In the reserve of Bel Ombre on the southern shores of Mauritius, the Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort combines relaxation, with family-run, romance and the charm of an early 18th-century Mauritian sugar cane plantation.
We recently visited this beautiful property in paradise, and here are some of the things we loved most about the resort:
Location, location, location
The Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort boasts a spectacular beachfront location overlooking the turquoise lagoon of the Indian Ocean. You can enjoy some impressive sunsets from the resort’s jetty. It is situated right inside the Bel Ombre nature reserve, a sprawling UNESCO world heritage site that has a variety of exciting adventure activities, from hiking to mountain tops, to quad biking and nature drives. You might also decide to visit the Bel Ombre World of Seashells, a museum that is home to the largest collection of seashells in Africa.
Stunning rooms
The Outrigger has over 180 rooms, all of which face the sea. That means that no matter which one you book, you’re guaranteed a view of that beautiful blue ocean you travelled all the way to see. Whether you choose a deluxe room, a family suite, or a suite you can look forward to lush interiors, contemporary styling, and an authentic Mauritian atmosphere. We decided to book into the Beachfront Junior Suite, situated directly on the first floor whose stunning terrace offered us panoramic ocean views and whose bathroom had a massive spa bath. Our room also gave us access to the Plantation Club facilities, which we’ll discuss a bit more later.
Activities aplenty
While the resort has its own boat club where you can take out a kayak, pedalo, or stand up paddle board, the surrounding area is also awash with activities for all ages. The lagoon is also a haven for kitesurfers and the staff at the resort’s boat house will happily take you down to the nearby kite center in their speedboat if you want to go for a session or book a lesson. Within easy reach of the resort you will also find several golf courses, while a little further afield the adventure playground of Chamarel awaits with ziplines and hikes.
Food, glorious food
One of the highlights of our stay at the Outrigger was the food. The resort offers a number of different dining options, including the buffet-style Mercado Restaurant featuring an international food market concept, the beachfront Edgewater serving delicious seafood with a Creole touch, and the poolside Le Bleu with its handcrafted cocktails and authentic pizzas. During our stay we also enjoyed a private wine and tapas dinner at Rouben’s Wine Room as well as a range of experiences at the exclusive Plantation Club with a lobster dinner, breakfast with sparkling wine, afternoon tea, and a cocktail hour with canapes.
All about family
But travelling with our daughter, perhaps my favourite thing about this resort was their love of family. The staff were always on hand to entertain my daughter and their was even a separate shallow baby pool with a fun slide for her to play. While she was too young to be left alone at the kids club she enjoyed playing with all the toys and dress-up items on offer and there was a full program of activities including arts and team sports for the older kids.