Flic en Flac Holidays

Flic en Flac's a town on the west coast of Mauritius. It seems fitting that a place with such a great name has an equally impressive get-up. The public beach sets the bar high. Its white sweep of coral sand is one of the longest and loveliest on the island. Plus, it’s got a lagoon protected by coral reefs. In recent years, the place’s A1 setting has attracted high-end hotels like bees to a honeypot. They’re bolstered by a good mix of restaurants and souvenir shops.

Flic en Flac marks the beginning of a superb stretch of coastline that runs down to the Morne Brabant peninsula in the south-west. There’s plenty of room for feet-up relaxation on the sands, and picnics beneath the shade of a casuarina tree. During weekdays, don’t bet on seeing more than 50 people over a three-kilometre reach. And when you’re ready to cool off, the lagoon’s warm and safe for swimming.

It’s hard to come to this corner of Mauritius and not get a close-up of the tropical marine life lassoing the lagoon. Flic en Flac’s got some of the island’s best dive sites, minutes from the shore. The Rempart Serpent, which translates as Snake Reef, is a must-do. The blanket of seaweed swaying with the current makes the reef look like it’s slinking over the ocean floor. The Cathedral is another hotspot. It’s an underwater cave with light peeking through a crack in the ceiling, giving it a stained-glass appearance.

Even though the town goes big on its natural features, there’s plenty to see away from the shoreline. The Médine Sugar Estate, one of the island’s largest, is 15 minutes' drive from Flic en Flac. It has its own distillery and opens for guided tours during the sugar cane cutting season, from July to November. There’s golf, too, 10 minutes’ drive away. Carved between mountain and sea, Tamarina Golf Estate offers a practice range with large putting greens, and 18 holes played over rugged terrain.