Blog, Mauritius, Travel | 16 April 2025 | MIN READ
Navigating the Mauritius Airport, Getting a SIM, and Getting a Taxi (Do’s and Don’ts)
2 days ago
Before You Arrive (IMPORTANT!)
Make sure you fill out the Mauritius Health Travel form before landing. And make sure you save the PDF in case you don’t have a signal or fail to connect to WiFi upon landing.
Tip: If you’re on a layover at Charles de Gaulle Airport (meaning you’ve left the airport and passed passport control), you can find the Mauritius Health Form with a scannable QR code at the Air Mauritius booth. I used this QR code before I arrived in Mauritius. You’ll notice upon arriving in Mauritius that many passengers are trying to log in to the WiFi and fill out the questionnaire. To save time, fill it out beforehand.
Customs
When you get to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, you will queue up in a customs line that will be either really long or not really long.
The first time I arrived in Mauritius, the wait was super long, turning out to be 45 minutes and 8 seconds. The second time, the wait was only about 1 minute.
So while most people will tell you don’t pick a seat near the back of the plane (which is safer)—when you arrive at a small airport and there are OTHER international flights, you’ve just made your chances worse and you will have a longer customs line.
Health Inspection
However, that’s not it. After the customs line, there’s a health inspection line before you can go grab your luggage. You will need to ensure that you’ve filled out your health form prior to entering this line.
Gear Used
Grab Your Luggage
From here you can make your way down the stairs/escalator and grab your luggage. Bag wait time can be highly variable. I waited 11 minutes and 40 seconds.
You may be subject to a random luggage inspection as you exit the gates (that happened the first time I arrived, but not the second).
Make sure that you have an Apple AirTag to make sure you’ve properly tracked your luggage. If you have a long layover, like the 8-hour layover I had in Paris, there’s a chance that your bag might arrive last on the baggage ramp.
Or, there are times like when I traveled from Barcelona (KLM) to Estonia (airBaltic) via Amsterdam that my luggage was lost and the AirTag saved me.
Get a SIM Card (Don’t Use Airalo)
As you exit, make sure to stop by and grab a SIM card from one of the available SIM card stalls prior to exiting the airport.
You have seen other travel bloggers and social media influencers promote and use Airalo. However, in my opinion, Airalo eSIM is a waste of money and the e-SIM has trouble working.
On top of that, the Airalo deal for Mauritius was just atrocious and was $14 USD (approximately ₨630 MUR or €13) for 2GB for 15 days (that’s not enough for internet, GPS, etc.).
Meanwhile, you can get a MyT 5G Tourist SIM that has 200GB for 1 month for €15 (approximately ₨735 MUR or $16 USD) plus cell service and even with hotspotting for €15 straight at the airport, which makes it a no-brainer. I simply saw the advertisements and went for that one. You can select the nearby place Emtel, which also had the same deal.
They even install the SIM card for you (for FREE!) and check that it works before sending you on your way.
It was straightforward and easy, and my Android was up and running in no time and was able to easily enable the hotspot. I had zero issues with MyT, and it was fast and effortless. Meanwhile, Airalo was just dead on arrival.
Grab a Taxi or Get Your Rental
For information on renting a car in Mauritius (see here).
Uber is not in Mauritius. For renting a taxi, make sure to use the Yugo app (see Apple here and Android here). Even if you decide not to use the app—at least check to see the cost to get to your destination. I was curious to see the cost to get from the airport to Preskil Island Resort in Mahébourg.Â
Unfortunately, I saw a family following a taxi driver (while waiting for mine). The son kept asking how much the taxi ride would cost, but the driver didn’t respond right away, eventually saying, ’70’ and repeating it. The dad, clearly confused, looked to the son for guidance. The son demanded the true cost upfront as they walked toward the taxi stand, only for them to turn back to the airport afterward.
But 70 what?! That could mean €70 (approximately ₨3,430 MUR or $75 USD) or ₨7,000 MUR (approximately €143 or $153 USD), which is quite a difference.
On top of that, it sounded like English was either their second or third language—which added to the confusion. Make sure you don’t fall into this trap. Instead, use Yugo—the Mauritian ridesharing app, which is their version of Uber.
Using the Yugo app can be a bit clunky—it doesn’t provide an accurate ETA for your driver, and instead, they might contact you via WhatsApp. However, the driver was 100% professional, and there was no haggling over the agreed-upon price in the app.
I successfully used this app during my second trip to Mauritius when I didn’t rent a car. You can choose your preferred payment method, but I found cash to be easier. FYI: There are ATMs to the left of the airport exit, but be aware of high fees. It’s best to use a bank like Fidelity or Schwab, which don’t charge ATM or foreign transaction fees.
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport
Tips, Tricks, and Logistics
- Fill out the Health Form Before Arrival: Make sure to complete the Mauritius Health Travel form prior to landing and save the PDF. This is crucial for smooth passage through customs and health inspection lines upon arrival.
- Customs and Health Inspection Process: After landing, you’ll go through customs and then a health inspection where you’ll need to show your completed health form. Be aware that both lines may vary in length, and it’s best to avoid seating at the back of the plane to reduce your time in these queues.
- Luggage Collection & Tracking: After clearing customs and health inspection, collect your luggage. Consider using an Apple AirTag to track your luggage, as delays or mishaps (like lost luggage) can occur. AirTag helped me avoid potential issues during my travels.
- Best SIM Card Deal at the Airport: Skip overpriced eSIM options like Airalo. Instead, grab a MyT 5G Tourist SIM at the airport for €15 ($16 USD), offering 200GB of data and hotspot capability for one month. Emtel also offers similar packages. This is a far better deal than Airalo’s 2GB for $14 USD.
- Taxi and Transportation: Always use the Yugo ride share/taxi app to avoid getting scammed. Be cautious about agreeing to taxi fares directly with drivers, as prices can vary widely. The app helps ensure you pay the right fare and avoid confusion, especially with language barriers.
- Airport Navigation: Make sure to follow signs carefully and pay attention to the multiple processes (customs, health inspection, luggage collection). It’s a multi-step process that can feel overwhelming if you’re not prepared.
- Rental Car Option: If you’re planning on renting a car, it’s worth noting that the process at the airport is straightforward, but make sure to book ahead during peak seasons to avoid delays..
