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Voykit pocket guide · Mauritius
Tamarin
Half a day for the beach and salt pans, or a full day if you surf. Not a base for the whole island: one night is enough unless you are here for the waves.
Tamarin is a small west-coast village with a surf beach, a dolphin pod in the bay, historic Martello towers and active salt pans. The village itself is quiet; most visitors come for the beach and the waves, then move on. One night works if you want sunset over the bay and an early surf session.
- Country
- Mauritius
- Best months
- May–December (dry, sunny, calm west coast)
- Avoid
- January–March (cyclone risk, heavy showers)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MUR
- Money
- Currency is the Mauritian rupee (MUR). Cards work widely in hotels, restaurants and supermarkets; markets and small shops prefer cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget MUR 1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid MUR 2,500–4,000 excl. bed · High MUR 4,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- my.t (Mauritius Telecom), Emtel and CHILI sell tourist SIMs at the airport with passport registration.
- Emergency
- Police 999 · Fire and ambulance 115 · Tourist Police (Port Louis) +230 213 8333
- Plugs
- Types C, G · 230 V · 50 Hz · UK three-pin and European two-pin both common; bring an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge.; Hotel staff: Tip box at check-out or Rs 100–200 for porters.; Driver or guide: Rs 200–500 a day.
- Water
- Treated tap water; most visitors drink bottled or filtered.
- Toilets
- Western toilets everywhere; public beach toilets are basic.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | MUR 80–120 |
| Local meal (dholl puri, roti) | MUR 100–200 |
| Restaurant main course (fish, chicken) | MUR 300–600 |
| Beer (bottle at shop) | MUR 60–80 |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi ride3.1 mi (5 km) taxi ride | MUR 300–500 |
| Surfboard rental, half day | MUR 800–1,200 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MRU · Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport
- About 50 km (31 mi) east; taxi or pre-booked transfer takes 50–70 min.About 31 mi (50 km) east; taxi or pre-booked transfer takes 50–70 min.
Typical fares
- MRU → Tamarin, taxi
- about MUR 2,500, 50–70 min
- Tamarin → Flic en Flac, taxi
- about MUR 300, 10 min
- Tamarin → Port Louis, bus
- about MUR 50, 40 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walking covers the village and beach. Taxis or rental cars are needed for the Martello towers and salt pans. Buses run along the main road but are infrequent.
See and do
Known for
- Tamarin Beach (surfing, dolphins)
- Salt pans
- Martello Towers (La Preneuse)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Flic en Flac | Taxi or bus, about 10 min | 15–20 min |
| Chamarel | Taxi or rental car, about 30 min via B9 | 40 min |
| Port Louis | Taxi or bus, about 30 min | 40–50 min |
| Bel Ombre | Taxi or rental car, about 25 min via B9 | 35 min |
Sleep
- Tamarin village centre
- Closest to the beach and restaurants; limited options, mostly small hotels and guesthouses.
- Flic en Flac (5 km north)
- More accommodation and dining choices; a 10-min drive or taxi ride.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbohn-zhoor |
| Thank you | Mercimair-see |
| How much? | Combien?kom-byen |
| The bill, please | L'addition, s'il vous plaîtla-dee-syon, seel voo pleh |
| Where is the beach? | Où est la plage?oo eh la plahj |
| I need a taxi | J'ai besoin d'un taxizhay buh-zwan duhn tak-see |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; 'bonzour' first; avoid: Skipping greetings in shops
- Religious sites: Cover up and remove shoes; avoid: Leather items in some temples
- Beach: Swimwear on the sand only; avoid: Topless sunbathing
- Community: Respect all faiths' festivals; avoid: Commenting on ethnic politics
Scams and watch-outs
- Surf conditions vary with the swell; check local surf reports before heading out.
- Dolphin-watching boats operate from the beach; book with a licensed operator.
- The salt pans are working sites; do not walk on the pans without permission.
Tamarin is safe; the main risks are sunburn, strong currents at the beach and traffic on the B9 coastal road. Keep valuables out of sight on the beach.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tamarin yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Tamarin Beach (surfing, dolphins)
- Salt pans
- Martello Towers (La Preneuse)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Veranda Tamarin Hotel & Spa (official site): veranda-resorts.com/en/mauritius-hotel-tamarin
- Wikivoyage: Tamarin (Mauritius), revision 4933380 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4933380
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Tamarin
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaît
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police999
- Fire and ambulance115
- Tourist Police (Port Louis)+230 213 8333
Most embassies are in Port Louis; check your country's consular page for Mauritius.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/tamarin-mauritius). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.