Tips and tricks

Driving in Mauritius

Probably the best way to discover Mauritius is by car. You drive on the left-hand side of the road and give way to traffic from the right. This is a big change for some, but even more striking is the difference in the way people drive. On your way you will see roadworkers turning signs instead of using traffic lights, scooters loaded with all sorts of odd things, people walking on the motorway and so on.

The easy-going way of life and the friendliness of the Mauritians can also be seen when they are driving. If you ask for the way, they might just drive ahead of you to make sure you do not get lost.

Even though everything is relaxed, there are some traffic rules you should observe.

Speed limits

In towns the speed limit is 40 km/h, as shown by the “Speed Zone – 40 km/h” signs. On highways it is 80 km/h and on the motorway 110 km/h. Speed cameras are installed on many roads, and if you ignore the speed limit and are stopped by the police, you will have to pay a fine. Drink-driving is a serious offence and the legal alcohol limit is very low, so do not drink and drive.

Roundabouts

On the motorway you will come across many roundabouts. Drivers arriving at a roundabout give way to those already in it. If you want to stay on the motorway, you can use either lane. If you want to turn left off the motorway, move into the left lane, and if you want to leave the roundabout at the third exit, take the right lane.

It sounds complicated, but there are usually signs at the roadside showing which lane to take, and during rush hour the police direct the traffic.

Parking

Public parking is free of charge and easy to find, except in the towns of Port Louis, Rose Hill, Curepipe and Quatre Bornes, where you can only park with a ticket.

You can buy the tickets at petrol stations. They are valid for a limited time, and you fill them in yourself when you park. There are two different zones, which are marked at the roadside.

In Port Louis it is best to park at Caudan Waterfront. It is not free, but it is much more relaxed: the car park is easy to find, and you do not have to drive into the busy city centre. If you know Port Louis a little, you can also park at the racecourse, but only when no race is taking place.

Caudan WaterfrontShow the map

Refuelling

Petrol stations are usually easy to find, but not all of them are open around the clock, so fill up the tank before a trip at night.

Unofficial traffic rules

Besides the official rules, there are some unwritten ones that everybody knows:

Taking the bus

Mauritius has a good bus network that covers the whole country, and most locals use the bus to get around the island. Buses are not very comfortable, but riding one is an adventure everybody should experience, and it is the cheapest way to travel. If you have a long way to go, allow plenty of time. The big disadvantage is that, depending on the region, the last buses leave between 6 and 8 pm. The fare depends on the distance, and if you change buses you need a new ticket. You buy the ticket from the controller, who always rides along. Signs on the front of the bus show the final stop. Timetables exist, but you usually cannot rely on them.

The major bus companies are National Transport Corporation (NTC), United Bus Service (UBS), Mauritius Bus Transport (MBT), Triolet Bus Service (TBS) and Rose Hill Transport (RHT).

There is also the Metro Express, a light rail line between Port Louis and Curepipe via Rose Hill, Quatre Bornes and Vacoas, with a short branch from Rose Hill via Ebène to Réduit. The main line runs every day from 6:00 to 19:00. You can buy single-use tickets at the machines in the stations or use a rechargeable MECard. Information about the stations, fares and the MECard can be found on mauritiusmetroexpress.mu.

Visa

Citizens of the European Union do not need a visa in advance for a holiday in Mauritius; other nationalities should check the visa rules of the Passport and Immigration Office. On arrival, the immigration officer decides how long you may stay (a tourist can be granted up to six months in a calendar year), so be ready to show a passport that is valid beyond your stay, a return ticket, a confirmed booking for your accommodation and proof that you have enough funds for your stay. Before you travel, complete the online All in One Travel Form and bring a printed copy with you.

If you would like to stay longer than your stamp allows, you have to apply for an extension in person at the Passport and Immigration Office in Port Louis. The office is located in Sterling House, 9-11 Lislet Geoffroy Street (tel. +230 260 2073). It is open from Monday to Friday from 8:45 to 12:00 and from 12:45 to 16:00, and on Saturday from 8:45 to 12:00. Bring the following documents:

• The visa extension application form, filled in and signed
• A copy of the passport page with your data and of the page with the arrival stamp
• A copy of the return ticket reservation (once the extension is approved, you have to show the confirmed ticket)
• Bank statements for the last three months
• The booking confirmation of the hotel where you will stay. If you stay with a host instead: a letter of sponsorship from the host, a copy of the host’s ID card or passport, a recent electricity, water or telephone bill and, where applicable, the lease agreement

The visa is free.

Passport and Immigration OfficeShow the map

Money

The Mauritian currency is the rupee (Rs). Coins come in ½, 1, 5, 10 and 20 rupees, and notes in 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 and 2,000. One euro is worth roughly 53 Rs, but the exchange rate changes, so check the current rate before you travel. You can withdraw money from every cash machine with your bank card and PIN without problems. Paying by credit card is quite common in Mauritius, and all the major cards, such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express, are accepted almost everywhere.

Vaccinations

Although Mauritius is a tropical island, most travellers do not need any specific vaccination. You should be up to date with your routine vaccinations, such as tetanus, diphtheria, polio and measles, and vaccinations against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and typhoid are recommended for most travellers. Dengue and chikungunya are spread by mosquitoes and vaccination is generally not recommended for visitors, so protect yourself against mosquito bites. In general, it is a good idea to see your family doctor before travelling to a tropical country and ask about all the medical precautions you should take.

Emergency numbers

Hopefully you will not need this information, but just in case, it is useful to know where to get help:

• Police: 999 or 112
• Ambulance: 114
• Fire department: 995 or 115

Time

Mauritius is on GMT+4 all year round. Daylight saving time was tried once, from October 2008 to March 2009, but has not been used since. This means Mauritian time is 3 hours ahead of Central European Time in winter and 2 hours ahead during European summer time.

Weather and climate

There is no single best time for a holiday in Mauritius. The climate is good all year round. Cyclones come in the hot season: almost all that pass close to Mauritius do so between January and March, most often in February, and only a few in December or November. February and March are also the wettest months. Even then the weather is mostly fine, apart from some heavy rain, and only if you are really unlucky will you experience a cyclone. The Mauritius Meteorological Services issue cyclone warnings in four classes (I to IV); if one is announced, follow the bulletins and the instructions of your hotel.

The peak season for tourists is between November and January, in the Mauritian summer. Temperatures can reach 30°C and higher during this time. The summer is also the wettest time on the island, and the humidity is very high throughout the season. The Mauritian winter is cooler, with temperatures between 16°C and 27°C, which is still pretty warm for most of us. The water is warm enough for swimming in the beautiful lagoons all year round, although in winter you will not see many locals in the sea, because for them it is too cold.

Taxis

Taxis are available almost everywhere. In tourist areas they wait in front of supermarkets, sights and bus stops. It is also common to book a taxi for a full-day or half-day sightseeing trip, and you can have the driver act as your guide. The drivers know a lot about the sights tourists visit and are happy to explain them to you. Taxi drivers generally do not use the meter, so it is up to you to bargain for a good price. Agree on the price before you start. Taxi apps like YuGo are available as well.

Car rental

We recommend renting a car for your stay in Mauritius. It is the best way to travel around and see a lot of the island, as public transport is not really suited to getting around. If you want to rent a car in Mauritius, book with a licensed rental company and make sure you get a written contract that shows the insurance cover. Visitors can drive with a valid driving licence from their home country, which you should carry with you whenever you drive.

Be aware of the Mauritian traffic, though. The local driving style is a bit rough. Especially when overtaking, Mauritians do not take much care of other drivers: they often overtake from every direction, honk a lot and sometimes stretch an arm out of the window instead of using the indicator. When you book in advance, for example at car-hire-mauritius.com, unlimited kilometres and comprehensive insurance (with a deductible) are included in the rental price.

Bicycle rental

You will not see many people riding a bike in Mauritius, but it is still a good way to get around a bit or to do some sport. In the tourist centres there are some places where you can rent bikes.

Scooter rental

A scooter is also a good way to travel around the island, but please drive very carefully and watch out for the Mauritian traffic. A scooter does not protect you like a car does, and, as mentioned above, the traffic in Mauritius is not easy to handle. We advise you against riding a scooter in big cities like Port Louis, where it can be very dangerous.

Boat charter

Many hotels offer their guests sailing boats to rent. If you would like to charter a whole boat with crew, Passion Oceane in Grand Baie hires out its catamaran on an exclusive basis for a full or half day. There are also many companies that offer organised boat trips to the surrounding islands, dolphin watching, sunset cruises on a catamaran and so on.

Passion OceaneShow the map

Car accident

Nobody wants it, but you should know how to behave if there is an accident. Even for a small accident you have to call the police (tel. 999). Do not make any deals with the other driver, even if he tells you heartbreaking stories. It is important to call the insurance company too; you can find the insurance number in the car, to the left of the disc stickers. If it is just sheet-metal damage, you have to fill in a form (agreement) that records the damage to the cars and the drivers’ contact details. Both drivers receive a copy of this form and have to hand it in to their insurance within 5 days. The insurers then settle among themselves who will bear the damages.

If you can, mark the position of the car on the road with yellow chalk before you move it, as drivers are expected to carry some. If you are in a rental car, contact the rental company immediately!

Mobile phones

It is a good idea to buy a Mauritian SIM card or eSIM for your mobile phone. The mobile network operators in Mauritius are myt, Emtel and Chili. Visitors can use the tourist offers of myt and Emtel, which you can pre-book online: for 30 € (VAT included) you get unlimited 5G data (fair usage policy) for 30 days, free local SMS and Rs 200 credit for calls. myt also has a Telecom shop at the airport (SSR International Airport) where you can collect the SIM. You can top up your credit in some of the small boutiques and shops, and some supermarkets sell top-ups as well. With the mobile data of a tourist SIM you will hardly need international calling cards or an internet café any more.