Day at Ile Aux Coco in Mauritius

By Anand Pandit

Mine goes like this. Rise up in the morning, go to a largely secluded island, laze on pristine white sand, go for a swim, have a wonderful meal, and take in some wonderful flora and fauna. Normally it’s pretty difficult to get all of this on one excursion. There’s always been something missing from my Wishlist above, wherever I have been to.

Farah, who so wonderfully planned my honeymoon vacation, had recommended that we spend a day at Ile Aux Coco during our stay in Mauritius.  When I look back, the trip to the island was the best part of a already great vacation. Fish around Ile Aux Coco –sights that need to be seen, cannot be described.

We were whisked off to Ile Aux Coco on a speedboat in the morning. As you approach the island, the sight of the clear blue sea and the mangroves already fills you with a sense of delight. We were greeted by an amazingly courteous and friendly bunch of staff at the island. While the standards of hospitality are really high in Mauritius, wait till you get to Ile Aux Coco. The staff is extremely high on service quality, and go to that extra mile to make you feel comfortable (such as getting a curry dish especially made for us, once they got to know we were from India, though we didn’t have to ask for it at all!)


Ile Aux Coco as we approach it, notice the white sand

If you want to laze on the beach, Ile Aux Coco is the place to be. Wonderful white sand, and just the right temperature and breeze, to lie on the beach while sipping a relaxing drink. If you are the active sorts, Ile Aux Coco gives you the option to go snorkeling and/or a glass boat ride. This is highly recommended, as the vibrancy of sea life that you see here is unparalleled.

After your snorkeling getaway, when you want to sit down for a nice meal, there’s a wonderful barbeque waiting for you. You might think the natural beauty of the island and the water life around it is unmatched by any experience, but the lunch spread does come pretty close!

All in all, it was an experience to savour and something me and my wife would remember throughout our life. If you’re going to Mauritius, you just can’t give Ile Aux Coco a miss.