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List of Hotels in the West of Mauritius
There is so much to say about in the western region of Mauritius, that to sum it up, we can only say that it is the most complete region of Mauritius. Not only does the coastline count some nice beaches, namely in “Flic-en-Flac” and in “Le Morne” but the West counts some wild savannah lands enriched by green hills and mountains, offering vast and varied open land for strolls, hikes, raids and mountain-climbing activities.Climate
The climate on the west coast is relatively dry and can get very hot in summer. It is therefore a pleasant region all year round, especially during the windy months of June to August. A T-Shirt (or less) is all you need in summer (November to March.)
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Topography
The southern half of the west looks and feels very different to the rest of Mauritius. Being inhabited in vast majority by the "Creole" population (i.e. from African origin) and with its savannas, the west definitely feels like Africa. These lower coastal regions are surmounted by a chain of hills and mountains.
There are several small and picturesque villages in that region; namely Tamarin.
Focus: Tamarin Bay
Tamarin Bay is well known for its surfing conditions and was one of the most famous "sweet spots" of the hippy surfers in the late 60's and 70's.
The discovery of more regular surf spots around the world and the new sophisticated image of Mauritius have slowly killed its legend. But despite the natural development of the region, Tamarin village is authentic; the houses and villas are almost the same and the people are as open and friendly than they were 40 years ago.
The beach in Tamarin is not white due to the Tamarin river outlet in the lagoon but the bay has a very peculiar vibe. This place is magic, if not mystic, especially on "Big Days" when the whole village is on a buzz.
To do and to see
The western region offers the widest possibilities of excursions, sports and activities; several are in open places and may not require guidance nor pre-organisation.
Hiking – The Black River Gorges
The Black River Gorges is the largest public nature park of Mauritius, especially since the building of a tarred road leading straight to the bottom of the valley.
All the paths start (or end) from the parking area but the best way to visit the Gorges is to be dropped at "Le Pétrin" (not far from Grand Bassin), walk down the paths and be collected in the parking area down the gorges. This would be a three hours walk as compared to almost five hours if you wish to walk all the way down to the coastal road.
Climbing - Le Morne Brabant
Le Morne Brabant is an isolated rocky mountain and peninsula situated at the South-Western extremity of the island. The mountain itself is impressive, as it stands alone, shining in the skyline, or is it due to all the history and fabulous stories around it?
Le Morne Mountain is said to be the place where the runaway slaves went to hide in order to make sure that they would not be found and captured. For the memories it contains, Le Morne Brabant has been elected a UNESCO’s World heritage site.
In addition to the mountain, the peninsula around it is like paradise in paradise. The lagoon is magic for its crystal clear waters.
Surfing – Windsurfing - Kitesurfing – Le Morne
Owing to its unique configuration where the mountain acts as a wind accelerator, the spot around Le Morne Mountain enjoys good windsurfing and kitesurfing conditions almost all year round. Furthermore, the reefs running in a semi-circle offer almost guaranteed hot surfing and wave-riding conditions. The spot named “One Eye” is now well-known worldwide.
Golfing – The golf course of the Paradis Golf Club located at the Paradis Hotel and Golf Club and the Tamarina championship golf course are by themselves good-enough reasons to stay on the West coast.
Sightseeing – Driving down the Chamarel road as well as driving along the South-west coast is a must.
Diving – Some of the most talked-about scuba diving sites of Mauritius are along the West coast.
Updated: July 2010
