Mauritius on a Budget

The island nation of Mauritius is known for being a luxury destination, perfect for honeymooners wanting to lounge in five star tropical paradise. (The lucky old things). So I wasn’t expecting to be able to do very much of anything with my own limited funds. Thank goodness that I was oh so very wrong. There are plenty of ways to keep your costs down when travelling to Mauritius; here’s my guide to visiting Mauritius on a budget.

Arriving in Mauritius

As a fairly isolated island in the Indian Ocean, it’s almost certain that you’ll be arriving at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport, in the South East of Mauritius. (I say almost certain because Mauritius does have a cruise port as well, in the capital city Port Louis.) In terms of transportation from Mauritius airport, you have three options: a taxi, a hire car, or a local bus.

Taxis are obviously the most expensive option, and should normally cost around 2000 MUR (about €45) to get you to the furthest away points of the island. A hire car is worth the expense if you want to explore Mauritius at your own pace.

But if you’re really sticking to your Mauritius on a budget guns, there are three public buses which run regularly through the airport. More on public transport later, but details can be found on the airport’s website.

Affordable hotels in Mauritius

Without a shadow of a doubt pals, your Mauritius accommodation will be the biggest expense of your trip. This island has done a grand job of tapping into the luxury market, and there are plenty of all-inclusive options costing anywhere between €150-€1000 per night. Or even more than. that, if you fancy it. If you want the luxury experience for less, sign up for email updates from any Mauritius hotel you like the look of, well in advance of your trip. You’ll recieve advance notice of special offers or sales, and can snap up any deals as soon as they appear. It’s also normally best to book directly through the hotel’s own website, avoiding any sneaky cheeky booking fees.

If we’re talking real ‘Mauritius on a budget’ options, your best bet is Airbnb.

There’s a massive range of Airbnbs in Mauritius, including modern luxury apartments and houses- like this beautiful apartment in Port Louis, for around €95 a night. (Which I’ll admit is still not strictly budget, but it’s way more affordable than most hotels. If there’s more than one of you visiting Mauritius on a budget, this is a great option.)

More and more B&Bs and budget hotels are also advertising on Airbnb these days; it’s a great place to look for quirky places to stay in Mauritius, which might not crop up instantly on search results. These domed beach huts at Pointe d’Esny are part of Le Case Mama B&B, a family-run bed and breakfast directly on the beach. And the rooms at the Orange House are simple but beautiful, for a bargain price of approximately €17 per person.

Navigating Mauritius on a budget

If you’re visiting Mauritius on a budget, let me tell you now- taxis are expensive. And not to be relied upon if you can help it. If you do use a taxi, negotiate a price before you get in the car, and be prepared to haggle.

Hiring a car

Hiring a car in Mauritius isn’t cheap, but if you want freedom to explore the island in your own time (and truly get everywhere), it’s worth it. Use a comparison site like Kayak to browse different car hire offers; there are plenty of well-known car rental companies like Budget and Sixt in Mauritius. Hiring a car in Mauritius can cost between €35-€100 per day, although obviously the longer you hire it for, the more the daily cost drops.

(Don’t learn the hard way like we did, expecting to hire a cheap car in Mauritius on the same day. Chances are that you’ll be charged an extortionate rate for not planning ahead).

That fateful (but awesome) day: A Roadtrip to Le Morne Brabant, Mauritius

Most companies in Mauritius require drivers to be a minimum of either 21 or 25 years old. And you must have held a driving license for at least a full year. You can drive for up to four weeks in Mauritius with your own license, but any longer and you’ll need an international drivers license.

And the last gem of information that you’ll need when it comes to driving in Mauritius is great news for UK drivers. In Mauritius, they drive on the left! Jubilations.

Using public buses in Mauritius

Mauritius has an extensive bus network which seems to cover pretty much the entire island. (Also the buses look like they came straight off the set of a 1970s Bollywood film, which I full on love.) I used public buses a lot in Mauritius, and always found them to be incredibly reliable and more importantly- super duper cheap. A single short journey will set you back a mere 15 rupees. Which is around €0.40. And even for a longer journey we’re talking the maximum price of €1.50ish.

You can’t argue with that, can you!?

In built up areas like Port Louis, buses run between 5.30am-8pm. And in rural areas they run between 6.30am-6.30pm. Buy your ticket from the conductor (with cash only, FYI), and keep hold of it just in case of an inspection.

Using the Metro Express

The Metro Express is a brand spanking new light rail service connecting some of the country’s bigger towns and cities. The metro line opened in late 2019 and is still a work in progress, but will eventually connect as far as Curepipe. Although it’s more of a line for the locals to get to and from work, it’s worth remembering that this little line is here. Traffic in Port Louis can get ridiculously congested- you can potentially be crawling along for hours just to travel a mile down the road.

So anything that eases that is downright wonderful in my eyes.

Hitchhiking in Mauritius

The first time I got a lift with some strangers in Mauritius was purely accidental. Me and a pal were waiting for a bus back from Mont Choisy to Port Louis, only for a family to stop their car and inform us the buses had already stopped running. They made a detour to take us all the way back to the port, stopped en route so we could get a closer look at some very large bats, and then gave us their phone number so that they could show us around properly next time. We were very lucky that that lovely family stopped, let’s face it. We could have been waiting for hours.

The people of Mauritius are by and large, one of the friendliest bunches of people you could ever hope to meet. I’ve never hitchhiked alone, and would never choose to do so. But- hitching a ride in Mauritius isn’t unheard of. In desperate times I felt completely comfortable turning to a stranger for assistance.

(Keeping my discerning wits about me, of course. Let’s not get carried away here.)

Eating on a budget in Mauritius

Mauritius may be an African nation, but you can feel the Asian influence everywhere, not least of all in the food. (Brilliant. I’m sure you’ll agree.) This huge mixture of influences is basically down to Mauritius’ past. Mauritians today are descended from Malagasy and mainland African slaves, indentured Indian workers, Chinese traders and European settlers and slaveowners. It’s a strange melting pot which has culminated in quite a culturally diverse country, and an equally diverse cooking pot.

Most beaches have a collection of food trucks scattered beneath the trees, and every town and village has a hut or two with the most delicious smells wafting from within. Samosas reign supreme over here, and chana puri are incredible fritters filled with curried yellow split peas. I never thought I’d be tucking into spicy snacks like this on a beach, but here we are.

A freshly deep-fried samosa or chana puri was my go-to beach snack of 2020.

Exploring other Indian Ocean islands: A Humid Hike on Réunion Island

Dholl puri and roti are also massively popular Mauritian street foods. These are basically flatbreads filled with yellow split peas or various curries. (Or alternatively just nibbled plain, whatever floats your boat.)

There’s no shortage of fruit for sale on almost every Mauritian street corner. Mark my words when I tell you a pineapple sprinkled with chilli flakes and sea salt is the ultimate thirst quencher on a hot day.

If you want to stick to a tight budget in Mauritius, street food and local restaurants are your best bet; steer clear of eating out in more touristy areas like Grande Baie where the prices creep up. Mauritian Creole dishes like bol renversé (literally ‘upside-down bowl,’ not too dissimilar to a chop suey but with a fried egg on top) is a classic dish. You probs shouldn’t leave without trying one. And a sample of any curry, with any kind of pickled vegetables, is almost guaranteed to taste mouthwateringly good.

Accessing the beaches in Mauritius

Guys. Panic not. Every single beach in Mauritius is 100% accessible to the public. Even the beaches right in front of the five star hotels. You can technically roam around whichever beach you wish to, and you don’t need to pay a single penny. (Although when it comes to commandeering a sun lounger that’s a different story.)

Grand Baie is without a doubt the most built up, touristy beach that I visited. There’s plenty to do there but if I’m honest it did have a vibe of a more tropical version of the Costa Del Sol about it. (No offence Grand Baie. It’s all down to personal taste, after all.)

The Le Morne peninsula is way more isolated (and exclusive- the white sand is lined with five star resorts only). So whilst it is harder to get to, it is absolutely beautiful.

And Flic en Flac is another great spot to relax at. This is a beach which seems to stretch out into eternity, but is visited by locals and visitors alike.

For an in-depth guide to the beaches in Mauritius: The Best Beaches on the West Coast of Mauritius

The best free things to do in Mauritius

There is absolutely no shortage of free things to do in Mauritius. Especially if you love being outdoors and exploring new territory.

Hiking

Mauritius is a brilliant destination for hiking fanatics, and the island is home to hundreds of different species of plants, animals and trees. So keep your eyes peeled on your wanderings, folks. Crab-eating macaques roam the forests, flying foxes and fruit bats soar overhead, and brilliant tropical flowers are scattered across the countryside.

The most beautiful but challenging hike in Mauritius is Le Morne Brabant: the massive hunk of mountain on a peninsula in the South of the island. Climbing this on a sweltering day is quite the feat, let me tell you that for free. The last portion of the hike can only be done with a guide, but most of the way can be done all by yourself. Le Morne doesn’t just offer stunning views and a big old sense of accomplishment having climbed it- this mountain is hugely significant in Mauritius’ history. At the beginning of the 19th Century, hundreds of escaped slaves sought refuge here, living in caves high up in the cliffs.

The Black River Gorges National Park is an expanse of hilly rainforest, filled with tropical birds, as well as monkeys, deer and wild pigs. This is the only national park in Mauritius, and with over 60 km of trails, a hike around here is a great way to get back to nature.

Find a waterfall

Mauritius is fit to burst with stunning waterfalls. In fact, if you go hiking on the island you’re almost certain to round a corner and be met with some kind of astonishing aqua-spectacle bursting through the rainforest. Like a glorious leaky pipe.

Tamarind Falls is an absolute stunner, located in the village of Henrietta. You can get a bus here from Curepipe or Port Louis, and then walk about 20 minutes to the falls. Chamarel Waterfall is within the Seven Coloured Earth Geopark, so you need to pay a small entrance fee. Once inside you can head to the viewing platform, or swim in the pool below.

I’ll be honest with you here guys. Because that’s what I always am. I have never jumped off of any waterfall, let alone a waterfall in Mauritius. I have merely watched and applauded as my friends become real-life Pocahontases flinging themselves into the abyss. But if you’re more of the daredevil sort than I am, then you’ll be right at home here.

Talking of waterfalls: Climbing Dunns River Falls, Jamaica

Eau Bleue is one of the most popular spots for waterfall jumping in Mauritius. This bad boy is actually several waterfalls and pools of a bright turquoise colour, about 45 minutes drive from Port Louis.

Rochester Falls is on the Savanne River, and can be reached at the end of a track through sugar cane fields near Souillac. Soldiers of rectangular rock formations make stepping stones along the top of the waterfall, and on the day we visited there were plenty of locals backflipping from the rocks as well as trees on top of the rocks. This is not for the fainthearted and I wouldn’t recommend anyone do it unless they’re certain of what they’re doing. The pool isn’t particularly deep, and rock formations jut out all the way down.

Explore Port Louis

Even if you’re visiting Mauritius on a budget, that’s no reason to stick only to the great outdoors. Port Louis, Mauritius’ capital city, is an intriguing place with plenty of places to explore for absolutely zero money.

The Natural History Museum houses (amongst other things) a dodo skeleton. Poor old extinct dodos. This extinct bird is still a symbol of Mauritius, and for that reason alone it’s worth a look. As an added bonus, entry to the museum is completely free of charge.

The streets of Chinatown are like an actual art gallery, filled with so many colours and glorious paintings. It’s hard to know where to look first. This is one of Africa’s oldest Chinatowns, and although the area itself is small- only about four blocks- I loved spending an afternoon exploring.

Read: The Best Things to Do in Port Louis

The nearby Port Louis Central Market is an assault on the senses, but a welcome one in my book! The covered market is divided by categories, with meat, fish, spices and fruit and vegetables taking up different sections. Upstairs there’s a craft market which is more of a tourist-drawer than anything else. Beware, if you glance at anything the sales patter will begin within a split second. But I kind of didn’t mind it if I’m honest! This is also a great place to sample some Mauritian street food.

Le Caudan Waterfront might be a far glossier affair, but the Central Market gets me every time, I tell ya!

Visit a temple

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Mauritius is a true melting pot of cultures. And not just cultures, but religions too. Around 48% of the population identify as Hindus, but Christians and Muslims also make up a large part of the population.

I loved the vivid colours of the Hindu temples and the colourful bunting outside the mosques, but the only thing I knew about either religion was what I learned in RE at school. (And RE at school was quite a while ago now, let’s face it.) I visited the Jummah Mosque in Port Louis which was a beautiful experience.

Sticking to the Indian Ocean islands: A Visit to Hell-Bourg, Réunion

Ganga Talao– or Grand Bassin- is the most sacred place on the island for Hindus. This rather large crater lake high up in the hills is said to have appeared when Shiva spilt drops of the River Ganges here. The temperature can get a bit chilly compared to the humid air down low, and the whole atmosphere is peaceful but bewitchingly surreal. The lake is surrounded by colourful temples and statues of gods and goddesses, and thousands of Hindus make pilgrimages to lay offerings at the feet of these statues every year.

All of these sacred spots are free to visit. However. If your main motivation for visiting is that you’re visiting Mauritius on a budget, and you’re after a cheap day out, this probs isn’t for you! These are places to observe and more importantly learn.

Remember that you’re a guest and need to respect customs and practices. In mosques, cover up! (Although they will likely bring you a robe to wear like the very kind old man at the Jummah Mosque did). In Hindu temples, you should also dress conservatively and always remove your shoes at the door.

So there you have it pals. An extensive guide to visiting Mauritius on a budget. There’s so much incredible nature on this little island, as well as intriguing culture to immerse yourself in, that it’s actually incredibly easy to get around without spending very much at all. In fact, budget or no budget, these are the exact things that I think people should be visiting for.

Mauritius really does have something for everyone.

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