Mauritius is a small Island in the Indian Ocean. Its distance from Europe and America often discourages first time tourists.

But really, there is nothing to fear. The trip to Mauritius will be facilitated by five star airlines; you can even opt to relax on a cruise and while your time away to Mauritius. Once there, there will be no opportunity to feel tired, there simply are too many delightful things to see and do.

Getting into Mauritius is relatively easy, but there are a few formalities that you should get out of the way first. Before you even apply for the visa, you need to have proof of your return ticket or an onward destination ticket. You can easily get a copy of this from your travel agent. Your passport also has to be valid for at least six months after your return date—some airlines will refuse to let you board if your passport in not valid.

You will also need proof of accommodation and documentation certifying your ability to support yourself while in Mauritius. Therefore, it is necessary to plan and fine tune your trip relatively early, especially as visas will take at least a month.

Now there are some lucky people out there who are exempt from all this red tape. Citizen of the U.S., the U.K., and South Africa, among others, do not need a visa to get into Mauritius. They only need a valid passport.

To find out the particulars for your country, check with the nearest Mauritian consulate or access their website. Citizens of the Republic of India and China do not need a visa for a maximum stay of fifteen days in Mauritius. It is important to note that whether you need a visa or not, you will be required to have all the other documents in order: valid passport, return/onward destination ticket and adequate funds.

Soaring high over the waters of the Indian Ocean is the red tailed tropicbird. This creature of grace is adorned with a white pink-tinted plumage, a magnificently red tail and beak. The Paille en Queue, as the bird is known, can often be distinguished from other bird species by its smooth and swift flight. The Paille en Queue is the symbol of Air Mauritius.

As the National airline of Mauritius, Air Mauritius is based at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in Port Louis. With frequent flights to the European hubs of Paris and London, Air Mauritius connects this tiny island to the rest of the world. Some of its destinations, such as Kualar Lumpur, are tourist centers as active as Mauritius.  Describing itself, Air Mauritius declares that it is ‘an island in the air’. Flying with the Air Mauritius fleet is a sneak preview of the paradise that is Mauritius.

Once in Mauritius, the airline provides some excellent  excursion flight packages. With its fleet of helicopters, you can enjoy an aerial view of the islands breathtaking landscape. There is a network of helipads all over the country. If you’re in Port Louis and want to go for lunch in Tamarin, Air Mauritius will drop you off and pick you up. At the end of your visit, Air Mauritius also recommends a unique service. Instead of waiting for hours on end for delayed flights, you can take in Mauritius in one last glance. The Heli-Flip & Fly tour will take you on one last trip along the coastline of Mauritius.

Apart from Air Mauritius, many international and regional airlines also make the island part of their route network. The British Airway, Virgin Atlantic and Emirates will have a stop over at Port Louis. Air Madagascar and Air Seychelles will provide transit to the nearby islands.

Getting to Mauritius by air is the typical way, but you could also get there by boat. Costa Cruises has recently introduced a new cruise package with stopovers in Mauritius, Seychelles, Reunion, Madagascar and Kenya. It might be a bit pricy, but the variety of destinations is definitely worth it. If you like the sea, if you would prefer to laze around while floating on exquisite azure waters, if you want to avoid the hustle and stress of flying then you should definitely check out Costa Cruises.

There are also weekly boats traveling between the islands of Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius and Reunion. A journey between any two islands by sea could easily take twelve hours. But the sights and the adventure is something not to be missed. If you can’t get on a private yacht, try to catch a boat.

An excitingly unique of getting around Mauritius is by Seaplane. The water take offs will have your heart beating before the tour even starts. The tour will take you around Mauritius’ dramatic sea line and give you aerial views of spectacular Mauritius.  It is also a convenient way to get to the smaller islet of Rodrigues.

Mauritius has no operational railway service. The best way to get around on land is, therefore, by motor vehicle. As the airport is in the complete opposite direction from Port Louis and Grand Baie, try to get your transfer in order before arrival.

The bus is the cheapest way to travel in Mauritius. With seven major bus companies operating within the country, it’s easy to get almost anywhere you want. The rates a few rupees per person and the buses are in relatively good condition. The bus will take you on the scenic route and will give you a real authentic Mauritian experience, as most locals will prefer to take the bus. A conductor will collect your fare during the trip and hand you a ticket. Be sure to keep your ticket in a safe place as there is an inspector will check them periodically.

The other option is getting a Taxi. Some taxi companies operating within Mauritius include Mauritius Taxi and Cabs Mauritius. A taxi is almost always safer than a bus. It will also give you a lot of flexibility in that you will gain access to places that buses can’t. To keep a taxi on retainer for a whole day, all you need is about 1500 rupees.

Before you get into a taxi, ask how much the fare is. If you think it is too high, feel free to bargain, most times the drivers will lower their prices significantly. Do not patronize unlicensed taxis, they’re unsafe. Most metered taxis will be affiliated to some hotel, or city government. You can book these in advance or simply get them at the airport.

Car hire is never cheap, no matter where you find yourself, and Mauritius is no exception. You will require an international driver’s license to drive on Mauritian roads. Some car rental companies might ask for your local driver’s license, so bring that along too. If you plan to rent a car, then make sure that you pay for the insurance; otherwise you are most likely liable for anything that happens to the car.

There are numerous car hire firms in Mauritius, but the international brands, such as Avis and Eurocar, are always a safer bet. In Mauritius, cars for rent have different registrations from private cars. You can usually identify car hire vehicles with the yellow registration plate, while private cars will have a white one. So, don’t fall into the trap of renting illegally from a bogus firm.

Mauritius has a fairly good network of roads, compared with some other countries in the region, but driving there is still not easy. Remember to keep to your left, and if possible avoid rural areas if you’re driving by yourself. These will probably have poor roads and you don’t want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere by yourself. Traffic rules, although rarely adhered to, are the same basic ones that you will find almost anywhere on the globe. The speed limit for highways is about 110km/h. In build up areas it goes down to 50km/h.

Mauritius is an adventure waiting to be discovered. So whether you get there by air or water, be ready to explore. It is a unique country, so don’t spend all your time in your room, get out there and discover something new.

Share This

 Email This Post To Friend
This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 at 11:29 am and is filed under Africa. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.