You’ve probably seen the photos. Those overwater villas stretching out into a turquoise lagoon that looks almost too blue to be real. It’s easy to get cynical about luxury travel these days. Everything is "curated" or "bespoke" or "ultra-luxe." But honestly, Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita is one of the few places where the reality is actually better than the Instagram feed. It’s not just about the fancy linens. It’s about the fact that you can spend an entire week there and never feel like you're trapped in a stuffy, corporate hotel.
Mauritius is a weirdly beautiful place. It’s got this volcanic backbone, lush green fields of sugarcane, and a mix of cultures that makes the food scene incredible. Most people head to the north for the nightlife or the west for the sunsets. But the east coast? That’s where the wildness is. That’s where this resort sits, tucked away on 64 acres of tropical gardens and coastal mangroves. It’s big. Like, "you need a bicycle to get to breakfast" big.
The Layout: Why Space is the Real Luxury
Most high-end resorts cram villas together to maximize the footprint. Not here. Every single guest room at the Four Seasons Resort Mauritius is a standalone villa. You get your own private pool. You get an outdoor shower. You get a sense of privacy that’s hard to find once you cross a certain price point.
The resort is split between the mainland and a private island called Ile aux Chats. If you stay on the island side, you’re basically steps from the lagoon. If you’re on the mainland, you’re surrounded by these crazy-lush gardens that smell like frangipani and salt air. It’s a bit of a trek between the two, which is why everyone gets a sturdy, slightly clunky yellow bicycle. Biking over the bridge that connects the mainland to the island at sunset is basically a rite of passage. It’s fun. It’s simple. It makes you feel like a kid again, even if you’re heading to a dinner that costs more than your first car.
Mangroves and Marine Life
The lagoon here isn't just for looking at. Because the resort is protected by a massive coral reef further out, the water at the shoreline is calm. It’s shallow. It’s perfect for paddleboarding if you have the balance of a toddler, because you won't get knocked over by a rogue wave.
One thing people often miss is the importance of the mangroves. They aren't just "bushes in the water." They are the nursery for the entire reef. If you take a kayak out near the edges of the property, you’ll see baby rays and tiny reef sharks darting between the roots. It’s a literal ecosystem happening right under your feet. The resort has an on-site marine biologist—a real person, not a marketing gimmick—who actually works on coral restoration. They’re trying to grow the reef back, piece by piece.
The Golf Situation (It’s Kind of a Big Deal)
Even if you think golf is just a good walk spoiled, you have to appreciate the Ernie Els-designed course here. It’s a par-72 championship course, and it is intimidatingly beautiful.
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- There are six oceanfront holes.
- The final shot is basically a dare to hit your ball into the Indian Ocean.
- Guests get complimentary green fees.
That last part is huge. Usually, a round at a course like this would set you back hundreds of dollars. At the Four Seasons Resort Mauritius, it’s included. You just pay for the cart or a caddy if you want one. There’s also a Bernhard Langer course nearby on Ile aux Cerfs, which you can get to via a quick boat ride from the resort’s jetty. If you're a golfer, this is basically heaven. If you aren't, the courses are still worth a look just for the landscaping and the fact that they keep the deer population—yes, there are wild deer in Mauritius—from getting too bored.
Eating Your Way Through the East Coast
Let’s talk about the food. It’s easy to get bored of "international buffets" at big resorts. Thankfully, the team here seems to realize that.
Acquapazza is the flagship Italian spot. It sits right on the water. The vibe is sophisticated but not "hush-hush" quiet. You can get a wood-fired pizza that tastes like it came out of a back alley in Naples, or you can go full fancy with local seafood. But the real star is Bambou. This is where they do the themed nights. Usually, "themed night" is code for "mediocre food," but when they do the Mauritian night, pay attention.
Mauritian cuisine is a wild blend of Indian, Creole, Chinese, and French influences. You’ll find palm heart salads, spicy dholl puri, and gateaux piment (chilli cakes). The resort brings in local flavors that actually pack a punch. They don’t dumb down the spice levels for tourists unless you specifically ask them to.
The Secret Beach: Ile aux Cerfs
One of the best perks of staying here is the private beach access on Ile aux Cerfs. It’s a short, 15-minute boat shuttle from the resort. While the main parts of Ile aux Cerfs can get crowded with day-trippers from other parts of the island, the Four Seasons has its own cordoned-off section.
It’s got a little bar, some very comfortable loungers, and that classic white-sand-blue-water combo that people fly 15 hours for. Honestly, bring a book, order a Phoenix beer (the local favorite), and just sit there. You don’t need to do anything else.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Mauritius
There’s a misconception that Mauritius is just a "honeymoon destination." Look, it is great for honeymoons. It’s romantic as hell. But the Four Seasons Resort Mauritius is surprisingly good for families.
They have a "Hobbit Village" kids' club that actually looks like something out of a movie. It’s not just a room with some crayons. They have an outdoor playground, a shallow pool, and programs that actually teach kids about the island. For teenagers, there’s a separate hangout area with gaming consoles and space to be away from their parents. It’s one of the few places where you can have a high-end romantic dinner while your kids are actually having a blast somewhere else, safely supervised.
The Service: The "Four Seasons" Factor
We have to talk about the service because that’s what you’re paying for. In Mauritius, the culture is naturally hospitable. It’s not that fake, subservient service you find in some parts of the world. It feels genuine.
At the Four Seasons, they use an app. You can chat with the concierge at 2:00 AM to ask for extra pillows or a bucket of ice, and someone usually shows up in ten minutes. It’s weirdly efficient. But the best part is the staff's memory. If you mention once that you like a specific type of tea or that you’re allergic to shellfish, they remember it. You don't have to keep explaining yourself. It’s that invisible layer of effort that makes a vacation feel like a vacation instead of a series of logistical hurdles.
A Quick Word on the Spa
The spa is built on stilts over the water. It sounds cliché, but when you’re face down in a massage cradle and you can see the fish swimming below you through a glass floor panel, you get why they did it. They use a lot of local ingredients—sugar, coconut, African botanicals. It’s expensive, yes. But if you’ve just come off a long-haul flight, the "Mauritian Fusion" treatment is basically a reset button for your nervous system.
Practical Realities: What You Need to Know
No place is perfect. Let’s be real.
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- The Humidity: It’s the tropics. It’s going to be humid. Your hair will do things you didn’t know it could do.
- The Size: If you hate walking or biking, you’ll be calling for a buggy a lot. The resort is spread out.
- The Price: It’s a Four Seasons. It’s not a budget stay. Even the "affordable" items on the menu are pricey.
- The Wind: The east coast is windier than the west. In the winter months (June to August), it can get quite breezy. Some people love it because it keeps the mosquitoes away; others hate it because it messes up their beach hair.
Actionable Steps for Your Trip
If you’re actually planning to head to the Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita, don't just wing it.
Book the Half-Board Option
Unless you plan on driving out of the resort every night for dinner (which is a bit of a mission because the roads are dark and winding), get the half-board package. It covers breakfast and dinner. Given the price of à la carte dining, it almost always saves you money and stress.
Request a Villa on the Island
The mainland villas are great, but the ones on Ile aux Chats feel more "Mauritian." You’re closer to the water, the breeze is better, and there’s something special about crossing that bridge to get back to your room at night.
Don’t Skip the Off-Site Tours
As tempting as it is to stay in the "Four Seasons bubble," go see the rest of the island. Rent a driver for a day. Go to the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden. See the Seven Coloured Earths in Chamarel. The resort can organize this, or you can find a local driver for a bit less. Seeing the vibrant markets in Flacq (the nearest big town) gives you a context for the island that you just won't get from the resort's beach.
Pack Your Own Snorkel Gear
They provide it for free, obviously. But if you’re a bit of a germaphobe or want a perfect fit, bring your own. The snorkeling right off the resort's beach is okay, but the boat trips out to the reef are where the real action is.
Check the Seasonal Weather
Mauritius has two seasons. Summer is hot and wet (November to April). Winter is cool and dry (May to October). If you want the best beach weather without melting, go in October or May. You’ll miss the cyclone season and the heaviest crowds, and the lagoon will still be warm enough for a long swim.
Ultimately, this resort works because it doesn't try to be a generic palace. It feels like a very fancy, very organized tropical village. It’s a place where you can be as active or as lazy as you want, and either way, you're going to leave feeling like you actually got what you paid for.