Flic en Flac, Tamarin and Black River make up the west coast of Mauritius: the driest, sunniest side of the island, famous for its sunsets. It is also the gateway to the island's most striking inland sights: Black River Gorges, Chamarel and its seven-coloured earth, and the Le Morne peninsula. They are a few dozen minutes apart by road, so without a car you will see very little.
From the airport: about an hour
From SSR airport, allow about an hour to Flic en Flac, either via the motorway and the centre of the island or via the slower but scenic south coast. Tamarin is about 10 to 15 minutes further south. Pick up at the airport (rentcar.mu/location-voiture/aeroport-ssr) or have the car delivered: see agencies serving the west on rentcar.mu/location-voiture/flic-en-flac and rentcar.mu/location-voiture/tamarin.
Car rental in Tamarin and Flic en Flac: where to go
- Chamarel, the seven-coloured earth and the waterfall, about 30 minutes from Tamarin up a winding mountain road.
- Black River Gorges National Park and its viewpoints.
- Le Morne and its beach, about 25 minutes from Tamarin (rentcar.mu/location-voiture/le-morne).
- Tamarin salt pans and Tamarin Bay at sunrise.
- Casela nature park, a few minutes from Flic en Flac, great with children.
Driving on the west coast
The west coast road is in good condition but runs through many villages: speed bumps, stopped buses and pedestrians are common. The climb to Chamarel and Plaine Champagne is winding and sometimes in the clouds: take your time, use your lights and avoid it after dark. Flic en Flac public beach is very popular at weekends, so arrive before 10am or late afternoon for the sunset, and leave nothing visible in the car.
A small or compact car is enough, even for Chamarel, as the road is paved. An SUV such as the Suzuki Grand Vitara (rentcar.mu/cars/suzuki-grand-vitara-riding-car-hire) adds comfort on climbs with a full car, and an automatic makes hill starts easy. Seasonal prices: rentcar.mu/barometre-prix.
