Here’s a Free Road Guide for Mauritius Island if You’re Driving
Here’s a Free Road Guide for Mauritius Island if You’re Driving
You step out of the airport, the glass doors slide open, and suddenly the long flight is behind you. Warm air, a soft mix of sea breeze and jet fuel, and a taxi line that looks… busy. You’ve seen the turquoise lagoons from the plane and now you’re wondering: do I drive myself, or let someone else handle the first stretch?
Either way, this free road guide for Mauritius Island is made for you. As local drivers and guides at Taxi Service Mauritius, we spend our days criss-crossing the island—airport runs, beach hotels, mountain hikes, evening restaurant drops, early-morning dolphin trips. We know the roundabouts that confuse everyone, the shortcuts that help, and the moments when it’s better to park the car and just enjoy the view.
You’ll also be able to download this guide as a PDF, so your free road guide for Mauritius island lives on your phone or tablet, even when you’re offline and somewhere between sugarcane fields and the ocean.
Why You’ll Be Glad You Have This Free Road Guide for Mauritius Island
Driving in a new country is a bit like your first swim in the lagoon—exciting, but you want to know where the rocks are. Driving in Mauritius isn’t difficult, but it does have its own rhythm:
- Left-hand driving, roundabouts everywhere, and a mix of cautious and impatient drivers.
- Sudden changes from smooth highways to narrow village lanes.
- Views so beautiful on the coastal roads that you’ll be tempted to forget you’re driving at all.
Our free road guide for Mauritius Island keeps you relaxed and prepared. It pulls together:
- Must-know driving rules so you don’t learn them the hard way.
- Strict regulations you really shouldn’t ignore (the police don’t).
- The main road guide essentials: common traffic signs, what to do in an accident, and who to call in an emergency.
- Practical info on fuel stations, petrol prices, and peak traffic times.
Think of it as a friendly Mauritian sitting next to you, saying, “Slow down a bit here, and by the way, that next left is easy to miss.”
Must-Know Driving Rules in Mauritius
Let’s get the basics out of the way before you touch the ignition. Our road guide goes into detail, but here’s the heart of it.
Left-Hand Side & General Flow
Mauritius drives on the left-hand side of the road, with the steering wheel on the right. If that’s new to you, give yourself a short adjustment period. Take it slow leaving the airport area, stick to the main roads at first, and be gentle with lane changes.
Traffic here has a character of its own:
- Scooters slipping through gaps where you’d swear there’s no space.
- Buses moving like they own the lane (because most of the time, they do).
- Drivers slowing sharply when they see a speed camera—or their favourite street snack stand.
The golden rule you’ll see repeated in the free road guide for Mauritius Island: stay calm, expect other people to be a little unpredictable, and don’t rush.
Speed, Seatbelts & Children
Speed limits change often between towns, villages, and highways. Cameras and mobile radar checks are common, and they’re not just decoration. The guide explains typical limit zones so you know when to ease off the accelerator.
Seatbelts are compulsory for everyone. Kids should be in proper child seats or boosters—something that’s easy to forget when you’re focused on hotel bookings and beach photos. If you’re organising car rental in Mauritius, speak to the rental company in advance about child seats so there are no surprises at pick-up.
Roundabouts & Right of Way
Roundabouts are everywhere. At first, they’ll feel like mini tests of your attention. Inside the PDF, the road guide includes simple diagrams showing:
- Who has priority when entering.
- How to choose the correct lane.
- How to avoid that last-second “Is it this exit or the next?” drama.
Learn this early, and your driving in Mauritius becomes much more relaxed.
Strict Regulations You Should Take Seriously
Here’s the thing: you really don’t want your big story from Mauritius to be about a traffic fine.
The free road guide for Mauritius Island explains the stricter rules clearly, but in short:
- Drink driving is heavily controlled. If you’re planning sundowners by the beach, rum tastings, or late dinners with cocktails, plan not to drive after. Arrange Airport Taxis, hotel transfers, or local taxis instead of trying your luck.
- Speeding gets noticed. Fixed cameras, mobile police checks, and sometimes unmarked vehicles are all part of the system. A moment of inattention on a downhill stretch can get expensive.
- Phones & distractions. Handheld phone use while driving is a no-go. If you need GPS, use a proper mount and keep your focus on the road.
If you respect the rules, the authorities largely leave you in peace—and you get to keep your holiday mood intact.
Understanding Common Traffic Signs
Some signs are international and familiar; others will make you frown for a second.
Inside the road guide, we break down:
- Speed limit signs you’ll meet at the entrance and exit of villages.
- Stop and give-way signs at smaller junctions where not everyone indicates perfectly.
- Warnings for schools, pedestrian crossings, and sharp bends.
- Those famous “humps” (speed bumps) that can appear just as you’re admiring the lagoon.
Visual examples in the downloadable guide help you quickly match what you see on the road, which makes your driving in Mauritius experience feel far less mysterious.
Fuel Stations & Petrol Prices – Plan Before the Tank Is Empty
One of the most practical sections of our free road guide for Mauritius Island covers fuel. You’ll find many stations near big towns and along main routes, but if you’re heading into quieter regions, planning matters.
The guide helps you with:
- Areas where fuel stations are frequent, like around Curepipe, Port Louis, and Grand Baie.
- Stretches where it’s wiser to top up before you go—especially towards the wilder south or certain inland detours.
- How taxi prices in Mauritius and fuel costs interact, so you can make a smart choice between self-driving every day or mixing in taxis and tours.
We don’t list exact petrol prices (they change), but we give you a good feel for how to budget and when not to risk “just one more hour” on a nearly empty tank.
Peak Traffic Times – When the Island Slows Down
Mauritius isn’t a huge island, but yes, we do have traffic. To be fair, once you’ve seen Port Louis at peak hour, you’ll understand why locals plan around it.
Our road guide spells out:
- Morning and late afternoon congestion on main routes into and out of Port Louis.
- Busy school areas at drop-off and pick-up times.
- Peak times near malls and popular beaches, especially on weekends and during local holidays.
If you’re on holiday, the solution is simple: use your flexibility. Start a coastal drive a bit earlier. Plan lunch stops away from the busiest crossroads. Or do what many of our guests do—book full-day sightseeing tours with us on days when you know the roads will be at their craziest and keep your self-drive days for calmer times.
Accident Procedures & Emergency Numbers – Just in Case
No one wants to think about accidents on holiday, but being prepared is part of being a confident driver.
The free road guide for Mauritius Island includes:
- A step-by-step checklist on what to do immediately after an accident.
- How to check for injuries and when to call emergency services.
- When to contact the police and how to follow their instructions.
- What to report to your rental company and what information to document (photos, licence plates, locations).
- A neat list of essential emergency numbers you should save in your phone before you even leave the hotel parking.
It’s one of those sections you hope you’ll never use, but if something does happen, you’ll be very glad it’s there.
Easy to Access: Your Road Guide as a Handy PDF
This isn’t meant to be some huge manual you never open. The free road guide for Mauritius Island is designed to live on your phone, tablet, or laptop as a fast reference.
You’ll be able to:
- Download the PDF before you fly and skim it on the plane.
- Open it quickly while parked at a fuel station or café if you’re unsure about a sign or rule.
- Use it in the hotel at night when planning tomorrow’s drive—maybe from the best places to visit in the south like Gris Gris and La Roche qui Pleure, up to the lively beaches and nightlife among the best places to visit in the north.
Short sections, clear headings, and easy language mean you won’t feel like you’re studying for a test. It’s more like having a friendly local uncle explaining things over a cup of tea.
How Self-Drive Fits with Taxis, Tours & Boat Trips
Most travellers don’t choose only one option anymore. They mix it up:
- A few days of car rental in Mauritius for flexibility.
- A couple of days of guided tours when they want to relax, take photos, and maybe enjoy a drink with lunch.
- A day or two out on the water, far from any road.
That’s where we, at Taxi Service Mauritius, slide naturally into your plan. We’re a local taxi company and registered tour operator, operating every day of the week with clean vehicles and friendly drivers who speak English and French.
Our guests often combine:
- Mauritius Airport Transfers for a smooth arrival and departure, so that first and last journey are stress free.
- Regular taxi services on nights out, when parking or driving back in the dark isn’t appealing.
- Catamaran cruises or speedboat trip days when they don’t want to think about anything except the sea, the sun, and maybe the next grilled fish.
- Guided hiking trips and early-morning outings to swim with dolphins in Mauritius, saving their energy for the fun parts instead of worrying about long drives after.
With more than a thousand online reviews, a 5★ rating on TripAdvisor, and a 2025 Travelers’ Choice Award, we’ve learned what makes the difference: punctuality, clear communication, and that small sigh of relief guests make when they see their name on a sign at arrivals.
A Few Real-World Road Moments You Can Expect
To be honest, driving in Mauritius is full of little scenes you’ll remember:
You’ll get that first drive along the west coast where the ocean keeps flashing between the trees and you’re half tempted to stop at every lay-by for photos. You might find yourself behind a pickup truck loaded with sugarcane, moving slowly enough that you notice the mountain silhouettes in the distance.
Maybe you’ll pull into a village and spot a tiny snack shop selling gateau piment and samoussas just when you’re getting peckish (this happens more often than you’d think). Or you’ll wait at a junction while sega music drifts out of a nearby house and someone’s hanging laundry in the garden.
We have a little Creole phrase for that welcome feeling: “Bienvenue dan Moris”—it simply means “Welcome to Mauritius”, and it’s how we like you to feel on our roads too.
Is It Safe to Drive in Mauritius?
Short answer: Yes, it’s generally safe to drive in Mauritius if you’re a confident driver and follow the rules. Roads are paved, major routes are clearly signposted, and rental cars are modern enough for comfortable island exploring.
The main things to watch out for are:
- Sudden speed changes near villages and schools.
- Frequent roundabouts and sometimes creative indicating from other drivers.
- Night driving on narrow or unlit rural roads—if you’re not used to that, plan to be back at your hotel before late.
Use our free road guide for Mauritius Island as a reference, drive defensively, and don’t rush. Do that, and you’ll be able to focus on the views instead of your stress levels.
How We Fit into Your Modern Travel Planning
These days, most of our guests find us and organise their Taxi Service Mauritius bookings online before they arrive. They compare routes, read reviews, and then lock in full-day sightseeing tours or transfers so they don’t need to worry later.
You’ll still see people trying to hail cabs roadside or comparing taxi prices in Mauritius at hotel stands, but increasingly travellers prefer to pre-book. It’s simply calmer to know who’s picking you up, when, and in what kind of vehicle.
While there’s no single “official” Taxi App Mauritius that runs the whole island like in some big cities, many visitors now like dealing with one reliable local operator for both taxis and tours. That way they’ve got one WhatsApp chat or email thread where everything about their transport sits nicely in one place.
Why Our Guests Like Combining Us with Self-Drive
Over the years, we’ve noticed a pattern:
- Families often drive to the beach or nearby restaurants, but use us for longer days out, airport runs, and big hiking or dolphin days.
- Couples enjoy the freedom of self-drive on lazy days, then book us for long cross-island transfers and full-day catamaran cruises in Mauritius so they can just show up, sail, and sleep in the car back if they want.
- Solo travellers love that they can self-drive when they feel like exploring, but still have a trusted local number to call if they’d rather not handle unfamiliar roads in the dark.
We’re a family-owned, local team, and being a registered tour operator means we’re fully set up to handle both everyday taxis and those bigger experience days. With many guests returning or sending friends our way, we know that when your logistics work smoothly, your memories focus on lagoons, coral reefs, and mountain views—not on stressful drives.
Get Your Free Road Guide for Mauritius Island and Start Planning
So, where does this leave you?
- You know that driving in Mauritius is absolutely doable, especially with some guidance.
- You have a clear idea of what’s inside our free road guide for Mauritius Island—rules, regulations, signs, fuel, traffic, emergencies, and local tips.
- You also know you don’t have to do everything alone: from Mauritius Airport Transfers to taxi services, tours, and boat days, we’re here when you want to sit back and enjoy the ride.
Download the PDF, keep it on your phone, and use it as your friendly co-pilot while you explore. When you’d rather not drive, pre-book with Taxi Service Mauritius and we’ll be there: clean car, friendly driver, name sign at arrivals, and plenty of local stories on the way to your hotel.
Grab your free road guide for Mauritius Island, start tracing routes across the map, and get ready to meet the island properly—on the road, on the water, and maybe with a samoussa or two in hand.