Is Flic en Flac worth visiting? Should you stay in Flic en Flac while on a trip to Mauritius? What is there to do in and around Flic en Flac?
Flic en Flac, located on the west coast of Mauritius, is one of the most popular destinations on the island. But you may find yourself wondering if it is really worth visiting, and more so, staying in while in Mauritius.
Visiting Flic en Flac and staying in Flic en Flac essentially come hand-in-hand. That’s to say, to really experience the magic of this area, you need to dedicate more than one day to it. Basing yourself in Flic en Flac, whether for all, most or some of your trip, will no doubt enhance your Mauritius experience!
With its picture perfect sandy beaches and high end resorts, Flic en Flac is synonymous with paradise. But there are more reasons than this that Flic en Flac is the perfect place to visit.
This post will help to show you why, while also looking at what you can do in and around Flic en Flac!
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Car Hire: Hiring a car in Mauritius is by far the most convenient way to get around the island and see as much as possible. Head over to DiscoverCars for a range of car rental options at good prices!
Accommodation: For accommodation in Mauritius, I recommend checking out Booking.com and Agoda for the widest range of options, with good deals!
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Flic en Flac is worth visiting, and more so, worth staying in on a trip to Mauritius. Here’s why:
– Flic en Flac is a town suited to all
Whatever your age, whether you’re travelling alone or with friends/family/a partner, if you want to have a luxury trip or stick to a budget while in Mauritius, have a relaxing trip and/or an action packed one, Flic en Flac will suit your desires. (More info on these points coming up!)
I travelled to Mauritius solo, but stayed with a friend while there. That being said, I stayed in Flic en Flac for three weeks, and spent the days enjoying the town and surrounds solo! I very much enjoyed that time and had no issues as a solo female in Flic en Flac. I didn’t go out alone at night as I was with a friend then, but it was the perfect mix to see how this town can be enjoyed both as a solo traveller and with others.
– Flic en Flac has all the general amenities you might need
For example: Cash machines, supermarkets, pharmacy, bakery, bars, restaurants, souvenir shops, tour booking agents, etc etc.. Staying here then will help you to have a stress free time! I won’t go into those too much for now – you’ll get more of an insight further down this post.
Those are two basic points which will make more sense soon! Lets delve deeper and take a closer look at what makes Flic en Flac stand out!
– Accommodation for all budgets and types of travellers
Flic en Flac has plenty of accommodation options, including apartments, guesthouses, hotels, luxury resorts. This range of options means a range of prices, alongside a range of available facilities. Accommodation is therefore suited to all types of travellers: from solo travellers, to couples looking for a romantic getaway, or travels with friends or family, including those with younger kids. This of course means it is worth staying in!!
– Transport options from Flic en Flac
Rental cars, rental scooters, taxis and public buses are all viable transport options in Flic en Flac. A great aspect about staying here, then, is that there are no restrictions on how you can get around. Whether you want to explore the immediate area or further afield, you easily can! Lets take a closer look…
Car Rental
If you want to explore Mauritius to its fullest, in the most convenient manner, I really do recommend to rent a car. You can pick up a rental car from the airport on arrival.
However, if you don’t rent a car from the airport, don’t fret! Perhaps you wish to spend the first few days of your trip lazing on the beach and chilling around town, so don’t want to pay for a rental car just yet. If this, or similar, is the case, know that you can rent a car directly from Flic en Flac. (You won’t have this option in every town!!)
Scooter hire
Another popular transport option in Mauritius is to travel by scooter. There are a few options of places in town where you can rent one, Klokan Rental being a popular choice. They can sell out, so do be sure to send a message some days before you wish to rent one.
Public bus
Flic en Flac is well served by public bus. That being said, the public bus doesn’t make it the easiest to get to many of the spots on the island you will wish to visit. That’s just Mauritius buses for you (and why renting a car is the best option!)
But you can get to, for example, Cascavelle Shopping Mall – perfect if you need to buy anything you can’t find in town. Or, easily hop on a bus to the capital city, Port Louis (buses here are most frequent). Buses do also travel south, but aren’t the best for stopping where you will likely want to go on your visit!
Bear in mind that buses all over Mauritius stop running in the early evening.
I’ll be honest, I found it difficult to travel by bus!! Google Maps transport is not a thing in Mauritius and the timetables on the Mauritius bus website were very confusing and apparently incorrect! So while I took the bus to Port Louis and Cascavelle, I opted to go elsewhere by car. Regardless, with bus stops in the heart of town, this is one of the most connected, by public transport, tourist spots.
Taxi
There are many taxis going around Flic en Flac, so you can be sure that this is another transport option.
– Location
Flic en Flac is an amazing place to base yourself due to its proximity to other areas of the island. I mean, no where is ever too far away in Mauritius, but Flic en Flac really is a good middle ground.
- Flic en Flac is located around a third of the way up the west coast. So if you wish to go north or south for the day, you’re already part of the way there.
Some of the main places to visit and sights to see such as Le Morne and Chamarel are on the south-west, or on the other hand Port Louis, the island’s capital city, is on the north-west of Mauritius. By already being on the west coast, then, you can get to these destinations relatively quickly.
Even Grand Baie, one of the most popular spots in the north, is only an hour drive from Flic en Flac (okay more if you travel during rush hour – can say that from experience!).
– Weather
The weather in Flic en Flac is some of the most favorable on the island. The west coast is the more sheltered coast, so typically is drier. If you intend to visit Mauritius in the summer months (November-April), which marks rainy season, Flic en Flac is therefore a very good place to visit and stay. Here, you can avoid the worst of the wet weather.
During my visit from mid November to mid December, the only thing I could really complain about with the weather in Flic en Flac is the humidity, but that’s to be expected anywhere on the island in summer! That’s to say, while there was some rain, it was generally just a big downpour at once which soon turned to clear skies and didn’t affect the day!! (While the weather I kept checking would often say rain all day, it never rained all day and most days did not rain at all. This is your note to not trust what the weather online says, for Flic en Flac at least!).
From my own experience, I did a boat trip on the east coast and it rained and remained overcast for the duration of it!! This was the worst weather day of my whole trip! On returning to Flic en Flac, however, bright skies appeared again as we neared back to the west. Maybe it was just a coincidence but that definitely confirmed to me the weather on the west is best!
– Flic en Flac Beach
The beautiful beach is a huge draw to this coastal town. The *around* 7km long stretch of white sand is not to be missed.
Thanks to the its length, Flic en Flac beach has so much space for everyone. Whether you wish to relax on the sun-kissed sand, or take shade under the fir trees which line the beach, it’s enjoyable even at the busiest of times.
If you want to be surrounded by the biggest ‘buzz’, stick to the beach area by the main town.
On the other hand, if a peaceful paradise is more your vibe, you can get that on Flic en Flac beach, too. That’s to say, you need only walk a few hundred metres from the ‘main’ area for a significantly quieter experience. Walk some kms, and deserted beach areas present themselves. You can find these deserted spots between the beach-side resorts, from which the guests typically saunter onto the immediate beach area and don’t stray too far from.
There are free public toilets on the beach (not the best but better than nothing!).
– Coastal walk
To expand on the beach point, due to its length you can therefore go for a long coastal walk! Following the beach leads to the next town, Tamarin. Here, Tamarin Bay lies with another great beach awaiting you. Perfect for a close by change of scenery! The walk is very enjoyable and beautiful, and you can read more about it in my post here – Flic en Flac to Tamarin Bay Coastal Beach Walk, Mauritius.
– Tours & Activities
Flic en Flac has a big tourist focus. It is a town catered to helping you get out and do activities, both in town and nearby. Staying here then helps you enjoy the best the island has to offer.
You may want to pre-book activities online before going on your trip. This will ensure they don’t sell out on your desired day. However, Flic en Flac has multiple tour operator stores in the town. So, if you are spontaneous like I am, or want to add some extra trips in while there, you can easily find out more information and book in town.
So, what tours and activities to do in Flic en Flac? Some options include…
Boat trips from Flic en Flac
Having the opportunity to do a boat trip directly from Flic en Flac is great. If you’re staying here, then, you can simply be in town and ready to leave from the beach for a day of fun out on the water.
The most popular boat trip directly from Flic en Flac beach is visiting Ile aux Bénitiers, including swimming with dolphins.
- This Swim with Dolphin Speed Boat Tour with lunch leaves directly from Flic en Flac beach. You can check out my blog post Swimming with Dolphins + Ile aux Bénitiers: Mauritius Boat Trip for a further insight into this trip!
Boat trips on other coasts may not leave directly from the ocean in Flic en Flac, but there are companies that provide transport to/from other coasts. For example, I did a catamaran trip to Ile aux Cerfs, and managed to book a trip which included a minibus from the centre of town to the east coast, where the boat left from.
Kayaking near Flic en Flac
While there are no kayak tours from Flic en Flac, there are from neighboring Tamarin. It’s only around a 12km drive from Flic en Flac to Tamarin. Or, if you choose to stay at the Tamarin end of Flic en Flac beach, a short walk!!
A great option is the Guided Kayak Tour with Dolphins . This is a sunrise tour, so if staying in central Flic en Flac, without a car, I’d recommend taking a taxi there. You could then walk along the beach on the way back, if you still have the energy!
Diving in Flic en Flac
If you want to quite literally dive deeper into the water, then you can opt for a diving trip. Boats leave from Flic en Flac beach and take you out to discover the underwater world! You will need some diving experience or you can take a course here!
Those are some of the most popular water related tours and activities. But what about non-water related ones nearby?
Casela Nature Park
Casela Nature Park is a huge nature park which you can spend all day exploring. At just 5km away from Flic en Flac, it is easily accessible from here and the perfect day adventure.
You can check out my post, Casela Nature Park, Mauritius – Must Do Day Trip from Flic en Flac, for more information on this.
Beyond Flic-en-Flac
Adventuring a little further afield but still without going too far, you can reach the likes of:
- Tamarind Falls
- Chamarel, where you can find the popular 7 Coloured Earth Geopark
- Black River Gorges National Park
If you would like to hike with a guide, this Black River Gorges National Park 3-Hour Hike is a popular option!
- Le Morne, including beaches, hiking and the spot of the underwater waterfall
As noted already in the location point, going anywhere fro Flic-en-Flac is not too far, these are just some of the most popular and closest activities!!
– Flic en Flac sunsets
The sunset from Flic en Flac alone makes it worth visiting!! You can see the most stunning sunsets on the west coast, and particularly from Flic en Flac beach. I went to the beach to watch the sunset most nights of my trip, and I never regretted it!!
Pro tip: make sure to stay at the beach until after the sun has set – the sky just might get even prettier!
– Nightlife
Flic en Flac has a range of bar and beach club options, so if nightlife is important to you, Flic en Flac may be your spot. It may not be the craziest or liveliest (Grand Baie in the north is actually the best nightlife spot), but it’s the perfect mix of chill/fun/lively without being overbearing and needing to have a crazy party ever night!!
The bar I frequented most was Kenzi Bar, which you should add to your schedule for either a Wednesday or Friday evening, as they have live music then… (I preferred Wednesday night, the Friday night music is a little too loud for a bar of this size!). They do good snacks here too so its the perfect snack + drink + chill spot!!
For a later night (or post Kenzi Bar) option, Saxo Beach Club is a good go-to! But there are more options, so go out and see where the night takes you! 🙂
– Food in Flic en Flac
This is a town with many food options. If you are staying for some days or even weeks, then, you won’t get bored or have to go to the same places every day! Although, some are so good you will probably find yourself eating at the same places more than once!
- Street food is a pretty big deal in Mauritius, and rightly so, it is good!! You can eat good and for cheap, so that’s got to make it worth visiting, right?!
- There are multiple street food vendors on Flic en Flac beach.
- I recommend heading for some street food for lunch. That way, you can grab your street food and enjoy it on the stunning beach. I did this quite a few days and was always looking forward to it and what Mauritian dish I would try next!!
- Bars & Restaurants
- There are plenty of bars which offer meals or snacks, in addition to restaurants in town.
- Many options can be found along the main road, just opposite Flic en Flac beach. So if you go during the day, you can see the ocean while you eat, without the sand beneath you!
- Some good restaurants to try include: Rib & Reef for steak/burgers, Chez Pepe for pizza. For breakfast, head to TIDEZ.
- Bakery
- La Kaz à Pain is your go-to for an early morning breakfast treat. It opens an hour earlier than the supermarket, so I went here on the days I did a boat trip and got a pain au chocolat for breakfast!
- Ice-cream shop
- Want a sweet treat that will help cool you down in the Mauritian heat? Don’t worry, Flic en Flac has you covered with some very good ice-cream! Gelato Heaven is where you want to go for ice-cream in Flic en Flac. It’s so good, in an I wanted to go everyday kind of way. I did go quite a few days!!!!
- Supermarket
- There is a supermarket in the heart of town, so you can easily buy some snacks or food to cook should you have cooking facilities.
You get the point by now, there are indeed a lot of food options from street food to takeaways to restaurants, catering to all budgets!! I’ll let you go explore the rest and confirm Flic en Flac is worth visiting thanks to the many food choices!!
– Cascavelle Shopping Mall
Around a 10 minute drive/bus ride or a 55 minute walk (uphill!) from the centre of Flic en Flac is Cascavelle Shopping Mall.
- There is plenty of free parking available here, and taking the bus is also an excellent option. All buses heading out of Flic en Flac stop here, so you can literally just jump on any bus, pay the very cheap fare, and shortly arrive at the mall.
Cascavelle shopping mall is super handy. There aren’t many ‘proper’ shops in Flic en Flac itself (or in many resort towns), but Cascavelle solves this! So, if you need any essentials you can’t get in town, this is an easy go-to. For fashion items, to electronics, to fast food including McDonald’s and KFC (you won’t find many of these around!), Cascavelle is great. There is also a big supermarket here so if you want to do a bigger food shop and have more options than the one in town, go here!
Another top point to note here is if you didn’t buy a SIM card on arrival at Mauritius airport, you can buy one at Cascavelle! There is both an Emtel and Telecom store where you can go and get a tourist SIM. There aren’t so many places where you can get one, you have to ‘register’ for the SIM so you really need to go to a proper store (many towns won’t have one nearby).
So, as you can see, Flic en Flac is a town suited to all and has plenty to offer!! It is super scenic and really a must visit in Mauritius!! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!! 🙂
For more Mauritius insights, you can check out my posts:
