- Mauritius
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- The best ways to get around Mauritius
The warmth hits you as you step off the plane, holiday is here! But what to do now? You have probably planned and thought of the things you want to do, and these are most likely to involve travelling around the island, so we have put together some tips on the best ways to get around in Mauritius.
If you want to venture a little further, flights operate daily from Mauritius to Rodrigues, the small island that is east of the mainland. This journeys take around an hour. There are also helicopter transfers and helicopter sightseeing tours for those who want an aerial view of this beautiful island
Getting on public transport can be a great way to experience the country and meet local people. There is no train system in Mauritius but there is a good bus system on the island. Although timetables vary the routes cover most of Mauritius and it is a cheap way to travel while you are there. The two main bus stations can be found in Port Louis, Victoria Square and Imigration Square. All buses going south generate from Victoria Station, whereas all those going north depart from Imigration Square. An express bus service runs from Port Louis to the main towns as well as to the north and south of the island. There are also standard buses, but the express option would be the better choice if you can get on one as they are much faster, the standard buses make a lot of stops which can be irritating if you want to get somewhere in a hurry.
If you are visiting more rural areas you will find that the bus services usually run from between 6.30am and 6.30pm but this can be quite sporadic and you may find that there are few buses. In more built up areas they run from 5.30am to 8pm and there are often buses about every 15 minutes. However, if you are traveling between Curepipe and Port Louis the buses do continue until a much later time, around 11pm, but for individual timetables you will need to check locally.
Usually found at the hotels, airport and bus stations; taxis are a great way to get around without relying on public transport. There are lots of companies in Mauritius but all taxis have a square yellow box on both sides of the car and this will have their route printed on it. They are also metered and regulated.
Car and scooter rental is quite popular in Mauritius and there are many companies that offer the service including local and larger international businesses. Driving is on the left and hiring a car will offer the freedom to explore at your own leisure. You must carry your driving licence with you when driving in Mauritius.
There are quite a few companies that offer bike hire on the island at a reasonable cost, both road and mountain. So if you are enthusiastic about bikes this could be a great way to get around and a different way to see the island, all the sightseeing possibilities of travelling on foot with the freedom to move further afield.