The Most Convenient and Affordable Ways to Get Around Mauritius

As soon as you step off the plane, you feel warm. It's time for vacation! But what's next? You have probably planned and thought about the things you want to do, and most of them will probably involve moving around the island. We have put together some tips on the best ways to get around in Mauritius.

Air

If you want to go farther, you can take a trip from Mauritius to Rodrigues, a small island east of the main island. It takes about an hour to make this trip. There are also helicopter lifts and tours for people who want to see this beautiful island from the air.

The public bus system

Taking public transport is a good way to see the country and meet people who live there. Mauritius doesn't have a train system, but it does have a good bus system. Even though the schedules aren't always the same, the lines cover most of Mauritius and are a cheap way to get around while you're there. In Port Louis, Victoria Square and Imigration Square are the two main bus stops. All of the buses that go south leave from Victoria Station, while all of the buses that go north leave from Imigration Square. From Port Louis, there are express buses to the big towns and to the north and south of the island. There are also regular buses, but if you can get on an express one, that would be better because they go much faster. Regular buses stop a lot, which can be annoying if you need to get somewhere quickly.

If you go to more rural areas, you will find that buses normally run from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm, but this isn't always the case and there may not be many buses. In places with more people, they run from 5:30 am to 8 pm, and buses usually come every 15 minutes. But if you are going between Curepipe and Port Louis, buses run until much later, around 11 p.m., but you will need to check with locals to find out specific times.

Taxis are a great way to get around if you don't want to use public transport. You can find them at hotels, the airport and bus stops. Mauritius has a lot of cab companies, but all of them have a square yellow box on both sides of the car that shows their route. Also, they are measured and controlled.

To rent

Mauritius is a popular place to rent cars and scooters, and there are many companies, both small and big, that provide this service. Driving is on the left, and if you rent a car, you can explore at your own pace. When you drive in Mauritius, you must have your licence on you at all times.

Bicycle

Both road bikes and mountain bikes are available for rent on the island from a variety of different businesses at prices that are affordable. Therefore, if you have a passion for riding bicycles, this may be an excellent method for getting around and experiencing the island in a different light. You would have all the opportunities for sight-seeing that come with walking, but you would also have the freedom to go further afield.

The best (and worst) times of day to travel

Except for around rush hour and in regions densely packed with business buildings, traffic congestion isn't much of an issue in Mauritius due to the fact that the roadways have been very well planned out. For instance, the nation's capital city of Port-Louis is home to a number of the most significant government buildings, including the Supreme Court. Due to the fact that it is such a small city, it does get quite congested before and after normal working hours (from 8 am to 9 am and from 4 pm to 5 pm). A similar recommendation would be to stay away from the city of Ebene, which is also a major commercial centre, during the weekdays and at the same times.