Port Louis Travel Information

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The Basics

Electricity: 230 volts, 50Hz. Square three-pin plugs and round two-pin plugs are commonly used.

Money: The currency of Mauritius is the Mauritian Rupee (MUR), which is divided into 100 cents. Travellers cheques and foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and larger hotels. Travellers cheques usually exchange at a better rate than cash. ATMs are widely available in most towns and hotels, restaurants and large retailers accept major credit cards.

Currency Exchange Rates

MUR 1.00 = A$ 0.03 C$ 0.03 € 0.03 NZ$ 0.04 £ 0.02 US$ 0.03 R 0.27
Note: These currency exchange rates are not updated daily and should be used as a guideline only.

Language: English is the official language of Mauritius, but the most widely used is French and the local dialect, Creole. Hindi, Urdu and Chinese are also spoken.

Entry requirements:

Entry requirements for Americans: US citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the period of intended stay in Mauritius. No visa is required, for stays of up to 60 days (for touristic purposes), or 90 days (for business purposes).
Entry requirements for UK nationals: British citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the period of intended stay in Mauritius. No visa is required for holders of British passports (irrespective of the endorsement regarding their national stuatus contained therein), for stays of up to 60 days (for touristic purposes), or 90 days (for business purposes).
Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadian citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the period of intended stay in Mauritius. No visa is required, for stays of up to 60 days (for touristic purposes), or 90 days (for business purposes).
Entry requirements for Australians: Australian citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the period of intended stay in Mauritius. No visa is required, for stays of up to 60 days (for touristic purposes), or 90 days (for business purposes).
Entry requirements for South Africans: South African citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the period of intended stay in Mauritius. No visa is required, for stays of up to 60 days (for touristic purposes), or 90 days (for business purposes).
Entry requirements for New Zealand nationals: New Zealand citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the period of intended stay in Mauritius. No visa is required, for stays of up to 60 days (for touristic purposes), or 90 days (for business purposes).

Passport/Visa Note: All foreign passengers to Mauritius must hold (i) a confirmed booking for accommodation in Mauritius, (ii) return or onward tickets to their country of origin or residence, (iii) the necessary travel documentation for their next destination, and (iv) sufficient funds to cover their expenses while in the country (a minumum of USD 100 per day). Note that the final decision to admit any passenger into Mauritius rests solely with the Immigration Authorities, and that any visitor who remains in Mauritius after the expiry the period granted on their visa or entry permit, shall be deemed to have committed an offence, and shall be liable for prosecution by a Court of Law. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required to enter Mauritius, if arriving within 10 days of leaving or transiting through an endemic area. NOTE: It is highly recommended that your passport has at least six months validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.

Travel Health: No vaccination certificates are required for entry into Mauritius, unless travelling from a country infected by yellow fever or where yellow fever is classified as endemic. It's a good idea to pack shoes that can be worn in the sea to protect against sharp coral, sea urchins and stonefish. Stonefish stings are uncommon but can in some cases be fatal. You should obtain urgent medical attention if stung; many hotels stock anti-venom serum. Visitors should take precautions against mosquito bites, as there have been several cases of the Chikungunya virus, which is spread by mosquito bites, although this is more common from October to May. Travellers should stick to bottled water. Medical facilities are good and free in public hospitals, but private clinics are expensive and medical insurance is recommended.

Tipping: Tipping in Mauritius is discretionary. However, some extra money paid for services, such as a taxi ride, waitering or cleaning is appreciated. In the hotels travellers can add around 5% of their incidental expenses when paying the bill on departure, if service has been good. Government tax is added to all hotel and restaurant bills and this is included in the basic price. However, all incidental hotel expenses will incur a 12% tax, which is generally included in the price quoted.

Safety Information: A holiday in Mauritius is usually trouble free, however petty crime can be a problem and it is not wise to wander alone at night outside the grounds of hotels. Visitors should be aware of pick pocketing in the central market in Port Louis. Care should be taken of bags and valuables when visiting popular tourist areas such as Pereybere, Grand Baie, Flic en Flac and Tamarin. There has been an increase in break-ins in self-catering accommodation and visitors are advised to only rent accommodation from registered proprietors. Cyclone season is from November to May.

Local Customs: Homosexuality is illegal in Mauritius. Penalties for drug trafficking and use are severe, and any personal medicinal drugs should be covered by a prescription. Scheduled drugs, such as tranquillisers, morphine and other strong painkillers require by law, authorisation before import.

Business: Port Louis is the main business hub of Mauritius. Standard business practice applies to the island: punctuality and politeness is important, handshakes and the exchanging of business cards takes place at meetings and business attire is worn. It is however possible to be somewhat more casual in terms of dress and visitors can take the cue from their hosts. Lightweight materials are recommended due to the tropical climate. Business hours can vary though are usually from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday, with some businesses open for a half-day on Saturdays.

Communications: The international access code for Mauritius is +230. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 001 for the United States). City/area codes are not required. The whole island is covered by the mobile network; the local mobile phone operators use GSM networks, which are compatible with most international operators. Handsets and SIM cards can be hired at the airport. Internet cafes are widely available.

Duty free: Travellers to Mauritius over 18 years do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; 1 litre spirits and 2 litres of wine, ale or beer; perfume and eau de toilette for personal use. Prohibited items include sugarcane and fresh fruit from parts of Asia. No dogs or cats from a 62-mile (100km) radius where rabies has occurred in the past 12 months are allowed into the country.

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