Aerial view of a Mauritius coastal town and its bay

Practical

Practical Mauritius: transport, money, SIMs and timing

The unglamorous detail that decides whether a trip runs smoothly, kept current and dated.

Most Mauritius trips go wrong in the same three ways: underestimating drive times, arriving in cyclone season without knowing it, and assuming buses run late. They do not.

Buses stop around 6.30pm on most routes. Drive times are roughly double what the map suggests once you leave the motorway. Cyclone season runs November to April and the risk is real in January and February.

Aerial view of a coastal town and its road network

Practical

Getting around Mauritius without renting a car

Buses are cheap and cover more than people think. They also stop at 6.30pm, which changes everything about your evenings.

19 August 2026·8 min read

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Mauritius?

May to June and September to early December. The water is still warm, the humidity has dropped, and you are outside cyclone season.

Do I need to rent a car?

Not necessarily. Buses cover the coast and the main towns cheaply, but they stop around 6.30pm. If you want the interior or you want to eat late, rent.

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One good Mauritius idea a week

A place worth the drive, what it costs this month, and one thing worth knowing before you go. No fluff, no affiliate spam.