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TravelLifestyleMental Health

by Sofia Brontvein

Ultimate Guide To Mauritius: The Best Place To Explore the Slow Living Concept

30 Jul 2025

Photo: Xavier Coiffic

Let’s admit it: the only thing harder than doing everything is doing nothing. Somewhere along the way, being busy became a personality trait — and now we are all addicted to running late, multitasking badly, and pretending we are thriving on four hours of sleep and two matcha lattes.
Enter Slow Living. Not the scented-candle, buy-another-ceramic-mug kind (though we respect the mug). The real kind. The terrifying, beautiful art of not filling every hour, of choosing to walk instead of scroll, of saying “no thanks” to the endless productivity Olympics we never signed up for.
At first, it feels wrong. Like you are cheating at adulthood. But then you notice things: the taste of your morning coffee, the sound of birds (yes, they exist), the fact that you have been breathing this whole time without checking your email. You start designing your days with more curiosity than control. And guess what — the world doesn’t end. You just feel more like yourself in it.
Slow Living isn’t about quitting your job to make sourdough in the mountains. It is about learning to pause — even in the middle of the chaos. Because sometimes the most rebellious thing you can do is nothing at all.
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Learning to slow down (properly) in Mauritius

We all say we want to slow down — until we actually try. Then suddenly, we panic. What do you do with unscheduled hours? Where do you put your ambition, your Wi-Fi signal, your deeply held belief that unless you are triple-tasking you’re somehow failing at life?
Answer: you put it on a plane to Mauritius. You check it into a hotel, give it a cold towel, and tell it to take a walk by the ocean.
Because if there is one place that truly teaches you the art of doing less — beautifully — it is this small island in the Indian Ocean. Not in a smug, wellness-retreat way, but in an “oh, this is how humans are supposed to feel” kind of way. And if you want the slow life in its most elegant, grounded form, head straight to Bel Ombre.

The south coast: Where time stops (and you don’t mind)

Mauritius is known for its beaches, sure — but Bel Ombre is where things get poetic. The south is wilder, quieter, and blessedly less Instagrammed. Picture lush sugarcane fields rolling into emerald hills, waves breaking over coral reefs in a whisper, and roads that curve lazily through sleepy villages where time seems to have left its phone at home.
Here, the ocean doesn’t shout. It hums. Beaches like St. Felix and Riambel stretch wide and almost empty, with soft white sand and just enough wind to keep your thoughts moving. The lagoon is shallow, glowing in impossible shades of turquoise, and when you walk along the shore at sunrise, you might genuinely forget what day it is — in the best way.
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Stay here and forget your calendar

Base yourself at Heritage Le Telfair, a colonial-style beauty with the bones of an old sugar estate and the soul of a modern sanctuary. The rooms open onto tropical gardens, the spa doesn’t believe in rushing, and the only noise you will hear is birds, breeze, and your own internal monologue finally calming down.
Mornings here are for barefoot breakfasts and long swims. Afternoons are for exploring without urgency. Evenings are for grilled fish, local spirits, and starry skies that make you reconsider everything you thought you needed.

Slow life, fast legs: Road cycling as therapy

And then — just when you think you have nailed the art of stillness — you get on a bike.
Mauritius is weirdly ideal for road cycling. The roads are narrow and scenic, the climbs are friendly (mostly), and there is this satisfying rhythm to pedaling past mango trees, banyan roots, and goat herds who clearly have zero fear of traffic. The loop from Bel Ombre through Chamarel, over the Black River Gorges, and back via coastal roads isn't just a workout. It is moving meditation.
You sweat, yes. But you also notice things: the scent of sugarcane warming in the sun, the polite nod of villagers who have seen it all, the kind of perspective that only kicks in once your legs stop screaming. If Slow Living is a mental state, road cycling in Mauritius is how you earn it.
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Where to go when you aren't doing nothing

If, in between naps and swims and poetic bike rides, you feel like being a tiny bit adventurous, here is a small but solid list of places worth slipping your sandals off for:
– Gris Gris Beach: Where the cliffs drop straight into the sea and the waves are unapologetically wild. Come here when you want to feel small and dramatic (in a good way).
– Chamarel: Home to the Seven Coloured Earths (a geological mystery that looks like a pastel art project) and the nearby waterfall. Also excellent for cycling, lunch stops, or existential reflection.
– Le Morne Brabant: The iconic mountain that rises like a dream out of the southwest coast. Hike it early — the views are biblical, and the history of escaped slaves makes it feel sacred.
– La Prairie Beach: Quiet, shallow, perfect for floating and pretending you live here permanently.
– Macondé Viewpoint: That dramatic curve in the road you've seen in drone videos. It’s tiny, but worth the climb for the views (and to pretend you’re in a perfume ad).
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Photo: Johann Juraver

Some practical magic (especially off-season)

First, let’s debunk a myth: so-called “low season” (aka Mauritian summer, from January to March) is actually fantastic. Yes, it is humid. Yes, it rains — but usually in short bursts, like the island just needed to clear its throat. What you don’t get are crowds, overbooked hotels, or people elbowing you for a sun lounger.
Prices drop. Mangoes ripen. The beaches are basically yours.
A few tips: drive carefully — the roads are beautiful but narrow, and Mauritians are not known for their use of turn signals. Rent a compact car and skip the fancy SUVs. Eat local — the street food here is ridiculously good (try dholl puri, boulette, and spicy fresh pineapple with chili salt). Pack reef shoes, lots of SPF, and your best intentions to do… not much.
Because Mauritius doesn’t want to impress you. It wants to disarm you. It doesn’t promise productivity, it promises presence. And if you are lucky, you will come home a little sunburned, a little changed — and slightly suspicious of anyone who brags about being “super busy.”