Taxis, drivers and transfers

The first journey of a stay in Mauritius is almost always a transfer. All international flights land at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, in the south-east of the island, although many booking apps place it in Port Louis. The capital is in fact in the north-west, some fifty minutes away by road. This detail of geography counts when choosing a hotel, and even more when arranging one’s arrival.

After immigration, health formalities and baggage reclaim, the traveller emerges on level 0 into the hall for tour operators and hotels. This is where the inbound agencies, which handle package transfers, and the hotel representatives are waiting. This is also the set meeting point for minors travelling alone. The journey to the hotel is made with an agency, by taxi or by other transport, and many hotels arrange it themselves. At Le Morne, for example, LUX* Le Morne offers to bring its guests from the airport by luxury car, by taxi or through a private provider.

Those who want more hire a limousine, for a transfer or for a day with a driver, and upmarket transfers by luxury car are offered from the airport, as are drivers by the day. Air Mauritius and Corail Hélicoptères run private helicopter transfers, provided the hotel has a helipad. The same companies offer flights over the island, from fifteen minutes to an hour, which can be put together as you wish.

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The taxi: how it works

Taxis wait outside hotels and shopping centres, and Mauritians readily take them in the evening, once the buses have stopped running. The wisest course is still to go through your hotel or accommodation, which knows the reliable companies. Two rules then apply to every ride. The first is to agree on the fare before setting off. The second is not to count on Uber, which is absent from the island. Apps such as Yugo, on the other hand, let you book a taxi and pay a price fixed in advance.

The trade is closely regulated. A taxi licence can be applied for only when the National Land Transport Authority issues a call for applications in the press, and the applicant must already hold a taxi driver’s licence.

A different regime applies to cars with drivers hired under contract. To obtain this type of licence, the operator must produce a letter of intent from a hotel, a travel agency or a tour operator wishing to use its services, and apply for at least three cars in the first application. The vehicles are new, or imported second-hand at less than two years old.

To see the island without driving and without joining a group, there is a middle way: the private driver-guide. An experienced driver collects the clients and plans a route with them, at their own pace. One precaution is essential: make sure the driver holds the official licence issued by the Tourism Authority. Tourist licences come in several kinds, the tourist enterprise licence among them, and checking them is one of the tasks of the Tourist Police, who also keep watch on touts and beach hawkers.

Group excursions travel by minibus, for half a day or a full day, and are often booked at the hotel. Here too, it is better to turn to a company holding an official licence, a guarantee that safety standards are met.

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Distances, and the sea

The island is small, but journeys take time. Allow about an hour and a quarter from the east coast to the west coast, and an hour and twenty minutes from north to south. The airport lies 26 nautical miles south-east of Port Louis and 11 miles south-east of Curepipe, or about 48 and 20 kilometres as the crow flies: the road is longer.

Some transfers, finally, are made by sea. To reach the islets, you hire a water taxi or join an organised outing, and a regular shuttle serves Île aux Cerfs. The boat must carry a registration beginning with PC, reserved for vessels operated for commercial purposes. On board, you follow the instructions of the skipper and crew, wear the life jacket provided, and never sit in the bow of a motorboat.