West Mauritius: Best Things to Do
Travel to West Mauritius for beaches, waterfalls, breathtaking sunsets, and stay for amazing food and culture. With so many things to do in West Mauritius, it's the ideal vacation spot for both backpackers or luxury travelers. Plan your journey with our guide and get the most of your trip.
If you love romantic destinations, beautiful nature, fun activities, and want to experience a perfect vacation in a tropical island paradise, Mauritius is an ideal place for you.
There are many wonderful places to base yourself for some epic exploring of this island, however, West Mauritius is the heart of the island.
It has everything you would expect from a tropical paradise; from long sandy beaches to stunning waterfalls thundering through lush forests, from romantic beach resorts to adventure parks; one thing is certain, you won't even have time to get bored.
With many adventure water activities to try, this is also an ideal vacation spot for active travelers.
We've rounded up a list of best things to do in Mauritius' west coast that also includes tips on where to stay.
MAURITIUS' WEST COAST
How to read this guide? Well, it's very straightforward and easy to follow.
In this post, we will focus only on the west part of Mauritius and some central areas in the western half of the island.
Southwest and northwest also feature many incredible places you should visit, but we've already covered these places in Must-Visit Places in North Mauritius and the southwest in South Coast Road Trip Itinerary.
Northwest is famous for its amazing beaches, vibrant nightlife, the capital city, and plenty of hotels.
Southwest has luxury resorts, native forests, and Le Morne Brabant, a small peninsula and beautiful mountain, that is a symbol of this area and dominates the landscape.
So don't forget to definitely check out these useful travel guides as well, as you will get a better picture of Mauritius in general.
The area we cover in this post stretches from Grande Riviere Noire in the southwest, Mare Aux Vacoas, to Quatre Bornes in the central part, and Port Louis in the North.
EUREKA
Set in a lush garden at the foothills of Moka Range, Maison Eureka will remind you of old colonial times in Mauritius. With a rich history, beautifully decorated interiors, and restored authentic furniture, this old residence will take you back in time.
Once the tour around the house is over, enjoy a lovely lunch consisting of traditional Creole food while admiring the views from the balcony.
From the backyard, follow the Waterfalls trail for ten to fifteen minutes to enjoy a cascade and a waterfall on Moka River. The trail down to the waterfalls might be slippery at times, so come prepared and wear sneakers.
Eureka was our favorite colonial house of the bunch, and if you haven't been to a colonial house in Mauritius yet, you should really change that.
To get to Eureka from Flic en Flac, follow the road that cuts through Quatre Bornes, then join the M2, and exit the road in Martindale and follow the A7. In Telfair, turn left on Mt. Ory Road, and after you cross the bridge over Moka River, turn left once again. You have arrived at your destination.
Google maps or any other GPS navigation will make your journey much more comfortable, and you won't get lost.
In our opinion, it's better to plan your trip more thoroughly and add at least one or two stops along the way, as the traffic can be pretty heavy in Quatre Bornes, and the visit of Eureka will take only about an hour and a half.
The entrance fee is 300 MUR per person.
TAMARIN FALLS
Gorgeous landscape, breathtaking views, and stunning waterfalls, Tamarin Falls unquestionably represents the best of Mauritius.
Tamarin Falls, also called 7 Cascades, is popular for hiking, swimming, canyoning, cliff jumping, or bird watching.
Hiking is the most popular activity in Tamarin Falls, and although we usually try to do all hikes independently, this time we went with a local guide who was very passionate, and knew how to navigate various slopes and scrambles along the waterfalls.
Although you can do the hike on your own, the trail is not that easy to follow in some sections, and it definitely helped us to have a guide. Even though it's not the hardest trek in the world, you should be moderately fit to make the trip.
One of the best parts of this hiking adventure was, that we were the only people on the trail, but we guess, we just lucked out. As we visited Tamarin Falls in the dry season, there was less water in the river, but the trail was dry and probably less challenging than it would be in the wet season (or after torrential rain).
Located near Henrietta, a small village about 30 minutes drive from Flic en Flac, Tamarin Falls are easily accessible by car or with a guided tour.
We arrived at the falls totally unprepared, and luckily there was a local guide near the place we left our car, who offered us his services. Make sure you settle on a price before setting off.
If you like to come prepared, book the Tamarin Falls hike in advance.
FLIC EN FLAC
Flic en Flac is the epitome of West Mauritius.
With an excellent beach that stretches for several kilometers and a wide range of hotels, Flic en Flac attracts visitors from all around the world.
Shallow waters and mild currents make this beach perfect for everyone who wants to enjoy the calm water of the Indian Ocean. Walk along the beach, and you will definitely find a deserted place with barely anyone around. As the whole beach area is protected by a coral reef, you may want to bring water shoes to prevent cuts from dead corals.
Flic en Flac has seen a lot of development in recent years, and the 'once sleepy seaside village' has grown into a vibrant town and one of the most popular places in Mauritius.
This might be good or bad, depends on what you expect or what you like.
From water sports such as jet skiing or parasailing to scuba diving along the coral reef, shopping in the Cascavelle Village to enjoying Creole cuisine in a family restaurant, Flic en Flac is not short on all kinds of activities and things to do.
We decided to stay in Flic en Flac for the whole time of our vacation, as it's sort of in the middle of the way between the north and south coast. But we booked a hotel outside the noisy town center, where you will find all the restaurants, bars, and hotels.
Flic en Flac is located about a 30-50 minutes drive by car from Port Louis and about an hour from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport.
HINDU TEMPLES
Hinduism is the most popular religion in Mauritius, so it comes without a surprise, that there are many Hindu temples scattered around the island.
During the colonial era, many laborers came to Mauritius from India and brought the religion with them. From that moment, Hinduism flourished in Mauritius, and you should visit at least one Hindu temple while vacationing there - temples are very picturesque and photogenic.
You will find the most famous temples at the Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao) on the way between Black River Gorges National Park and Bois Cheri, but that's in the southwest.
There is a really nice temple called Mandir de Medines only a short ride from Flic en Flac that's worth visiting (if you have a car).
SUNSETS
Mauritius has one of the best sunsets in the world. We said it.
There is just something so soothing in watching the sunsets above the Indian Ocean that's very hard to explain. Staying on the west coast will give you many opportunities to experience these magical moments that will make you want to visit Mauritius once again, or even stay here forever.
We didn't miss a chance to grab our trusty tripod every evening (we brought a proper tripod this time and left GorillaPod at home) and spent the time around sunset sitting on a small sandy beach while listening to the sounds of the sea.
As we didn't stay directly in the center of Flic en Flac, but a little bit outside, it was just us with no one else around, and we really enjoyed those moments.
Photo Tip: Sturdy tripod is a must for capturing long-exposure sunsets, you will also need a shutter release cable for bulb mode to take control of the shutter button, and a nice ND filter to darken the sky.
MAURITIUS FOOD
We loved the food in Mauritius. Due to a long colonial era, Mauritius cuisine is very diverse and influenced by many international cuisines such as Indian, Chinese, Creole, or French.
Early settlers, slaves, and workers brought their culture and food to Mauritius, and after many centuries passed, the results are very tasty.
So what to expect? Curries, rice, seafood, stews, chutneys, steamed dumplings, coconut cakes, or Indian bread.
There is much more to taste, and everything is delicious. Simply put, the food in Mauritius is a blend of everything we like, and we were always looking for a new meal to try.
And they have a great (cheap) local rum, and your trip to Mauritius wouldn't be complete without a visit of a local rum distillery.
BEACHES
Mauritius has stunning beaches, and this fact is one of many reasons which make from this island a popular destination.
But without the amazing beaches in the northwest or around Le Morne (which we've already mentioned in our other blog posts), there is not that much of choice left in the west.
This means, that Flic en Flac Beach is the king of the beaches in the west.
Flic en Flac beach has golden sand, shallow waters, and stretches for several kilometers. It's perfect for swimming, sunbathing and relaxing, and we really enjoyed long walks in the morning along the coastline.
There are a few more beaches worth mentioning, so if you want to really explore the west coast, La Preneuse Public Beach or Albion Beach might be worth your time.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
TAMARIN SALT FIELDS
Salt Pans at Tamarin is the last opened and functional place producing salt using traditional methods.
This place was very different from the salt fields at Salar Uyuni in Bolivia or Sacred Valley in Peru we had a chance to see though there were some similarities.
The saltwater is pumped directly from the sea to the salt pans, then you have to wait for a few days until the water evaporates and forms into crystals. Then it is harvested by local women, and put into plastic bins and left indoors to dry.
The climate in this area is very dry and hot, which is perfect for turning the seawater into salt. There is a small gift shop, where you can buy a package of salt, though it's very expensive.
Arrive there early in the morning, or you won't be able to get inside to learn more about the salt pans nor to see the workers on the salt pans.
CASELA NATURE PARKS
For many visitors, Casela Nature Parks is one of the must-visit places in West Mauritius. Set in a beautiful landscape and packed with wild and exotic animals, and adventure activities, Casela Nature Parks sure has a lot to offer to its visitors.
The question you need to ask yourself is, what exactly do you expect from visiting Casela Nature Parks?
We haven't done much research before our visit and expected something else.
Here are some of our impressions.
First off, it's more like a ZOO than a nature park. Well, it's a ZOO. We don't like activities that include petting wild animals, some of the enclosures were small and not in a good state, etc.
Secondly, we haven't done any adventure activities, as you have to pay for everything extra, and the activities are expensive.
Frankly, it's one of those places you visit, because it's so close to your hotel, everyone tells, that you have to go there, and it's one of the things to do in the area.
But at the end of the day you only ask yourself, why did we even go there, it didn't make any sense and it's not what we expected.
It's probably one of those places you may want to visit when you travel with your kids, but we wouldn't come back.
But that's just our opinion and experience.
It takes about ten minutes to get there by car from Flic en Flac, you can arrange transport from your hotel or take a guided tour.
WHERE TO STAY IN WEST MAURITIUS
When looking for accommodation in West Mauritius, Flic en Flac is the most popular choice.
There are many great places to stay, ranging from cheapish guest houses to super-luxury resorts.
Prices in Flic en Flac are not very budget-friendly, so backpackers will have a harder time to find cheap hostels/guesthouses.
Also, places with good quality/price ratio fill up quickly, and you need to book them way in advance.
We've selected three best hotels in Flic en Flac for every type of traveler.
Budget | L'Oiseau de L'Ocean Tourist Residence - Cozy hotel with spacious rooms, outdoor pool, and welcoming personnel. The location is very quiet, and although the hotel is about 1.5 kilometers from the beach, they have complimentary bikes and shuttle (to the beach and mall). Great value for money.
Mid-range | Les 2 Canons - This small and quiet hotel features a private parking, an outdoor swimming pool, shared lounge, and excellent location by the sea. Rooms are air-conditioned, spacious and exceptionally clean. Ask for the room with sea view to enjoy the spectacular sunsets from your terrace!
Luxury | Sands Suites Resort & Spa - A luxury resort with bright and spacious rooms overlooking the Tamarin Bay is the perfect retreat from the busy Flic en Flac village. Located at the southern end of the Flic en Flac Beach, Sands Suites Resort & Spa boasts with three restaurants, spa, and two tennis courts. On top of that, the beach restaurant specializes in romantic dinners.
HOW MANY DAYS YOU NEED FOR VISITING WEST MAURITIUS
For the area we've covered in this travel guide, you will need at least three days.
Three days on the west coast will allow you to have fun on a beach, visit the colonial mansion and the adventure park, taste some local food, or try one of the fun water activities.
If you are going to add the northwest and southwest into your West Mauritius itinerary, allow yourself at least another five days to fully explore the west coast.
If staying in Flic en Flac for a longer period, you may want to rent a car. In our opinion, having a rental car is the best way to be independent and experience Mauritius.
It's also very comfortable and economic, especially when you travel as a couple or with a family.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
