Mauritius is a volcanic island in the Indian Ocean, almost entirely ringed by coral reef. Most visitors divide their time between a beach hotel, on the north coast around Grand Baie, the west coast between Flic en Flac and Le Morne, or the east coast near Belle Mare, and day trips to Port Louis, the capital, the Black River Gorges and the tea country of the central plateau. The island is not part of the EU's Roam Like at Home area, so a European SIM card is charged its operator's roaming rates there.
Key facts for Mauritius
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Emtel, my.t (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: 999 for police, ambulance and fire; also 114 for an ambulance and 115 for the fire service
- Embassies: in Port Louis
Before you fly: the All in One form
Every arrival needs the Mauritius All in One travel form, completed online before the flight. Print the finished form with its QR code, because officials ask for it at the airport; anyone who arrives without it fills in a paper disembarkation card instead. British visitors can stay up to 60 days without a visa, your passport has to be valid for the whole stay, and you may be asked for proof of a return or onward ticket. If you arrive from a country where malaria is common, border staff may take a blood sample, and travellers who have been in the Democratic Republic of Congo or South Sudan in the previous 21 days face strict Ebola entry restrictions.
Beaches, lagoons and boat trips
Most crime is opportunistic: pickpocketing, bags left unattended on the sand and break-ins at holiday villas. Petty theft is most common in Port Louis, Grand Baie and Flic en Flac, and the backstreets of the Port Louis business district are best avoided after dark, as are empty beaches. There have been some reports of sexual assaults on tourists, and women travelling alone may face harassment. Book only accommodation registered with the Mauritius Tourism Authority, and do not deal with street or beach sellers.
Catamaran trips, snorkelling and diving are a big part of any stay. Before you board, check that the operator holds a permit from the Ministry of Tourism, that there are enough life jackets and that the skipper can reach the coastguard. Stonefish hide on the reef: stings are rare but can kill, so get to a doctor at once if it happens. Many hotels keep anti-venom.
Driving on the left
Traffic keeps to the left, as in the UK, and rental firms often ask for an international driving permit as well as your licence. Even a quarter of the English drink-driving limit can bring a fine or prison. Drivers are also expected to carry yellow chalk or a yellow marker: after an accident or breakdown, you mark the position of the car and its registration on the road before moving it. Roads are often narrow and without pavements, pedestrians and cyclists use the main roads day and night, and motorbikes often ride without headlights at night.
Cyclone season
Tropical cyclones can hit between November and May. Mauritius Meteorological Services issues warnings in phases, and once a cyclone arrives you must stay in your accommodation; car insurance policies often stop being valid. Heavy rain also brings landslides, with their own 5-stage warning system, and the authorities may evacuate threatened areas. A charged power bank and offline maps help if the electricity goes off.
Health, laws and money
Private clinics are good but expensive, and complex cases can mean evacuation to Réunion or South Africa, so check that your insurance includes it. Ambulances vary in speed, and if you can get yourself to hospital, it is often quicker. Dengue and chikungunya are present, so use repellent.
Possessing or importing cigarette papers is illegal, and drug offences, cannabis included, bring long sentences, with suspects often held until trial. Prescription medicines need a copy of the prescription, and strong painkillers and sleeping pills require authorisation before you travel. The currency is the Mauritian rupee; hotels and larger shops take cards, and towns have cash machines.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM set up at home connects as soon as you land at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, in the south-east, ready for the transfer to your hotel. An Africa plan also covers Réunion, the Seychelles, Madagascar and South Africa, which suits a two-island holiday. Leave your own SIM active for bank texts, with data roaming switched off.
Local SIM cards: my.t and Emtel sell prepaid SIMs, including at the airport; bring your passport to register.
Consular protection: who to call in Mauritius
- Dial 999 for the police, an ambulance or the fire service; 114 also reaches an ambulance, 115 the fire service, and the tourist police answer on 999 or 112.
- The UK and Australia have high commissions in Port Louis, and France and the US have embassies there. Look up your own country's mission, with its address and phone number, in the Telcomia app.
- EU citizens whose country has no embassy in Mauritius can turn to the embassy of another EU country, such as France, which must help them on the same terms as its own citizens (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- English is the language of government, French is widely spoken, and Mauritian Creole is what you will hear in the street. The Telcomia app has emergency phrases in French.
Mauritius travel-safety page →
Questions travellers ask about Mauritius
Does my EU plan work in Mauritius?
Only at your operator's roaming rates, because Mauritius is outside Roam Like at Home.
Do I need to fill in anything before the flight?
Yes, the Mauritius All in One travel form. Print it with the QR code to show on arrival.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Mauritius?
Emtel or my.t, depending on the plan, with 4G and, on some plans, 5G.
What happens if a cyclone arrives during my stay?
Follow the official warnings: once the cyclone hits, you have to stay indoors until it passes.
The short version
Complete the All in One form before flying, install the eSIM at home, keep to the left with yellow chalk in the car, leave cigarette papers at home, follow cyclone warnings between November and May, and save 999.
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