ANSE BOILEAU BEACH
A long, lived-in bay on the south-west of Mahé. More village than resort, it is a real slice of local island life, with a broad beach, a scatter of good Creole kitchens and an easy, unhurried mood.
A real island community
Anse Boileau is one of the larger villages of the south-west coast, gathered around a long, open bay. It is not a manicured tourist beach but a working community by the sea, and that is the appeal for travellers who want to feel the ordinary rhythm of Mahe away from the resorts. Children play, fishermen come and go, and the beach is a place of everyday island life rather than sunloungers and cocktails.
The bay itself is broad and pleasant, backed by the green hills of the interior, and while it opens to the sea it offers easy strolling and, on calmer days, gentle swimming along a coast that most visitors simply drive through.
Creole food and a base for the south
Where Anse Boileau earns its reputation is at the table. The area is known for some of the better Creole restaurants on this side of the island, the kind of unfussy, family-run kitchens where the fish is fresh and the cooking is honest, and a meal here is a real taste of local life. For many visitors, lunch or dinner at Anse Boileau is the reason to stop.
Its position also makes it a handy hub for exploring the south-west, within easy reach of the string of beautiful beaches and coves that line this coast.
Know before you go
| Where | South-west coast of Mahe |
| Type | Long village bay, a working local community rather than a resort |
| Swimming | Gentle strolling and, on calm days, easy swimming |
| Food | Known for some of the south-west’s best Creole restaurants |
| Good for | Local life, a real Creole meal, exploring the south-west |
| Best time | Around a lunch or dinner, any calm day for the beach |
What visitors say
★ 4.4 · 135 Google reviews★★★★This beach can give you a sense of just having the entire place for yourself as it is not crowded at all, and most of the time, you will find the place empty of people. There is a very small area by the side of the road …
Reza Sattarzadeh Nowbari · via Google
★★★★★Despite everybody says it’s probably the best beach on the island. The water is extremely warm, you literally can just sit in the water all day! There is no current it won’t pull you anywhere. It’s not very deep. It’s a …
Wes · via Google
★★★★★Shallow beach, calm water ideal for swimming. Many pieces of coral and shells to see on the beach when low tide. Staying only across the road from this lovely beach I usually only see locals there.
Ivana B · via Google
★★★★★The ocean is roaring, the sand is white, and the tropical greenery is fresh. It’s a paradise!
Natalia Djunaidova · via Google
Anse Boileau is a natural lunch stop on a tour of the south-west coast and its beaches. A guided south day takes in the coves nearby, and staying on Mahe keeps this local corner within reach.
Traveller favouriteWild South full-day guided tourfrom €128 per groupBook this tourTours via Viator, stays via Booking.com. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Nearby Anse à la Mouche · Anse Gaulette · Anse Soleil
Come hungry. The real draw of Anse Boileau is its Creole kitchens, so time your visit around a long lunch of fresh fish and island cooking, then walk it off along the bay.
