Proclaimed public beach

Pointe aux Piments Public Beach

Pointe aux Piments is a public beach in the Pamplemousses district, on the north-west coast of Mauritius. It holds a quiet record: it is made up of nine sections, more than any other beach on the island. Seven of them, numbered 1 to 7, have been public since 1991 and are found by their landmarks: Pointe Oberoi, the stretch between the Le Méridien and Victoria hotels, the surroundings of the fish landing station, the spot facing the aquarium, the surroundings of the former Colonial hotel, Pointe Cimetière and Pointe aux Biches. To these are added the main beach, 0.2 hectare, since 2001, and part of the Pas Géométriques and State reserves, 0.6 hectare, since 2014. Together they come to 12.3 hectares and close to 2.6 kilometres of shoreline.

At a glance

Beach: Public beach in nine sections, 12.3 hectares and close to 2.6 kilometres of shoreline: section 1, Pointe Oberoi, 1.4 hectares and 146 metres; section 2, between Le Méridien and Victoria, 1.1 hectares and 122 metres; section 3, near the landing station, 2.5 hectares and 715 metres; main beach, 0.2 hectare and 111 metres, since 2001; section 4, facing the aquarium, 1.4 hectares and 300 metres; part of the Pas Géométriques and State reserves, 0.6 hectare and 139 metres, since 2014; section 5, near the former Colonial hotel, 0.6 hectare and 244 metres; section 6, Pointe Cimetière, 4 hectares and 740 metres; section 7, Pointe aux Biches, 0.5 hectare and 40 metres. Sections 1 to 7 have been public since 1991

What sets it apart

Pointe Cimetière is the largest of the nine sections: 4 hectares and some 740 metres of shoreline. The main beach, by contrast, is the smallest, 0.2 hectare for 111 metres: the name here describes a use, not a size. The narrowest section, Pointe aux Biches, has only 40 metres of shoreline for half a hectare.

The mood

Each section is found by a building, often a hotel or a former hotel: these are points of reference, not owners, since all nine sections are public. On busy public holidays the beach is covered by the duty ambulance stationed at Mont Choisy, attached to SSRN Hospital.

Highlights

Nine sections: the highest number for a single beach on the island
12.3 hectares and close to 2.6 kilometres of shoreline in all
Seven sections public since 1991
Pointe Cimetière, the largest section: 4 hectares and some 740 metres
The main beach, the smallest: 0.2 hectare for 111 metres
Part of the Pas Géométriques and State reserves public since 2014

Good to know

Nine sections mean nine possible ways in: agree on a landmark, Pointe Cimetière or the landing station for instance, so as not to pick the wrong entrance.
The “main beach” is the smallest of the nine sections: do not expect space there.

Getting there

The beach lies on the north-west coast, in the Pamplemousses district, south of Trou aux Biches. Section 3 adjoins the fish landing station; section 4 faces the aquarium.

Where to stay

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