Travelling by bus in Mauritius
Mauritius has a good bus network, which is spread throughout the country. Most of the locals are using the bus to get around the island. Taking the bus is not very comfortable, but it is a special adventure which everybody should experience.
If you're looking for a fun, cheap way to explore Mauritius, then bus transportation is the answer for you. The bus routes criss-cross the entire island and you'll also have the chance to meet the chatty local people.
There are two types of buses in Mauritius, standard and express. Use the express ones if you can. They are air conditioning services and much faster since they don't stop every few meters like the standard ones do. Buses operate from 5.30 am - 8.00 pm in built up areas and 6.30 am - 6.30 pm in the countryside. To give you an idea about the journey times: a trip from the airport to Port Louis might take up to 80 minutes.
Keep in mind that there is no direct bus from one end of the island to another so you might need to transfer. To make things even more complicated, there are 2 main bus stations in Port Louis: one for buses going to the south of the island (Victoria square), and another one for buses going to the north (Immigration square). There is a bus shuttle between the two stations, but the distance can also be walked.
In terms of price, a bus ticket is very cheap, from 15 Rs (~ 40 eurocents) for a short trip to 30 Rs (~ 70 eurocents) for a long one, so you might want to to keep some change in your pockets. The express buses have an air-conditioning system, but you will be charged extra for that little cold breeze. Also, if you travel with a large bag, you might have to pay for an extra seat.
You can buy the tickets from the conductors and you will need to keep the ticket as there are inspectors that often get on board. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as an operator independent ticket which could be used across the island, so you will need to buy a ticket each time you get on a bus. When you want to get off, you're expected to press the buzzer beforehand.
The only downside to the bus is that your trip will take longer than with a car/taxi, as every time someone needs to get on or off, it means another stop.
