Express buses leave for Port Louis approximately every 30 minutes during the day from Royal Road in Grand Baie, with buses running at similar intervals in the opposite direction. Non-express buses, operating between Port Louis and Cap Malheureaux, stop every few hundred metres along the route, with stops at Pereybere, Grand Baie, Mont Choisy, Trou aux Biches and Pamplemousses.
The following information regarding express buses was correct at the time of my visit in February 2008:
- Express buses leave from Royal Road in Grand Baie, with the main terminal located outside La Jonque restaurant;
- Buses from Grand Baie and other northern areas arrive at Port Louis’ Immigration Square bus station. Buses to and from the south of the island depart from and arrive at Port Louis’ Victoria Square bus station. The two bus stations are about 20 minutes walk apart;
- The journey between Grand Baie and Port Louis takes approximately 30 minutes by express bus and costs 23 Rupees / 0.40 GBP each way. Non-express buses complete the journey in around 60 minutes;
- Bus tickets are purchased on board from a conductor. Simply take a seat and wait for the conductor to come around, either before the journey begins or shortly after setting off;
- The bus station at Immigration Square is chaotic and very confusing for visitors. There are no visible signs to indicate where the express buses to Grand Baie depart from. I had to ask several people for directions, and each one told me to make my way to the back of the station (an area with dozens of buses parked up seemingly randomly), where I eventually located the red and white Triolet bus that was heading to Grand Baie.
