Car Rental at Mauritius Airport

Airport travel guide

Located on the main island of the Mauritius archipelago, the nation’s largest airport is only a stone’s throw away from many of its most notable tourist attractions. In addition to world-class beaches that make people travel halfway across the world, there are also nature preserves and plenty of culture to be discovered. Below are five of the most interesting attractions of Mauritius — check out this guide to find more of the best places to visit in Mauritius.

• Port Louis. Mauritius is all about the beach, but there’s also plenty of history and culture to be found, and the best place to explore it is Port Louis. The capital and largest city, it is known for landmarks like Aapravasi Ghat, a landing point of contracted Indian laborers who were the ancestors of the majority of the island’s present-day population (it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Citadelle Fort, and Port Louis Cathedral.
• Black River Gorges. A national park about a 45-minute drive south of Port Louis, Black River Gorges is the best place to enjoy Mauritius’ wild nature. Made up of both tropical rainforest and drier heathland, it has about 60 km (37 miles) of hiking trails and is notable for its diversity of flora and fauna that includes species like the Mauritian flying fox and pink pigeon. If you like the national park, you might also enjoy the neighboring Color Valley Nature Park which is just to the east.
• Grand Bay. There’s plenty of serene coastal spots in Mauritius, but if you’re looking for a more lively experience, the town of Grand Bay (also spelled Grand Baie) might be for you. Notable for its developed coastline and energetic nightlife, it is also known for its orchards, as well as great diving. The trip from Port Louis takes about 30 minutes by car.
• Blue Bay. Another very popular spot, Blue Bay is, according to at least some frequent visitors of Mauritius, home to the most scenic beaches in all of the archipelago. Famous for the especially azure tone of the Indian Ocean, as well as the neighboring Lion Mountain and several surrounding nature preserves, Blue Bay is about an hour’s drive southeast of Port Louis, but only a 15 minute drive from the airport.
• Taste the local cuisine. Mauritius is bursting with tasty foods to enjoy, including tons of tropical fruit and fresh seafood. Don’t miss out on eating the popular street food, notably the delicious dholl puri wrap. Mauritius is also known for its fruit wine and rum made from locally grown sugarcane. 

Top international routes

• Saint-Denis, Reunion
• Rodrigues
• Johannesburg
• Paris
• Dubai
• Nairobi
• Mumbai
• Antananarivo
• London
• Istanbul

Main airlines

Air Mauritius, Air Austral, South African Airways, British Airways, Air France, Corsair and Condor

Terminals

The single passenger terminal serves both local and international flights. It was opened in 2013 and is designed to resemble Ravenala or “Traveller’s palm,” a tropical plant that grows in Mauritius and on other islands in the Indian Ocean.

Location

The airport is located about 48 km (30 mi) southeast of Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, a trip that takes slightly less than one hour by car. Motorways M2 and M1 are the main roads connecting Mauritius Airport to Port Louis. Many other famous Mauritian destinations are also near the airport - Black River Gorges National Park is 30 km (18 mi) west and can be reached in 40 minutes, Curepipe is 25 km (16 mi) northwest and can be reached in 25 minutes, and Blue Bay is just 11 km (6.8 mi) southeast and takes 15 minutes to reach by a rental car.

Most popular types of rental car

• Small cars - from $25 per day
• Medium cars - from $35 per day
• Large cars - from $40 per day
• SUVs - from $73 per day
• Vans - from $49 per day
• Convertibles - from $196 per day
• Premium cars - from $319 per day

Car rental desks

You’ll find the car rental area to your left after exiting the airport, behind the car park. It’s easy to walk there.

Services and facilities

You can dine at one the fast food stands or snack bars or in a restaurant. There are several stores, gift shops, and duty-free outlets. You’ll also find ATMs, baby care facilities, a medical service, post office, prayer room, and shower facilities.

Nearest gas station

One of the nearest gas stations, Engen Filling Station, is located at Plaine Magnien, next to A10 Royal Road, and can be reached in about seven minutes. There are other gas stations on the way to Port Louis and on the island of Mauritius. Do keep in mind, however, that most are closed at night.