Mauritius

The official taxi desk outside arrivals has fixed fares: ~Rs 3,500 to Grand Baie, ~Rs 2,500 to Port Louis. Many resorts arrange airport transfers — ask when you book.

Regular buses run from the airport towards Port Louis and Mahébourg, then you change for the north coast. Cheap but slow and awkward with big suitcases; services thin out after dark.

International and local rental companies have desks at the airport. Traffic drives on the left, with the driver on the right. Bring an international driving permit along with your Mongolian licence. Narrow, winding roads, pedestrians and dogs appear suddenly — take care at night.

my.t and Emtel have counters side by side in arrivals: a tourist SIM costs ~Rs 1,500 — 30 days, unlimited data, local SMS, some call credit. Passport required; staff install and activate it. Both networks perform about the same.

my.t has tourist eSIM machines by the baggage belts. An international eSIM such as Airalo bought before the trip works the moment you land, but a local SIM is cheaper for heavy data use.

Tip: Download the island in Google Maps for offline use — coverage is weak in the mountains and on parts of the south coast.

Public buses reach almost every village; they are cheap and you pay the conductor in cash; services stop early in the evening. The Metro Express light rail runs between Port Louis and Curepipe.

Taxis rarely use the meter — agree the fare before getting in. For a south-coast day (Chamarel, Le Morne, Grand Bassin) hiring a car with driver for the day is easiest; ask your hotel for a recommendation.

Île aux Cerfs, Blue Bay and Tamarin Bay are reached by boat. Choose a licensed operator with life jackets; trips being cancelled on rough-sea days is normal.

The currency is the Mauritian rupee. MCB and SBM ATMs are everywhere — airport, towns, supermarkets. Hotels, larger restaurants and supermarkets take cards; markets, street food, buses and taxis need cash.

Since 1 October 2025 tourists aged 12 and over pay a €3 per night fee when staying in registered hotels, guesthouses and tourist residences. The accommodation collects it, so it may not be in your booking price.

Tipping isn't required, but leaving a little for good service is customary; some restaurants add a service charge to the bill. Friendly bargaining is normal at markets and craft stalls.

Dholl puri (thin split-pea flatbread with curry fillings) is the national dish; also roti, biryani, gateaux piments (chilli split-pea fritters), mine frit (fried noodles) and alouda (a cold milk drink). A meal at a simple place costs ~Rs 300 per person.

Tip: At the Port Louis Central Market, Grand Baie or Flacq market, pick busy stalls where food is cooked to order.

Octopus curry, fish vindaye (mustard, turmeric and vinegar), grilled lobster, rougaille (a Creole tomato and onion stew). For children, resorts have plenty of simple food — pizza, grilled chicken, fruit.

Tap water is usually treated, but visitors are advised to drink bottled water. Try pineapple, mango and lychees from the market — pineapple with salt and chilli is a local favourite.

Police 999 or 112, ambulance (SAMU) 114, fire and rescue 115 — free. Call your insurer's assistance line before heading to a private hospital.

Beyond the reef and in channels there are strong currents — swim at beaches with lifeguards and stay out when the red flag is up. Wear water shoes against sea urchins and venomous stonefish. The sun is fierce: reef-safe sunscreen and a hat.

In cyclone season (January–March) follow the Met Services warning classes: at Class IV everyone stays indoors. Use repellent in the evening against dengue.

Enter Hindu temples (such as Grand Bassin), churches and mosques with shoulders and knees covered and shoes off. Ask before photographing prayers or ceremonies. It's a multi-faith country where every religion's festivals are respected.

All beaches are public — you may walk along the shore even in front of a resort. Nude sunbathing is illegal; don't walk around town in swimwear. Take your rubbish with you and don't collect coral or shells.

Chasing resting dolphin pods by boat and jumping in exhausts them — choose operators who watch from a distance and approach slowly. Skip 'walk with lions' and wild-animal cuddling extras at parks such as Casela.

Google Maps is reliable for driving and walking; download the island for offline use. Google Translate's camera mode handles French menus and signs; most people understand English anyway.

Safe Mauritius — the pre-arrival form and QR code. Met Services — cyclone and swell warnings. The official tourism site mymauritius.travel — festivals and events.

The drive from the north or west coast is slow, and traffic builds around Port Louis in the morning and evening. Book a taxi the day before and arrive in good time for an international flight. Flying via Istanbul, check your bags are tagged through to Ulaanbaatar.

Protected coral, shells and sea-turtle products may not be exported. Vanilla tea, rum, wooden model ships and local sugars are fine. Spend leftover rupees at the airport duty-free — they're hard to exchange in Mongolia.