The South of Mauritius: What Makes It Different
The south of Mauritius is the island's least-visited quarter and its most rewarding. Where the north offers convenience and the east offers calm lagoons, the south offers character, dramatic cliffs, sugarcane fields that roll toward the sea, fishing villages that haven't been reshaped for tourism, and a coastline that changes mood every few kilometres. If you're planning where to spend your time in Mauritius, the south deserves at least two full days, and most people wish they'd given it more.
This guide covers the essential places to visit in Mauritius south, plus practical context for those considering a longer stay or relocation to the island.
The Best Places to Visit in Mauritius South
Gris Gris, The Wildest Coastline on the Island
Gris Gris is the southernmost point most visitors reach, and it earns the detour. The cliffs here drop sharply into open ocean, no reef, no lagoon, just the Indian Ocean running uninterrupted toward Antarctica. The colour of the water shifts from deep navy to green as waves break against the volcanic rock below. There's a short walking path along the cliff edge, and the village itself is small enough that you'll have most of it to yourself outside of weekends.
La Roche Qui Pleure, The Rock That Weeps
A short distance from Gris Gris, La Roche Qui Pleure ("the rock that weeps") is a coastal formation where wave spray creates the appearance of a weeping face on the rock surface. It's a five-minute walk from the road and one of those places that rewards the visit more than the photograph. Come at high tide for the full effect.
Souillac, The South's Quiet Hub
Souillac is the main town on the southern coast and a useful base for exploring the region. The Telfair Gardens here are well-maintained and historically significant, they're named after Charles Telfair, a botanist who worked on the island in the early 19th century. The town also has a small seafront where local fishermen bring in their catch each morning. It's unhurried in a way that larger coastal towns aren't.
Rochester Falls, Inland and Underrated
North of Souillac, Rochester Falls is one of the few waterfalls in Mauritius that's genuinely accessible without a guided hike. The water flows over flat basalt shelves in broad, even sheets, a formation that looks almost architectural. The surrounding sugarcane fields make the approach feel remote even though the drive is straightforward. Go in the morning before tour groups arrive.
Bois Chéri Tea Estate
Mauritius produces tea, and Bois Chéri is where most of it comes from. The estate sits in the highlands above the south coast, and the views across the tea fields and down toward the ocean are among the best on the island. The on-site museum walks through the full history of tea cultivation in Mauritius, and the tasting room offers blends you won't find exported elsewhere. It's a half-day visit that combines landscape, history, and something genuinely local.
Le Morne Brabant
Technically on the southwest peninsula, Le Morne Brabant is the basalt mountain that anchors the island's southwestern corner. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised for its role as a refuge for escaped enslaved people in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The mountain can be climbed with a guide, the ascent takes around two hours and the views from the top cover both the lagoon side and the open ocean. The beach at the base is one of the better stretches on this coast, and the kite-surfing conditions here are among the most consistent in the Indian Ocean.
Chamarel, Colour and Altitude
Chamarel sits in the highlands of the southwest and offers two things worth stopping for: the Coloured Earths, a geological formation where the soil displays seven distinct shades ranging from red to violet, and the Chamarel Waterfall, which drops around 100 metres into a gorge below. The village itself has a handful of good restaurants and a rum distillery, Chamarel Rum is one of the better-regarded single-estate rums produced on the island.
Practical Notes for Visiting the South
The south is best explored by rental car. Public transport exists but is slow and infrequent on the coastal roads. Most of the key sites are within a 30-kilometre arc between Le Morne and Souillac, so a single day can cover the highlights if you start early. Two days allows a more relaxed pace and the chance to spend time at Rochester Falls and Bois Chéri without rushing.
Accommodation in the south is more limited than the north or east. There are a handful of boutique guesthouses around Souillac and Le Morne, and several larger resorts on the Le Morne peninsula. Book ahead in the July–August peak season.
Living and Working in Mauritius: What the South Tells You
For those considering relocation rather than a holiday, the south offers a different picture of island life. Property prices are lower than the north, the pace is slower, and the communities are more mixed, a blend of Creole fishing families, Franco-Mauritian landowners, and a growing number of international residents who chose the island for quality of life over convenience.
Job Opportunities in Mauritius
Mauritius has a structured economy with genuine career opportunities across financial services, tourism, ICT, and increasingly in the blue economy and renewable energy sectors. Job opportunities in Mauritius are most concentrated in Port Louis and the Ebène Cybercity corridor, but remote and hybrid roles have expanded the geographic flexibility available to professionals. The government's Premium Visa and Occupation Permit schemes are designed to attract skilled international workers and investors, with straightforward application processes compared to many other jurisdictions.
For those already on the island or planning a move, jobs in Mauritius are listed through the National Employment Department, sector-specific recruiters, and directly through major employers. The financial services sector, anchored by institutions including Mauritius Commercial Bank, consistently offers career opportunities in Mauritius across banking, compliance, wealth management, and technology roles.
Banking in Mauritius
Setting up banking as a new resident is straightforward. Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) is the island's largest bank and offers a full suite of personal and business banking services. Internet banking with MCB Mauritius is available through their online platform, covering transfers, bill payments, account management, and foreign currency operations. Internet banking at Mauritius Commercial Bank supports both resident and non-resident accounts, which is relevant for those managing finances across multiple countries. Other major banks including SBM and Absa also offer competitive internet banking services in Mauritius.
Why the South Repays the Effort
The south of Mauritius is the part of the island that doesn't try to impress you. The cliffs at Gris Gris aren't signposted with superlatives. The tea fields at Bois Chéri don't have a gift shop at every turn. Le Morne carries its history quietly. That restraint is exactly what makes the region worth the drive, it's Mauritius at its least performed, and for many visitors, that turns out to be the version they remember longest.