90+ minutes to Port Louis for coins: that’s A10’s pitch
Local Bus Route A10 (public bus) is the rock-bottom cost option out of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International (T1), with fares so low that the 48 km ride to Port Louis costs less than a soft drink. You’re trading money for time: guides quote at least 90 minutes, often 1.5 hours or more, versus 45–60 minutes by car. This is for backpackers, long-stay visitors, and anyone with very light luggage and zero schedule pressure.
Buses serving the airport run between Mahebourg and Port Louis Victoria Square, stopping at the terminal forecourt outside T1 rather than inside the building. The A10/198-style Mahebourg–Port Louis run is the backbone here, and locals on Reddit repeat the same thing: it’s the cheapest way into the capital, but it’s slow and stop-heavy. Expect local-style boarding, drivers taking cash, and no luggage bays, so keep yourself to one backpack or a small 10–15 kg suitcase you can manage in the aisle.
Frequency is modest in the middle of the day and thins out toward evening; posts from residents point out that airport buses generally do not operate late into the night, unlike 24/7 taxis. If your flight lands after roughly 20:00–21:00, assume you’re too late for the bus and budget for a taxi that will cover the same 48 km in under an hour. For early-morning departures, work backwards from a 1.5-hour ride plus check-in time and pick a bus at least one departure earlier than you think you need.
How to ride Local Bus Route A10 from MRU
- 1. Exit T1 landside. Clear immigration and customs, then walk out of the arrivals hall at MRU T1 to the public road area in front of the terminal.
- 2. Find the Mahebourg/Port Louis stop. Look for buses signed for Mahebourg or Port Louis/Victoria; ask “Mahebourg” or “Port Louis” and “airport” to confirm the route if the signboard is worn.
- 3. Pay the driver in cash. Have small Mauritian rupee notes or coins ready; fares are minimal but drivers don’t love breaking big Rs 1,000 notes for a single ticket.
- 4. For Port Louis, change at Mahebourg. Many locals suggest riding the short hop to Mahebourg first (around 10–20 minutes), then transferring to a Port Louis bus there for the remaining 70+ minutes.
- 5. Build the buffer for airport returns. When coming back to MRU, leave Port Louis at least 3 hours before check-in cut-off: 1.5 hours bus time, 45–60 minutes check-in/security, and a spare 30 minutes in case traffic around Curepipe slows everything down.
Practical tip: If you land and don’t see an airport bus listed in the next 30–45 minutes, don’t force it; at that point the Rs you save can be outweighed by losing half a day of your first night in Mauritius.