With children
Family leisure
Shade, shallow water, toilets, and one organised day. Parks are commercial and fine. They are not ‘local life’.
01 · Mont Choisy · Trou aux Biches · Blue Bay
Shallow lagoon mornings
One water, one shade, one snack economy. Public beaches with casuarinas beat a ‘secret cove’ with no toilet. Midday sun is the enemy, not the island.
02 · Pamplemousses
Garden + lilies
Stroller-possible paths, shade, something alive that is not a speedboat. Verify hours the same morning.
03 · Bénitiers or Cerfs
A calm lagoon boat, not a trophy crossing
Lifejackets on small children before Instagram. Morning sea is usually kinder. If someone in the party hates boats, a public beach is the wiser ‘must try’.
04 · Pay for shade and toilets
Park days (Casela, La Vanille, and kin)
These are commercial leisure parks: animals, zip lines, crocs, giant tortoises. Fine for a rest day. They are not ‘local life’. Buy official tickets; hours and animal-welfare practices are yours to check, not ours to invent.