Why Rent a Car in Mauritius?
Mauritius is an island full of surprises, just waiting to be discovered. Each region offers a distinct experience for travelers.
The north is the most developed part of the island, featuring vibrant nightlife, shopping centers, and a wide variety of restaurants. It's a lively hub for both locals and tourists. The west lures visitors with its calm lagoons and stunning white-sand beaches, perfect for water sports and sunset walks along the beach. In contrast, the south offers a more natural, unspoiled landscape, especially around Black River Gorges National Park, where you'll find lush forests, waterfalls, and native vegetation. The east remains quieter and less visited, with pristine beaches, sometime strong breezes, and a slower pace of life — ideal for a peaceful retreat.
Why Renting a Car in Mauritius Beats Public Transport
Traveling in Mauritius by bus may provide you with a unique experience to write home about. However, most buses don't have air conditioning, run on "best effort" schedules and are generally designed for local commuters, not for tourists. That means their routing is not aligned with touristic interests, they are very slow, and might leave you stranded because the last bus is usually quite early.
Taxis are of course another option but keep in mind that taxis in Mauritius don't have meters and have to return to their designated origin before they can pick up another customer. As a result, one-way trips can be quite expensive, and fares may soar to unreasonable levels—especially when you have no alternatives.
So drive your own car to get off the beaten path, explore the island at your own pace and visit places where public transport is not available! For example, the Tamarind Falls is one of the most beautiful places in Mauritius, but you can get to them only by car. Stay as long as you want and don't worry about your taxi driver still being there when you return.
By driving yourself, you’ll also be able to see much more in a single day—no waiting around for buses or negotiating with taxi drivers. You can stop whenever something catches your eye, whether it's a scenic lookout, a quiet beach, or a roadside vendor selling fresh pineapple or Roti. Having your own vehicle gives you the flexibility to discover hidden gems, take spontaneous detours, and truly experience the island on your own terms.
There is so much to see and do in Mauritius
What You Need to Know To Enjoy Driving in Mauritius
- Mauritius drives on the left-hand side, with zero tolerance for drinking and driving.
- Speed limits: 60 km/h in towns, 80 km/h outside of towns, and 110 km/h on highways.
- Parking: Free parking in most areas; most beaches and businesses have dedicated free parking; paid parking in Port Louis.
- Try to avoid peak hour traffic from 7:30 to 9:30 am and 3:00 to 6:00 pm. If possible, schedule your pick-up/return outside of these hours. When returning to the airport during these times, allow for generous extra time due to traffic.
- The M3 highway (in blue on the map) is a scenic mountain drive and highly recommended to avoid rush hour traffic in the capital, Port Louis.
- Police are usually very courteous towards tourists, just keep your car rental contract and driver’s license ready.
- No international drivers licence is required for tourists. Your domestic licence is accepted.
Why Hire a Car with Maki Car Rental?
Do you appreciate professional service, transparent pricing, and modern cars, but still aren’t ready to pay a fortune for car hire from international companies like Europcar, Sixt, and Avis? Then you should definitely rent a car with us, as we don’t add any premiums to make up for marketing-related or prestige location costs.
Choosing Maki Car Rental in Mauritius means enjoying a worry-free travel experience on any budget. With us, every rental includes a free satellite navigation system customised for tourists, with exclusive audio guides. It also has a beach directory and alerts for nearby speed traps, ensuring you’re traveling with your own local guide right by your side.
What sets us apart from other car rental companies in Mauritius is that we’re transparent. Our prices are all-inclusive, with no hidden fees or surprise charges. Further, you can reserve a specific vehicle model, not just a category, and enjoy features like unlimited mileage, free booster seats, and an additional driver at no extra cost.
Unlike international brands, we focus on local partnerships with reliable service providers and customer satisfaction over flashy marketing, allowing us to pass the savings on to you.
Our modern, low-mileage cars come fully insured, and you may even get free delivery to your hotel. For drivers who aren’t used to driving manual vehicles, we offer automatic transmission cars without a surcharge. If you have to cancel your rental, no worries; do so free of charge up to 48 hours before pickup.
Our pick-up and return process in a nutshell
SSR International Airport (MRU)
- One of our staff members will greet you outside of the terminal building. You won't have to stand in line at the car rental desk!
- They will have a sign with your name and escort you to your car.
- Mauritius airport has free WiFi so you can easily reach out to us via WhatsApp if there is an issue or delay.
- Don't worry about flight delays. We will know your flight number and reschedule accordingly.
- For returning the car, you have the option of returning it at our nearby office or drop&go in front of the terminal entrance. Just let us know what you prefer.
Hotel or other location
- You’ll receive a WhatsApp message from the delivery driver shortly before arrival.
- The driver will meet you at your hotel reception, villa entrance, or any location on the island.
- You’ll inspect the vehicle together, confirm the fuel level, and take photos if needed.
- A quick ID check and signature will complete the process.
- If there’s a delay due to traffic, you’ll receive prior notification via WhatsApp.
