Mauritius: Belle Mare, Palmar Beach
| THE LURE You'll be forgiven for thinking you're dreaming on the east (windward) coast of Mauritius with its' turquoise lagoons and white sandy beaches. For kitesurfers, add steady side-on trade winds and uncrowded, easy-to-ride spots and the deal is sealed on perfection. THE SET-UP You will be hard pushed to find an island with such versatile conditions. Southeast trade winds kick in from May to October, making the north, east and south coasts a playground filled with the most incredible conditions a kiteboarder could wish for. The east offers a great variety of spots, most of which are found from Trou d’Eau Douce to Poste Lafayette, and some can be downwinded to from another as you link up the string of lagoons lying along the coast. Palmar-Belle Mare is the most welcoming spot for all levels with a safe, crystal clear lagoon and steady winds blowing across a long, sandy beach with no currents, tidal effects or crowds. Working from N to SE, a rescue boat patrols every windy day from 10am to 5pm April – December. You'll find waves outside the reef along the east coast and a must-ride is L'Ile Aux Cerfs, an island lying six kilometres off Trou d’Eau Douce Bay. Sort yourself a boat with Kitesurf Paradise and you'll be ripping kilometre after kilometre of crystal clear lagoons, generally without another kitesurfer in sight. Le Morne, located on the southeast corner offers something for all levels, with trade winds from the left and acres of flat water inside the protective reef 600 yards offshore. The main calling card of this spot for the experienced is One Eye, a cross-offshore wave lying downwind of the launching beach. It's strictly experts only though as the rescue boat can rarely get out to it. WIND WATER AND WEATHER SE trade winds blows April - November at 15 - 25 knots, maxing in July and August when direction can vary slightly from east to south. Trade winds vanish December to March. Learning is good throughout the season as the lagoons stay flat but wave riders should be looking at July/August when biggest swells hit the reefs. Air temps 20°C/22°C in the heart of the austral winter (July, August). 30/35°C in the heart of summer (January, February). Nights drop by 5°C. Bring some warmer clothing for evenings in the windy winter. Water temps sit at 20°C in July (winter) and 28°C in January. GET AROUND Rent a car if you want to hit a few spots. Mauritius measures 45km by 65km, so nowhere is out of reach. Taxis aren't expensive, but barter the price first! ACCOMMODATION All types of accommodation in Trou d’Eau Douce and Belle Mare, from budget to five star hotels. Windy season on Mauritius is low season for general tourism, so prices are at their lowest! Some hotels are right on the spot, like La Palmeraie hotel. FOOD AND DRINK Belle Mare village is 1km from the spot at Belle Mare - Palmar, 5km from Trou d’Eau Douce, and 15km of the town of Flacq. There's a small supermarket in Belle Mare, many in Trou d’Eau Douce. Flacq has bigger ones and some markets. Take-aways and restaurants aplenty in Belle Mare or Trou d’eau Douce, offering Creole, Indian, Chinese, European and of course fantastic seafood. NO WIND The tropical scenery and the mix of Hindu, Creole, Muslim and Chinese cultures make this a fascinating place to visit, especially on the East Coast which remains the most authentic. Visit botanical gardens, the sugar museum and Hindu temples. For the active: think of it and you can probably do it here. USEFUL INFO No special warning necessary - Mauritian people are very friendly and helpful. AIRPORT Plaisance (MRU) is the only airport and is located in Mahebourg in the southeast, one hour from Palmar-Belle Mare. Most hotels have shuttles, taxis are available or you can pick up your own wheels from the airport. SCHOOLS KITESURF PARADISE are a Best Kiteboarding centre, teaching all levels April - December. Max students in a group is four, but it's usually less. Private lessons, rental gear offered and safety boat operates 10am -5pm. Day trip downwinders with boat cover and SUP lessons can be booked all year. Languages spoken by instructors: French, English and German Accredited by: IKO www.mauritius-kitesurf.com This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +230 743 42 98 TRAVEL AGENTS TRAVEL ACTION www.travelaction.co.uk +44 (0) 844 811 8489 SPORTIF www.sportif.travel +44 (0) 1273 844919 |
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