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Far north · day-sail sand
Flat Island and Gabriel Island
Île Plate (Flat Island) and nearby Gabriel Island sit north of Mauritius, beyond Coin de Mire. Operators sell them as a ‘northern islets’ day: sail, snorkel, lunch on deck, sometimes a landing depending on permit and swell. They are not hotel islands. They are not Round Island (a strictly protected reserve farther out — you do not land there). If the sea is up, a skipper who turns back is doing the job. Book with a licensed operator; agree what is included before you pay.
History
Why this place exists
Île Plate (Flat Island) and nearby Gabriel Island sit north of Mauritius, beyond Coin de Mire. Operators sell them as a ‘northern islets’ day: sail, snorkel, lunch on deck, sometimes a landing depending on permit and swell. They are not hotel islands. They are not Round Island (a strictly protected reserve farther out — you do not land there). If the sea is up, a skipper who turns back is doing the job. Book with a licensed operator; agree what is included before you pay.
First visit
To do
- One side of the island per day. Do not zigzag.
- Agree taxi fares before the wheels move.
- Official desk or licensed operator — not a lobby tout.
Tickets
Cheaper here
Hotel desks add a cut. Buy at the official gate or a licensed skipper. Confirm the price the morning you go.
Location
On the island
OpenStreetMap, live. Pins are the place, not a sponsored hotel.
-19.8800° S · 57.6700° E
Open water north of the mainland. Lifejackets. Swell can cancel landings. Sun on deck is the usual injury.
Crowd: moderate · labelled overlooked, not secret