Home / Experience Mauritius / Viewpoints & Scenic Routes / Albion Lighthouse
A working lighthouse on the low cliffs at Pointe aux Caves, west of Port Louis — a quiet, unpolished stretch of coast where the swell hits the rock and the sun goes down straight out to sea.
The lighthouse stands at Pointe aux Caves, a headland of dark undercut rock on the west coast just beyond Albion village. Mauritius has very few lighthouses, and this white tower on its low bluff is the most accessible of them. It remains an operational navigational aid, so the tower itself is not open to the public — what you come for is the setting rather than the interior.
A short walk past the lighthouse brings you to open ground above the sea, where the coast is unprotected by reef and the swell breaks hard against the rock, throwing spray up over the ledges. The name Pointe aux Caves comes from the caverns the water has cut into the cliff below. There are no railings, no kiosk and very little shade; it is a place to sit for half an hour rather than a half-day outing. Because this is the west coast with nothing between you and the horizon, it is one of the better sunset positions near Port Louis — which is why you will usually find a handful of locals fishing off the rocks and a few cars parked along the track at the end of the day. Keep back from the edge in heavy swell and take care after rain, when the rock is slick.
Grounds accessible in daylight hours
The tower is not open to the public
Free — no gate or ticket
Closed shoes for the uneven rock, water and a windproof layer. There is no shop or cafe at the point, and no shade to speak of.
Parking is on a rough track near the lighthouse and the ground beyond is uneven basalt with no railings and no lighting after dark. Keep well back from the edge in heavy swell, and take care with children.
Fifteen minutes south: the longest beach on the west coast, with calm lagoon water, casuarina shade and plenty of places to eat.
Inland at Cascavelle: safari drives, zip lines and walk-through animal enclosures across the hillside — the biggest family day out on this coast.
Half an hour north into the capital: harbourfront shops, the craft market and the Blue Penny Museum.
Albion Lighthouse,
Pointe aux Caves, Albion,
Rivière Noire District, Mauritius
Around 30–35 minutes from Port Louis
Approximately 15–20 minutes from Flic-en-Flac
Around 1 hr 15 min from the airport
Follow the coast road through Albion village and turn towards Pointe aux Caves; the last stretch is a rough track with informal parking near the lighthouse.
No. Albion lighthouse is an operational navigational aid and the tower is closed to the public. Visitors view it from outside and walk on the headland around it.
At Pointe aux Caves, on the coast just beyond Albion village, west of Port Louis. The name refers to the caverns the sea has cut into the cliff below the point.
No — the headland is open ground with free access during daylight hours. There is no gate, ticket office, kiosk or cafe.
Late afternoon. There is no reef offshore here, so the sun sets straight into open water — one of the better sunset positions within easy reach of Port Louis.
Treat it with respect. The rock is undercut and unfenced, the swell breaks hard against the ledges, and the surface is slippery after rain. Keep well back from the edge, particularly with children, and do not attempt to swim.