So you’ve finally booked your plane ticket and are now wondering how to get around Mauritius Island or what are the best modes of transport in Mauritius.
Since I live in Mauritius I know all about the best ways of getting around the island and today I’ll share my insider tips with you in this blog post.
Whether you want to immerse yourself in the local way of life by taking the public bus or prefer the flexibility of having your own rental car or simply want to have someone drive you around, this guide will show you exactly how to travel around Mauritius on any budget.
So without further ado, here are the best ways of getting around Mauritius Island.
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Read more about Mauritius:
- Best things to see and do in Mauritius
- A local’s guide to driving in Mauritius
- Things to know before renting a car in Mauritius
- Where to stay on Mauritius Island
- How to plan the best Mauritius itinerary?
How to get from Mauritius Airport to your hotel?
First and foremost, you might also be wondering how to get from Mauritius Airport to your hotel.
The best way to get from the airport to your hotel is to pre-book a private airport transfer here. It’s sometimes cheaper to book online as opposed to booking directly at the airport, plus the driver will already be waiting for you with your name written on a sign.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK A PRIVATE AIRPORT TRANSFER
Unless your hotel is located in Mahebourg, I don’t recommend taking the bus as it will be very time-consuming.
Plus, it isn’t the most comfortable way of getting to your hotel, especially if you’re traveling with lots of luggage which is why I recommend pre-booking your airport transfer instead.
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How to get around Mauritius Island?
Rental Car
The best way of getting around Mauritius is by car as you’ll have more flexibility to explore at your own pace instead of being tied to schedules.
Some of the main tourist attractions in Mauritius like Chamarel Seven Colored Earth, Alexandra Falls viewpoint, or Black River Gorges aren’t accessible by public bus, so renting a car will be your best bet.
Car rental in Mauritius is very affordable, plus British, French, and South African nationals can use their local driver’s license to drive in the country.
You can read my detailed guide to driving in Mauritius which includes my top tips and everything you need to know such as the requirements for renting a car, road conditions, speed limits, updated gas/petrol prices, parking, etc.
If you’d like to rent a car in Mauritius, I recommend booking through Discover Cars as it allows you to compare the rates of different car rental companies (both local and international) so you get the best deal.
Another advantage of using Discover Cars is that you can also purchase full insurance coverage for around EUR 12 per day which can be used on top of the insurance provided by the car rental company if you want extra peace of mind.
CHECK CAR RENTAL RATES IN MAURITIUS HERE
Related post: What you should know before driving in Mauritius
Public Bus
If you’re wondering how to get around Mauritius on a budget, the best option is to use the public bus.
The bus network in Mauritius is quite extensive and travels to most towns and villages, except for the places mentioned above.
Buses in Mauritius generally operate from 5.30 a.m to 8 p.m at 10-minute to 1-hour intervals.
A single bus ticket costs between Rs 17 and Rs 47 (slightly more for air-con or Express buses) which is about USD 1, depending on the distance covered. Note that tickets can only be bought on board from the conductor.
While it’s very cheap to travel around Mauritius by bus, the main disadvantages are that journeys can be long and the schedules erratic.
So if you’re in a hurry to get somewhere, I would recommend traveling by car or taxi instead.
In case you can only afford to travel by bus, be sure to avoid the peak hours (7.30 a.m to 9.30 a.m and 4 p.m to 6 p.m). Most of the buses will be full at this time, plus you might get stuck in traffic.
Tip: If you’re traveling between Grand Baie and Port Louis for example, take the Express bus instead of the standard bus as the latter usually makes several stops in between, resulting in long, tiring journeys.
Another thing that makes traveling by bus in Mauritius somewhat challenging is that the bus routes and schedules aren’t available on Google Maps.
However, you can use this website or this website to get a rough idea of the different bus routes throughout the country. As for the schedule, it’s best to inquire directly at the bus terminal or ask a local.
Traveling by bus is definitely a great way to experience the local way of life and at the same time, take in the beautiful views along the small towns and villages.
Taxi
If budget isn’t an issue, another viable option for getting around Mauritius is by private taxi.
Almost all hotels have their own taxi services but they cost slightly more than independent taxis.
If you want to hire a taxi for the day to visit several attractions, you can book one here with an English, French, or German-speaking driver/guide. For an Italian-speaking driver/guide, you can book here instead.
Note that official taxis have a taxi sign on the roof and a yellow sticker on either side while tourist vans/buses have a blue sticker saying “contract bus (tourist)” or their own company logo.
Never travel with an unofficial taxi as both you and the driver may have to pay a fine if you get caught by the police.
Those on a tighter budget can opt for a shared taxi instead. Prices are fixed and it costs less than Rs 100 per person, depending on the distance covered.
For example, if you want to go from Flacq to Belle Mare, you can usually find shared taxis near the bus terminal here. Or if you want to travel from Flacq to Port Louis, the shared taxi stand is found here.
Related post: Most scenic road trips to take in Mauritius
Uber
As of March 2026, you can now use Uber in Mauritius. Just be aware that you can only book taxis on the app so prices aren’t that cheap.
For instance, expect to pay around Rs 3,000 from the airport to Le Morne or Rs 3,200 from the airport to Grand Baie.
There are also a few local taxi apps that you can find online by doing a quick Google search.
I’ve personally never used them as I’ve seen mostly mixed reviews but the option is there if you’d like to give it a try.
Tram (Metro Express)
The tram, commonly referred to as Metro Express, is another way to get around Mauritius Island.
It currently has 2 transit lines connecting the capital city of Port Louis to all towns in Mauritius, including some villages in between.
The main line runs between Port Louis and Curepipe while the other runs between Rose Hill and Reduit. You can have a look at this map to see the entire route.
Tickets can be bought at the station from the ticket machines and cost between Rs 35 and Rs 55 (slightly less if you have the ME Card).
Unlike the bus where only cash is accepted, you can pay for your metro ticket by cash and card.
The standard operating hours of the tram are from 6 a.m to 7 p.m daily at 10-minute intervals.
The main advantage of using the Metro Express is that it avoids most of the traffic, however, it doesn’t go to all the main tourist attractions.
The only time it would make sense to use the Metro Express as a tourist would be if you’re planning to do some shopping at the Quatre Bornes market or visit Trou aux Cerfs in Curepipe.
Also, if you want to go to 7 Cascades by public transportation, you can take the tram from Port Louis to Quatre Bornes or Curepipe and then take a bus to the village of Henrietta.
Scooter
Another way to get around Mauritius is to rent a scooter or motorbike although this isn’t my preferred mode of transportation as most accidents in Mauritius involve two-wheelers.
I wouldn’t recommend renting one unless you’re very experienced and confident that you can handle the roads, especially those around Chamarel and Chamouny which are quite windy and steep.
Note that it’s mandatory to wear a helmet when driving a scooter or motorbike. If you’re driving after dark, you’ll also need to wear a reflective jacket.
Plane
If you’d like to explore beyond Mauritius to Rodrigues Island, which by the way features so many incredible places like the pristine white-sand beach of Trou D’Argent, François Leguat Reserve, or Mont Limon, you can take a 1.5-hour flight with Air Mauritius.
Flights are available 4 times a day and cost around USD 210 for a return ticket.
Organized Tours
Finally, if none of the above works for you, you can simply book an organized tour like this highly-rated private southwest tour of Mauritius which includes visits to Chamarel, Black River Gorges, Grand Bassin, Trou aux Cerfs as well as hotel pick-up and drop-off, and an English, French, or German-speaking guide.
For more ideas, you can read my guide to the best tours and excursions in Mauritius.
As you can see there are several ways of getting around Mauritius on any budget. Hopefully, you found this guide helpful and if you have any questions, let me know in the comment section below.
Read more about Mauritius:
- What to do in Port Louis Mauritius
- Top attractions to see in South Mauritius
- What to see and do in North Mauritius
- East coast of Mauritius travel guide
- Best adults-only resorts in Mauritius
- Best family-friendly hotels in Mauritius
- 29 Most beautiful beaches in Mauritius
- Guide to the best viewpoints in Mauritius
2 comments
Hi Steph,
Nice, useful and informative article. Thank you :)
I will be travelling to the island in a couple of months – quick question about the bus, how do I distinguish between the regular bus and the express bus? Seperate bus stops or the same?
Thank you :) You’ll know that it’s an express bus as you’ll see “Express” or “EXP” written along with the bus route and number. Although sometimes they might only have the bus route and number written. If you’re at a bus terminal, the express bus might be at a different location so it’s best to ask there. Hope this helps :)