Getting Here and Around

Measuring just 65 km (40 miles) by 45 km (28 miles), Mauritius is a small country; however, with 150 km (93 miles) of sandy beaches and an interior of mountains and extinct volcanoes, there’s a lot to see. The island is shaped a bit like a tear-drop—the airport is in the southeast, and the capital city of Port Louis lies on the northwestern coast. The popular tourist area of Grand Baie is also in the northwest corner, and good beaches stretch along the west coast down to Le Morne (the bulbous volcanic mass) at the southwestern tip. Many resorts are dotted along the mid-east coast. The interior rises to a high plateau; some 75% of the country is farmed for sugarcane. Most resorts pick up their guests from the airport. It is advisable to organize taxi tours of the island (this is affordable for about three or four guests who negotiate a rate). Buses run along the coastal ring road to the capital Port Louis and beaches along the way. For those who want to hire a car, take care as the city areas of Port Louis, Curepipe, and Floreal are very congested.