07/06/2026
𝟓𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐚 𝐏𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞. 𝟓𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥.
On 7 June 1976, La Pirogue opened its doors in Flic en Flac. To celebrate, here are five little-known stories from a resort shaped by nature, people and Mauritian warmth.
𝟭. Created as a tribute to traditional Mauritian fishing villages, La Pirogue was designed by Dutch architect Joseph Van Melick, with volcanic stone walls and thatched roofs inspired by the sail of a pirogue.
𝟮. La Pirogue was the first major hotel to open on the west coast of Mauritius. Back then, Flic en Flac was a rustic fishing settlement, surrounded by filao trees and land where wild Java deer once roamed.
𝟯. At launch, La Pirogue recruited 120 young women, a bold step in an industry that was then largely male-dominated.
𝟰. Before 2003, the main pool sat beside the main building, right next to the restaurant. Since then, the resort has evolved while keeping its village spirit alive.
𝟱. The original filao trees, not endemic to Mauritius, were gradually replaced with coconut palms. Today, La Pirogue is home to a 14-hectare coconut grove, nearly 1,800 coconut trees, over 9,000 tropical plants, and endemic species such as olive wood, gastonia and blue latan palm.
To our team members, past and present, thank you for bringing heart, care and colour to La Pirogue. To our guests, thank you for staying, returning, celebrating and coming alive with us over the years.
Here’s to La Pirogue. Still warm. Still vibrant. Still deeply Mauritian.
