Lighthouse Island, officially named Ile aux Fouquets, is one of my favourite places off the east coast of Mauritius.

The atmosphere on the island, with its abandoned lighthouse battered by the great waves of the Indian Ocean, is absolutely magical.

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An abandoned lighthouse and breathtaking views

Tourists head to Ile au Phare mainly because of the 1864 abandoned lighthouse building.

The lighthouse was built during the British Empire. Ile aux Fouquets lies on a fault where the seabed rises into shallows with rough coral reefs, and the area between this islet and the Mauritian coast is inaccessible to large ships.

You can freely enter the interior of the lighthouse.

The islet is only 2.5 hectares, so you can walk around it in 5 minutes.

Here you will enjoy the atmosphere of a completely deserted place, with spectacular views of the endless ocean and the Mauritian coastline 5 km away.

There are no amenities on the island - you can't buy food or drink here and you won't find a toilet.

How to get there

The island with the lighthouse can only be visited comfortably on the organised day cruises of the "5 Islands Tour", which depart from Trou d'Eau Douce, Mahébourg or Blue Bay.

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We describe what the prices are, where the cruises go and other embarkation points in the What to do in Mauritius chapter.

There used to be a boat taxi service from the public wharf at Mahébourg that sailed to Ile au Phare about once an hour for 400 mur, but I'm told this service is no longer available in 2025.

Boats can't dock directly at the island, so you'll be in for about 150-200 metres of wading in shallow water (the water will be about knee deep).

It is recommended to wear water shoes as the bottom is partially filled with small rocks.

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