Flic en Flac

After Grand Baie, Flic en Flac is the most popular tourist area for a holiday in Mauritius. The once small fishing area on the west of the island has developed into a hub of resorts, hotels, rental apartments, restaurants, bars, clubs, and souvenir shops.

The beach itself is one of the best on the island – a long 8km (5mi) stretch of white sand where you can laze away days, have picnics under the shade of the casuarina trees, try out some street food, or take advantage of the array of water sports on offer, such as snorkeling, scuba diving, and deep-sea fishing.

A short drive to the south, beautiful Tamarin beach is one of the few places in Mauritius not protected by coral reefs, which makes it a renowned surfing spot.

Highlights

The west coast of Mauritius offers some of the best scuba diving on the island, with some fantastic wreck, reef, and drift sites just offshore from Flic en Flac and nearby Tamarin.

Suitable for beginner divers, La Cathédrale is one of the most popular sites in Mauritius for its stone arches, caverns, and caves where you can see a host of tropical fish species, while there’s also a cluster of other dive sites close by.

Water sports are the main activity on offer at Flic en Flac, and with such a huge choice, there’s something for everyone during their holiday in Mauritius. Kids will love banana boating and paddle boating, while teenagers can try parasailing, water skiing, and jet skiing.

Then there’s deep-sea fishing for tuna and marlin, canoeing, kayaking, and sailing. Further down the coast, Tamarin has one of the best surf spots on the island (the best conditions are May to September), where you can take lessons at the local surf school.

A 10-minute drive from the center of Flic en Flac, Casela World of Adventures is one of the most popular attractions on the island. The 250-hectare nature park offers more activities than you could fit into a full day.

There are safari drives, Segway tours, camel rides, mud karting, and much more. There’s also a lot for kids to do, like be a zookeeper for a day, ride a pony, fish for tilapia, feed giant tortoises and lorikeet birds, or visit the petting farm.

Practical Advice

If you’re not staying at a resort offering diving, then be sure to pick a dive operator with a good reputation (ask your hotel for advice or go with reviews). Some resorts also offer scuba diving lessons to non-guests.

If you don’t have a rental car, Flic en Flac is well connected by public buses to the capital of Port Louis (about half an hour’s drive away) and Curepipe and Quatre Bornes. The airport is an hour’s drive away.

Flic en Flac is ideal for family holidays. The beaches of western Mauritius are best for kids, as they are calm and sheltered. There are also plenty of child-friendly resorts, other lodging options in Flic en Flac, and a wealth of activities for children of all ages.

Flic en Flac has a great choice of luxury hotels and resorts that are perfect for couples and honeymooners. These private villas usually come with their own swimming pools, butler service, couples’ spa treatments, and special pampering extras such as private dinners for two.

While it’s not off the beaten track, Flic en Flac is a good choice for adventure travelers who want to spend their days diving, surfing, snorkeling, and doing other exciting water sports.