Car hire in Mauritius without a credit card

Why hire a car in Mauritius?

The sights of Mauritius are spread around the island, all within about 75 kilometres of the airport: the gorges and waterfalls of the south-west, the beaches of the north, west and east, the sacred lake in the highlands and the capital, Port Louis. With a car you can see a different part of the island every day and still be back at your hotel at night.

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport lies at Plaine Magnien in the south-east, about 47 kilometres by road from Port Louis. It appears in our search as Mauritius Airport. For more destinations, see all destinations.

Exploring Mauritius by car

The south-west: gorges, Chamarel and Le Morne

Black River Gorges National Park, about 35 kilometres from the airport, is the largest national park in Mauritius, with Black River Peak at 828 metres and the Alexandra Falls. Nearby, at Chamarel, about 45 kilometres away, the Seven Coloured Earth Geopark covers some 8.5 hectares, and on the drive up you pass the Chamarel Waterfall, the tallest single-drop waterfall on the island. Le Morne Brabant, about 55 kilometres from the airport, is a mountain jutting into the Indian Ocean that once sheltered runaway slaves; it has been a World Heritage Site since 2008.

The highlands

Ganga Talao, also called Grand Bassin, is a sacred lake high in the mountains of Savanne, about 25 kilometres from the airport, with a 33-metre statue of Shiva. Near Curepipe, the dormant volcano of Trou aux Cerfs has a crater 605 metres above sea level with a small lake. The Tea Route links three estates: Domaine des Aubineaux, Bois Chéri and Saint Aubin.

Port Louis and the north

In Port Louis, about 47 kilometres from the airport, the Aapravasi Ghat marks the place where the modern indentured labour diaspora began; it has been a World Heritage Site since 2006. The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden lies in Pamplemousses, about ten kilometres north-east of Port Louis. Grand Baie and Mont Choisy are on the north-west coast.

Beaches around the island

Blue Bay Marine Park, with calm and shallow water, is only about ten kilometres from the airport. Flic en Flac on the west coast and Belle Mare on the east coast are each about 45 to 50 kilometres away. Gris Gris, near Souillac in the south, is beautiful to look at but not for swimming, because of the strong currents.

Driving in Mauritius

Mauritius drives on the left. A UK photocard licence is accepted, but hire companies often have stricter rules, so bring an International Driving Permit. Some roads are narrow and have no pavements, and pedestrians and cyclists use the main roads, including the motorways; some roads are bordered by deep ditches without guardrails. The drink-drive limit is very low, so do not drink at all if you are driving. Drivers are expected to carry yellow chalk to mark the position of their car after an accident. During a cyclone you may not leave your accommodation, and car insurance often stops being valid.

Best time to hire a car in Mauritius

Mauritius has a warm, humid summer from November to April and a cooler, drier winter from June to September. At the airport, average highs are about 30°C from December to February and 25°C in July and August. February and March are the wettest months and October the driest. The cyclone season usually runs from November to May. At Le Morne the trade winds blow especially from April to November.