or Long Beach Mauritius.
Cost: Half-board included TIP: East-coast resorts get sunrise (not sunset). Premium 5-star concentration. - 12:30 Lunch + lagoon orientation 1.5 hours
East-coast resort lunch — different vibe from NW (longer beaches, more open).
Cost: Half-board included TIP: Belle Mare 2km beach stretch is Mauritius' longest. - 14:30 Île aux Cerfs catamaran day trip (afternoon) 4 hours
15-min boat from Trou d'Eau Douce harbor — Deer Island east coast. Golf, parasailing, beach time. Catamaran with BBQ option Rs 2,500-4,500.
Cost: Rs 2,500-4,500 ($55-100) TIP: Half-day version possible (afternoon only). Full-day with BBQ best. - 19:00 Dinner at resort signature restaurant — La Spiaggia (One&Only) or Acquapazza (Constance) or Safran (Shangri-La) 3 hours
Mauritius' top resort fine-dining — Italian, Italian-seafood-floating-pavilion, or Indian fine dining depending on resort.
Cost: €80-150 ($87-160) or Rs 2,500-5,000 TIP: Book 1 week ahead. Smart-casual; no shorts after 18:00.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Original resort breakfast
NW or SW resort · Included
Pre-drive fuel.
Lunch
East-coast resort lunch
Belle Mare · Half-board included
Lagoon view + Mauritian-Indian Ocean fusion.
Dinner
La Spiaggia / Acquapazza / Safran (resort signature)
Belle Mare · €80-150 ($87-160) or Rs 2,500-5,000
Mauritius' top resort fine-dining.
Drive across central plateau (1.5h) + Île aux Cerfs boat shuttle.
DAY 4 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
East-coast morning + Port Louis + farewell Creole dinner
Beach + lagoon + capital city + Le CapitaineActivities
- 09:00 East-coast resort beach + lagoon morning 3 hours
Last beach morning at Belle Mare. Lagoon snorkel, beach walk, sunbathing.
Cost: Free at resort TIP: Belle Mare 2km strip — walk the full length one way. - 12:30 Lunch at resort beach restaurant 1.5 hours
Last resort lunch.
Cost: Half-board included TIP: Try resort's Mauritian-cuisine night offering. - 14:30 Drive to Port Louis (45 min from east coast) 45 min
Cross central plateau to capital city. Caudan Waterfront harbor district.
Cost: Resort taxi Rs 1,500-2,500 ($33-55) TIP: Caudan Waterfront has free parking. - 15:30 Caudan Waterfront + Port Louis Central Market 2.5 hours
Caudan Waterfront harbor district (restaurants + shops). Port Louis Central Market food court (dholl puri Rs 25-50, briani Rs 150-300). Aapravasi Ghat UNESCO (1834 indentured-labor landing site, free).
Cost: Free + market eats Rs 100-500 TIP: Market closes 18:00 (Sundays closed). Aapravasi Ghat is the canonical UNESCO site in Port Louis. - 19:00 Farewell dinner at Le Capitaine (Caudan Waterfront) 3 hours
Camaron curry, grilled bourgeois snapper, rougaille saucisses. Harbor-view terrace seating.
Cost: Rs 600-1,500 ($13-33) TIP: Book 3-5 days ahead. Harbor-view terrace is the prized seating.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
East-coast resort breakfast
Belle Mare · Included
Last resort breakfast — try everything.
Lunch
Resort beach lunch
Belle Mare · Half-board included
Final resort meal.
Dinner
Le Capitaine (Caudan Waterfront)
Port Louis · Rs 600-1,500 ($13-33)
Canonical Creole seafood farewell.
Resort taxi + Port Louis Caudan Waterfront walking.
DAY 5 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
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Packing Checklist
- ✓ Light cotton + linen (year-round)
- ✓ Swimwear 3-4 sets (5-day rotation)
- ✓ Reef-safe SPF 50 (UV 11+ year-round)
- ✓ Sun hat + sunglasses
- ✓ Insect repellent DEET 30%+
- ✓ Light rain jacket Dec-Apr
- ✓ Sandals + sneakers (Le Morne + Chamarel)
- ✓ Smart-casual for resort signature restaurants
- ✓ UK-style Type C/G adapter
- ✓ USD or EUR cash backup
- ✓ Beach bag + waterproof phone case
- ✓ Cardigan or sweater for cool evenings May-Sep
Mauritius 5-Day Itinerary FAQ
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Why you can trust 5-day itinerary
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.