Mauritius is a small African island in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. Choosing the right transportation in Mauritius, despite its small size, is very important. In fact, cabs are very expensive and public transport is uncomfortable and takes an incredibly long time. So below we discuss in detail all the options for transportation in Mauritius with helpful tips.
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Transportation in Mauritius, where do you start?
Depending on how long you are going on vacation and your travel interests, transportation in Mauritius may be different for everyone. Especially if you plan to visit many different places on the island, it is convenient if you have your own transportation. Below we put down all the options for transportation in Mauritius with a clear overview.
The distances in Mauritius are still quite long; we misjudged this enormously. We stayed in Flic en Flac and to both Le Morne in the south, and Grand Baie in the north, it was over an hour’s drive both ways. The island is bigger than it first appears.
Rent your own car in Mauritius
Basically, we recommend anyone traveling to Mauritius to rent their own car. With this you can go wherever you want, you are not dependent on anything and driving is good to do. The roads are fine, everything is well marked and there are few accidents on the road. Be aware that in Mauritius they drive on the left side of the road! If you have never done this before, it takes a bit of attention, but you quickly get used to it.
Through Sunnycars you can rent a car in Mauritius from as little as €35 per day. You can pick it up directly at the airport and the great thing about Sunnycars is that you never have to take out extra insurance locally. All insurances and risks are fully covered, so you can travel carefree.
When you rent a car in Mauritius you experience ultimate freedom. You can drive to any beautiful beach and the most fun, as far as we are concerned, driving in the beautiful Black River Gorges National Park. You can leave your belongings in the car, which is safe in Mauritius, and get out and about.
Rent a scooter in Mauritius
Another fun way to discover Mauritius by your own transportation is on a scooter. The sun beaming as you ride along the beautiful beaches is a fantastic feeling.
Can you rent a scooter in Mauritius with a car license?
Keep in mind that scooters in Mauritius officially require a motorcycle license. This is because the scooters have more power than you can drive with a regular car license.
In practice, this means that actually all rental companies will rent you the scooter. What you should keep in mind is the fact that if you get into an accident while on a scooter that your driver’s license does not officially allow you to ride, you are not insured. You are also not insured in the event of any hospitalization or damage attributed to you. Read all the risks for renting a scooter abroad here. Keep this in mind and then make your own decision on whether or not to rent a scooter in Mauritius.
Is it safe to scooter in Mauritius?
Whether it is safe to drive your own scooter in Mauritius depends on your experience with scooter riding abroad. The roads are all paved with very occasional potholes in the road that you have to watch out for.
Furthermore, Mauritians in the car can occasionally drive fast, which you need to pay close attention to on the scooter. The traffic can therefore feel chaotic, and if you have no previous experience with scooter riding abroad, we therefore advise against driving the scooter yourself.
Most major roads between the villages on Mauritius are 80 km/h roads, but often cars tear past you at 100+ km/h. There are also some highways on the island where you are allowed 110 km/h, these roads are best avoided with the scooter but you are officially allowed to drive here.
Where do you rent a scooter in Mauritius?
In all the tourist spots in Mauritius (Grand Baie, Flic en Flac, Tamarin and Le Morne) you will find places where you can rent a scooter. It is most convenient to enter “scooter rental” on Google Maps so you can see reviews right away. We rented a scooter in Flic en Flac from PJ Scooter Rental. For 25 days, we paid 400 MUR (€8) per day. Keep in mind 500 – 600 MUR per day for a rental period of <7 days.
Additional tip for scooter riding in Mauritius
Finally, we have an extra tip: always put on your yellow vest while scooter riding in Mauritius before 06:00 and after 18:00. You get this yellow vest when you rent the scooter, often it is in the buddy. It is mandatory to put it on before 06:00 and after 18:00. If you don’t, you risk a fine. It is for your own safety so make sure you put it on.
Own transport in Mauritius? Be mindful of speed cameras
Whether you decide to rent a car or a scooter, always keep in mind the many speed cameras in Mauritius. Every few kilometers you will see a speed zone sign with the maximum mileage per hour allowed underneath. You will also see yellow speed cameras and roadside cameras everywhere. Therefore, stick to the speed limit, also for your own safety.
Transport in Mauritius: count on the unknown
When you’re out driving, it’s quiet and you’re enjoying the beautiful view, an accident is in a small corner. After all, dogs don’t take your vacation spirit into account. It can happen that a dog suddenly crosses the road while you are driving along at 80 kilometers per hour. Therefore, always keep your eyes on the road, be prepared for surprises and be careful with dogs.
This is partly why it is better not to ride when it is dark. We ourselves have done this several times with the scooter, but it was no fun. Bicyclists without lights that you only see when it is almost too late and also here dogs that suddenly cross while you almost don’t see it. If you can take this into account then it is better to avoid driving in the dark in Mauritius. Also, cars often drive with their big lights on which can limit your visibility.
Public transportation in Mauritius
You could write a separate chapter about public transport in Mauritius. The colorful buses that take you to India or Sri Lanka in your mind are a stand-alone experience. Basically, public transport in Mauritius is fine, but it just takes a very long time. In addition, almost all of them are regional buses. This means that if you want to travel a long distance, you have to change buses several times.
You don’t need to make a reservation or buy a ticket in advance. You can just stand at the bus station and board the appropriate bus that comes ahead. There are guide times that the bus adheres to, but that doesn’t mean the bus always leaves at this time. You may well have to wait half an hour or an hour.
When you get on the bus, you can buy a ticket from the assistant who will make sure that everything runs smoothly. Then you take your seat and keep an eye on yourself if you are almost at your final destination. You then press the stop button and get off. Easy peasy! Just be sure to ask the bus driver or your hotel which buses to take.
Do you have a lot of luggage with you? Then you may have to pay for the luggage. After all, you are occupying a seat where a paid passenger can also sit. There is little point in arguing about this because you won’t win.
Cabs in Mauritius
Cabs are everywhere in Mauritius, this is very well arranged. We did find the cab very expensive, but to be honest, life for locals in Mauritius is also very expensive. For a ride from the airport to Flic en Flac (about an hour) you pay almost 2,500 MUR (€50). This is partly why we recommend arranging your own transportation, this is in almost all cases a lot cheaper than a cab.
Cab apps in Mauritius
Uber or Grab does not work in Mauritius. They have developed their own cab apps here: DodoGo and Yugo. We ourselves used Yugo 2 times and it went very well. It actually works the same as Uber. It is recommended to install these apps in advance so that when you arrive in Mauritius you can book a cab right from the airport.
Can I also catch a normal cab in Mauritius?
In our experience, it is most sensible to book your ride through the above cab apps. The price is fixed in advance and the driver cannot go back on it. With a regular cab in Mauritius, you are first endlessly negotiating before you come to an agreement on the price, and even then you still feel like you are paying too much.
In addition, tricks are sometimes played by cab drivers that you have to pay extra to get the air conditioning on, or that they drop you off at a restaurant or store where they get commissions if you buy something. You can avoid all this if you use a cab app to book a ride.
Transport in Mauritius: organized excursions
Finally, you can also choose to book an organized excursion while in Mauritius. With all tour operators, you will see organized tours where you drive through the Black River Gorges National Park in a van and stop at the sights.
The advantage of this is that you don’t have to drive yourself so you can dream away at the beautiful scenery along the way. The disadvantage is that you are stuck to a certain route and planning. You can’t just stop somewhere extra because you like the way it looks and you can’t stay long at a sight because you have to move on.
Go cycling!
A little extra tip about transportation in Mauritius is that you can go cycling. Of course, this won’t get you from A to B with your suitcase or backpack, but it is a really fun way to explore more of the island. We have seen many cyclists in the aforementioned beautiful nature reserve at Black River Gorges National Park. Keep in mind that this is a few hundred meters above sea level, so you have to pedal very hard on the bike.
Want to know more about Mauritius and what there is to do? Then read our comprehensive article with the things to do in Mauritius, 16 cool activities.
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