Essentials
- City
- Belle Mare, Flacq District, Mauritius
- Population
- Approximately 7,000
- Internet Speed
- Fiber available in most resorts and rental villas; 50-100 Mbps common via My.T
- Currency & Banking
- Mauritian Rupee (MUR). 1 USD ≈ 46 MUR, 1 EUR ≈ 50 MUR
- Tap Water
- Not generally recommended for drinking; bottled water (e.g., Crystal, Vital) is preferred
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK style) and Type C (European style) sockets
- SIM Card
- my.t (Mauritius Telecom) or Emtel; 100GB data packages approx. 800 MUR ($17)
- Banking for Expats
- MCB (Mauritius Commercial Bank) and Absa; Revolut works well for card payments
- Accommodation
- Villas at Solana Beach, LUX* Belle Mare, or local guesthouses via Booking.com
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes in resorts and supermarkets; cash needed for local markets and small snacks
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and local agencies like Villa Vie; prices range from 2,500 to 15,000 MUR per night
- Budget Accommodation
- Eden Villa (approx. 2,200 MUR/night) or local Airbnb apartments in the village area
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Coastal Road area for direct beach access and luxury resort amenities
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Quatre Cocos or Trou d’Eau Douce (10 mins away) for more affordable long-term local rentals
Culture and Attractions
- Religious Sites
- Sagar Shiv Mandir (Temple on the water) at Poste de Flacq
- Annual Events
- Maha Shivaratri (February/March), Diwali (October/November)
- Cultural Districts
- Flacq Village Market area for a raw look at Mauritian daily life
- Theater Venues
- Caudan Arts Centre in Port Louis (1 hour drive)
- Local Markets
- Flacq Market (open daily, but biggest on Wednesdays and Sundays)
- Music Scene
- Sega music performances at most beach resorts on Friday/Saturday nights
- Street Art
- Murals in nearby Trou d'Eau Douce village
- Cooking Classes
- Mauritian cooking classes offered at SALT of Palmar
- Art Galleries
- Seebaluck Art Gallery in Pointe aux Piments (45 mins away)
- Historic Buildings
- Le Château de Bel Ombre (South) or Government House in Port Louis
- Local Heritage
- The Dodo as a symbol; the Mauritian Creole language
- Must-See Landmarks
- Ile aux Cerfs (short boat trip south), Belle Mare Lime Kilns
- Museums & Art Venues
- L'Aventure du Sucre (Sugar Museum) in Pamplemousses (40 mins away)
- Historical Sites
- Poste de Flacq ruins and the Old Sugar Mill structures
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Bras d'Eau National Park (15 mins away) for hiking and bird watching
- National Parks Nearby
- Black River Gorges National Park (1 hour 15 mins drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The long stretch of Belle Mare beach (approx 5km) for walking
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Lion Mountain in Vieux Grand Port (30 mins south)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Bras d'Eau forest trails for the Mauritius Paradise Flycatcher
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Strictly regulated; usually only allowed on private resort grounds with permits
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Mauritius Post Office (Flacq branch), DHL Express
- Tech Repair Services
- Logicom Flacq for mobile and laptop repairs
- Table Tennis Spots
- Sports facilities at Solana Beach Resort
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française in Port Louis or private Creole tutors
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Flacq Public Library
- Community Centers
- Belle Mare Social Centre
- Gaming Lounges
- No lounges in Belle Mare; some available in Port Louis
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Ti Vegas in Grand Baie (50 mins drive)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 85,000 MUR per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 3.4M MUR / $74k) in beachside developments
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 55,000 MUR per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 2.2M MUR / $48k) in rural Flacq
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 90,000 MUR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 5.4M MUR / $117k)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 60,000 MUR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 3.6M MUR / $78k)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 100,000 MUR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 8M MUR / $174k) for IRS/PDS schemes
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 65,000 MUR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 5.2M MUR / $113k)
- Corporate Tax
- 15% (with 3% available for certain export/offshore activities)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% (Mauritius does not levy withholding tax on dividends)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents (more than 183 days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 20% (Personal Income Tax progressive from 0% to 20%)
- VAT
- 15%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, introduced in Finance Act 2019
- Property Tax
- Local Government Tax applies; varies by property size (Municipal Tax)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 5% Land Transfer Tax; 5% Registration Duty
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Premium Visa allows staying for 1 year; income from foreign sources is tax-exempt if not remitted to Mauritius
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Ground (Flacq) or Workshop17 (Moka, 40 mins away). No dedicated spaces in Belle Mare village.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Duck Laundry (inside LUX*) or Salt of Palmar’s library area; Maison d'Eté for quiet ocean views
- Networking Events
- Mauritius Startups & Entrepreneurs meetups commonly held in Ebene or Moka (45 min drive)
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats Mauritius Facebook Group; 'Aperitif' networking nights at hotels in the East
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Yugo or Fala Taxi; standard trip to Flacq costs approx. 400-600 MUR
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Available at many local villas or resorts (approx. 500-800 MUR per day)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Belle Mare Public Beach; widely considered one of the best on the island
- Top Regional Airline
- Air Mauritius (Connecting to Reunion, South Africa, Rodrigues)
- Top International Airline
- Emirates, Air France, and Turkish Airlines via SSR International Airport (MRU)
- Highway Access
- Linked via the B59 road to the M2 Motorway at Flacq
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Flacq Central Bus Station (15 mins away) for regional connections
- Public Transport Passes
- Individual tickets only (cash); approx. 30-45 MUR for local bus routes
- Regional Travel
- Bus or Taxi to Flacq, Trou d'Eau Douce (for Ile aux Cerfs), and Port Louis (1.5 hours by bus)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Dr. Bruno Cheong Hospital (Flacq Public) or Wellkin Hospital (Private, Moka - 40 mins away)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga Shala at LUX* Belle Mare; Wellness retreats at SALT of Palmar
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Riverland Sports Club in Grand Baie (far) or resort gyms; local fitness at Flacq
- Laundry Services
- Most villas provide machines; resort laundry services (approx 150 MUR per shirt)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- OrderManange or HungryPanda (service in Belle Mare is limited; local pickup preferred)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Dholl Puri (lentil wrap) or Gateau Piment (chili cakes) from street vendors
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Kitchen at SALT of Palmar (very plant-forward menu)
- Best Dessert Spots
- ICI station at LUX* Belle Mare for homemade artisanal ice cream
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Super U Flacq or Winners Supermarket (15 mins drive)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- PriceGuru.mu and 101 Multimedia for electronics
- Grocery Delivery
- The Shop.mu or Winners Online (delivery to East coast available)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Beach Rouge at LUX* for DJ sets; more active nightlife found in Grand Baie
- Local Brewery
- Phoenix Beverages (Phoenix Beer is the national staple)
- Wine Bars
- The Cellar at Constance Belle Mare Plage
- Street Food Stalls
- Belle Mare Public Beach parking lot vendors for fried noodles and rotis
- Popular International Cuisine
- Amari by Vineet (Indian Fine Dining) and Hasu (Japanese)