Is the West Coast of Mauritius Worth Visiting with Kids? What to Do and Where to Stay
If you are looking for the most beautiful beaches in Mauritius then you need to visit the west coast. After spending the first six days of our two week trip constantly moving around the island, checking into a west coast resort to simply watch the sunset, swim in calm lagoons, and let someone else cook our dinner was exactly what we needed!
While the north offers great boat trips and the south delivers wild mountains, the west coast provides pure rest alongside the absolute best family activity on the island: swimming with wild dolphins. Here is exactly what you need to know about navigating Flic en Flac and Le Morne with a toddler, how to do the dolphin tours with a young kid, and the best family hotels for every budget.
What is the West Coast of Mauritius Like?
The west coast runs from the Black River area in the south right up through Tamarin, Rivière Noire, and Flic en Flac. The landscape is visibly drier and much more sun baked than the lush south, but what it lacks in greenery it makes up for in pure sunshine because the west is the sunniest part of the island.
Flic en Flac is the main hub because it is a four kilometre stretch of beach featuring a lively promenade and great restaurants. It is a popular spot with locals at weekends, meaning if you head there in the evening you'll see them enjoying drinks and splashing in the sea. The water at Flic en Flac is perfectly calm and shallow, making it ideal for young children.
Le Morne sits about 45 minutes south of Flic en Flac at the end of a UNESCO protected peninsula, and it offers a totally different experience. It features a handful of large luxury resorts sitting on one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. The lagoon is so still and clear it looks like glass, and the huge Le Morne Brabant mountain sits as an ever present backdrop.
The west coast also gets the absolute best sunsets in Mauritius. Most evenings, the sky turns brilliant shades of orange and pink, making for a very peaceful end to a day on the beach.
Best Things to Do on the West Coast with Kids
Swimming with Dolphins in Tamarin Bay
This is the single activity that defines the west coast more than any other, and it absolutely lives up to its reputation. Wild spinner and bottlenose dolphins come into Tamarin Bay every morning to feed, and the speedboat tours go out to search for them. This was a bucket list experience for me and I felt so lucky to have swam with wild dolphins!
Our daughter was three and was not able to go into the water for the deep ocean section, but she happily watched from the boat while my husband and I simply took turns. She found the chase, and watching us try and fail to keep up with the fast dolphins, entertaining enough! She mainly enjoyed the afternoon reef snorkel and the fun beach barbecue lunch at Île aux Bénitiers so there ended up being something for everyone.
Read the full guide for doing this with a toddler: Swimming with Wild Dolphins in Mauritius with a Toddler: Our Honest Review.
Book the exact tour we did here: Mauritius Swim with Dolphins Full-Day with Lunch and Drinks (Use the GetYourGuide app and the code TODDLERTRAVELDIARIES5 to get 5% off your booking)
Casela Nature Park
Located just 10 minutes from Flic en Flac, Casela is the best family activity day on the west coast that is not water based. The huge park covers a full range of activities from a wildlife safari featuring African savannah animals and giraffe feeding, to a dedicated kids zone with rides, go karts, and a fun petting area. For a family with a toddler, the safari and the petting area are the absolute highlights. Book in advance in peak season and arrive early as the queues build very quickly!
The Seven Coloured Earths and Chamarel
About 45 minutes from Flic en Flac up into the high mountains, the Seven Coloured Earths at Chamarel are mounds of volcanic rock in distinct bright shades. There's an easy walking loop around the Seven Coloured Earth which is accessible for prams meaning it's a straightforward visit with kids. My husband had a bucket list moment here and was able to see Giant Tortoises here but if you want a really up close experience then I would recommend visiting La Vanille Nature Park.
As part of your entry to the Seven Coloured Earth you can also drive and see the Chamarel Waterfall which drops 100 metres straight into a gorge below. There are a few steps to a viewing point for the waterfall here but the view is identical so it don't make a massive difference if you go up or not.
Black River Gorges National Park
The national park covers a huge section of the island interior and has several great walking trails. As I was six months pregnant during this trip we didn't do any hiking and only drove through here. Apparently when you are hiking here if you look up into the trees, as you might see Mauritian flying foxes which are frequently spotted along the trails!
Where to Stay on the West Coast of Mauritius with Kids
The west coast splits naturally into two main bases. Flic en Flac is perfect for mid range all inclusive options with great beach and pool access, while Le Morne at the southern tip is ideal for luxury resort stays on the most scenic beach.
Here is a quick reference guide to the absolute best family properties:
Property | Location | Price From | Best For |
Flic en Flac | £150 per night | Budget friendly all inclusive with a great kids pool | |
Flic en Flac | £200 per night | Colonial style luxury and a brilliant kids club | |
Flic en Flac | £500 per night | Private pool villas offering ultimate family privacy | |
Le Morne | £350 per night | Scenic luxury at the foot of the mountain | |
Le Morne | £350 per night | All suite luxury sharing facilities with its sister hotel |
1. Anelia Resort & Spa (from around £150/night all-inclusive)
After five days of self catering and moving around, checking into an all inclusive that fed us three times a day and handed our daughter a cold drink on arrival felt like a massive relief! Anelia is a very well run resort on Flic en Flac beach featuring a great main pool, a dedicated children's pool, three restaurants, and evening entertainment including traditional Sega dancing.
Our daughter made friends in the pool on the very first afternoon with another Swedish family, and they for the next two days they were completely inseparable! The glass bottom boat tours go out directly from the resort and are fully included in the rate. It is a warm, family-friendly resort with good food and spacious rooms. Cots are readily available on request at this property.
Read our full Anelia review here.
2. Sugar Beach Mauritius (from around £200/night)
A beautiful luxury 5 star resort sitting right on Flic en Flac beach. Sugar Beach features a gorgeous Colonial style design with garden bungalows, lovely lagoon facing rooms, a long stretch of private beach, and great watersports fully included in the rate. The resort has a brilliant reputation for family hospitality. The Coral Kids Club runs for children aged 3 to 12 and sits in a dedicated safe area with its own great outdoor play space. Cots are available on request at this hotel.
3. Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa (from around £500/night)
At the south end of Flic-en-Flac, Maradiva is 65 private pool villas set across 27 acres of beach garden, each one with its own plunge pool, butler service, Hermès bathroom amenities, and a living and dining area separated from the bedroom. This is the definition of luxury and if you want to feel like royalty here is where you stay!
There is a Family Luxury Suite Pool Villa meaning you can relax in your own space here with all the amenities you need but knowing you have complete privacy so your kids can run around safely.
Six restaurants on site including Haiku Japanese and Cilantro Indian mean there is plenty of choice so you don't get bored of the food. The spa is one of the most awarded on the island. The beach is 750 metres long and directly in front of the property.
4. LUX* Le Morne (from around £350/night)
Set perfectly on the Le Morne peninsula with the famous mountain directly behind it, LUX Le Morne occupies what is generally considered the most scenic hotel beach in Mauritius. The lagoon here is exceptionally calm and clear, the sunsets are breathtaking, and the morning dolphin swimming tours depart from right in front of the property! The resort runs a great family friendly programme alongside a separate adults only Zen zone. Family rooms face the beautiful lagoon. Cots are available on request at this hotel.
5. Dinarobin Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa (from around £350/night)
The sister property to Paradis Beachcomber next door, Dinarobin is a 5 star all suite resort on the Le Morne peninsula with the same stunning mountain backdrop. All accommodations here are large suites rather than standard rooms, which means considerably more space for families. The Beachcomber Kids Club caters for children aged 3 to 11 with supervised activities and a dedicated outdoor play area. Guests here get full access to the amazing facilities at Paradis next door, which effectively doubles what is available to you! Cots are available on request at this resort.
Why the West Coast is an Essential Stop
The west coast is the one section of Mauritius that effortlessly balances iconic bucket list activities with complete relaxation. Whether you are letting your toddler watch wild dolphins leap out of the ocean in Tamarin Bay, exploring the safari trails of Casela, or simply letting them paddle in the calm, sun drenched shallows of Flic en Flac, this coast is designed to make family travel feel easy.
If you are looking to elevate your Mauritius holiday into a truly once in a lifetime experience, the west coast is exactly where you should look to invest your accommodation budget. While the mid range options in Flic en Flac are highly practical, the true magic of this coast is found further south on the Le Morne peninsula. Splurging on a few nights at an ultra luxury resort like LUX Le Morne or Dinarobin Beachcomber completely transforms your holiday.
For the full island wide guide to exactly how we structured our entire two weeks, read our complete Where to Stay in Mauritius with Kids: The Ultimate Island-Wide Guide.
