Mauritius Transportation – Taxi, Train, Bus & Airport Tips

Mauritius Transportation 

Mauritius is located off the eastern coast of Africa. Getting here and around requires planning but will reward with you with incredible vistas.

Air Mauritius

Keep in mind you will probably have to transfer from one plane to another. Direct flights are rare from many major cities other than Paris. The national airlines is Air Mauritius. They fly into Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. The airport is about  50km  to the south east of the capital of Port Louis. You can drive or hire a taxi. Bus service is also available. It’s slower but far less expensive.

Getting Around 

The cheapest way to get around Mauritius is by bus. Buses run frequently in the capital and along the more popular coastal areas. The fare is only a few dollars for even the longest rides. Just keep in mind they stop a lot along the way and may not have much storage space so pack lightly for the day. Another popular way to get around the island is by taxi. Taxis are more readily available in the capital than the hinterlands. A short trip can be the best way to get to your hotel from the most popular beaches.

Renting a Car 

It’s best to make arrangements in advance to rent a car. Cars can take you to some of the most secluded beaches that are hard to reach by bus. The roads in Mauritius may have potholes and other problems because of the humid climate so drive carefully. You’ll find plenty of parking once you leave the capital.

Walking

It is quite a long path through the docks from the docking-places for cruise-ship to town, about 20 minutes to walk in the open sun on a road that is also used by heavy trucks. You will not always find a sidewalk on the roads from the cruiseship to the city, and there will be a control post as well where you’ll just have to show your boarding card.

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Ferry

A very good alternative for walking to town in Port Louis could be the tiny ferryboats that run from the cruise ship to the city The tiny ferry boats are not really recommended for elderly or unfit people. Ferry boats leave every 20 or 30 minutes from a dock close to your cruise ship. Getting into the boats is no problem, but getting out at the other side can be tricky, and you have to have good balance to climb over several other boats in order to reach the quay there.

Tour Buses

You can book a guided tour to take you sightseeing around Mauritius. Most buses are air conditioned. On board, the seats are quite narrow and don’t have seatbelts. Some of the windows can be opened by passengers, perfect for taking photos.

Train

There is actually a train in Mauritius, althought it is just a tiny train track in the park of a well known mansion close to port Louis called “Domaine des Pailles.”

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about transportation in Mauritius. A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Mauritius was an overseas French department. It has been corrected.