Mauritius airport transfer to Tamarin
Barefoot Transfers provides private airport transfers from SSR International Airport directly to Tamarin from €50 — fixed price, no hidden fees, your driver meets you inside the arrivals hall with a name board, and you are at your Tamarin hotel, villa, or address in approximately 55 to 65 minutes.
Tamarin — the west coast's other side
Most visitors to the west coast of Mauritius end up in Flic en Flac. Tamarin is where a different kind of visitor ends up — one who has usually been to Mauritius before, knows what Flic en Flac offers, and has made a deliberate choice to go somewhere with a different character.
Tamarin sits approximately 15 kilometres south of Flic en Flac along the west coast road. It is built around a bay — the Baie de Tamarin — that curves in a way that creates one of the few genuine surf breaks in Mauritius. The wave at Tamarin is not world-class by international standards but it is the best-known surf spot on the island and has shaped the town's identity significantly. Tamarin has a surfer-town feel — relaxed, slightly alternative, with good coffee shops, independent restaurants, and an arts scene that punches above its weight for a town of its size.
The dolphin watching here is worth mentioning. Spinner dolphins congregate in Tamarin Bay in the early morning with a regularity that has made it one of the most reliable dolphin watching locations in the Indian Ocean. Boat trips depart from the bay before sunrise. It is a genuinely impressive experience — not a performance, just wild dolphins using the bay as a resting area on their way back from overnight feeding grounds offshore.
Tamarin is also the gateway to the Black River Gorges National Park — the largest area of native forest remaining on the island sits in the hills directly behind the town. The park has hiking trails, waterfalls, and the best birdwatching in Mauritius including endemic species that do not exist anywhere else on earth.
SSR Airport to Tamarin — the journey
Tamarin is approximately 55 kilometres from SSR International Airport. The route runs northwest from the airport along the M1 motorway past Port Louis, then south down the west coast past Flic en Flac to Tamarin and the Black River area.
Journey time is approximately 55 to 65 minutes under normal conditions. The motorway section is fast. Port Louis is the variable. The west coast road south from Flic en Flac to Tamarin is consistently light and takes approximately 15 minutes from Flic en Flac.
Journey time from SSR to Tamarin by time of day
Before 6.30am — 50 to 55 minutes, clear motorway
6.30am to 9.30am — 75 to 85 minutes, Port Louis rush hour
9.30am to 3.30pm — 55 to 65 minutes, consistent and reliable
3.30pm to 6.30pm — 65 to 75 minutes, evening traffic builds through Port Louis
After 6.30pm — 55 to 65 minutes
Late night and overnight — 50 to 55 minutes
Port Louis is the only significant variable on this route. The west coast road from Flic en Flac south to Tamarin is light at all hours. Allow 30 to 45 minutes for immigration and luggage collection at SSR. Total time from landing to Tamarin is typically 90 to 120 minutes.
Price — SSR Airport to Tamarin
Private transfers from SSR to Tamarin start from €50 per vehicle. The price covers the full vehicle regardless of passenger count — a group of four pays the same as a solo traveller in the same vehicle to the same destination.
What is included:
Private, direct transfer door to door — no shared passengers, no stops
Meet-and-greet inside the SSR arrivals hall with a name board
Real-time flight tracking — automatic adjustment for delays
All luggage loaded and unloaded
Child seats on request at no extra charge
No surcharge for early morning or late night transfers
English and French-speaking drivers
Air-conditioned sedan, SUV, or minivan depending on group size
Payment to the driver at your Tamarin address at the end of the journey. No deposit to book.
Hotels, villas and accommodation in Tamarin we cover
Tamarin's accommodation offering is predominantly villa-based — the town has a strong self-catering market and relatively few large resort hotels compared to Flic en Flac. Commonly requested destinations include:
Tamarin Hotel
The Retreat by Hilton Mauritius
Private villas throughout Tamarin, La Preneuse, and Rivière Noire
Holiday apartments and guesthouses in and around Tamarin Bay
If your accommodation is not listed, provide the name or address when booking — every property in the area is covered.
Surfers and dive equipment — what to know for Tamarin transfers
Tamarin draws surfers from across the island and internationally during the southern hemisphere winter swell season, roughly May to September. Surfboards — shortboards, longboards, and SUPs — are regularly carried on this transfer route.
A minivan handles one or two surfboards alongside standard passenger luggage depending on board length. For groups travelling with multiple boards, mention the number and lengths when booking and the team will confirm the correct vehicle. Roof racks are not available — all equipment travels inside the vehicle.
Dive equipment for the west coast dive sites at Flic en Flac and the surrounding area is also regularly carried on Tamarin transfers. Describe all oversized equipment accurately at booking.
Black River Gorges — logistics for walkers and hikers
The Black River Gorges National Park entrance at Alexandra Falls is approximately 15 minutes by car from Tamarin. The main entrance near Chamarel is approximately 20 minutes. Guests staying in Tamarin who plan to hike the gorges can easily reach the trailheads by rental car, scooter, or a local taxi arranged through their villa or guesthouse.
Barefoot Transfers handles inter-destination transfers as well as airport runs — if you need transport from Tamarin to the national park entrance or anywhere else on the island, message the team on WhatsApp.
Travelling to Tamarin as a family
Tamarin works well for families with older children — the dolphin watching, the national park, and the beach are all genuinely engaging. For families with babies and toddlers it is a more practical base than the larger resort hotels further north, but the infrastructure is more villa-based and self-catering rather than resort-facilitated.
Child seats are included free with every Barefoot Transfers family booking:
Rear-facing infant seat — birth to approximately 13kg
Forward-facing toddler seat — approximately 9kg to 18kg
Booster seat — approximately 15kg to 36kg
Provide your children's ages and weights when booking.
Tamarin departure transfers
Your driver collects from your Tamarin address and delivers directly to SSR. For international departures allow three to four hours from pickup to departure time.
Pickup time guidance:
Flight at 9am — pickup at 5am to 5.30am
Flight at 12pm — pickup at 8am to 8.30am
Flight at 3pm — pickup at 11am to 11.30am
Flight at 6pm — pickup at 2.30pm to 3pm
Flight at 10pm — pickup at 6.30pm to 7pm
The team confirms the recommended pickup time for your specific flight when you book.
FAQs about Tamarin airport transfers
How long does it take to get from SSR Airport to Tamarin?
Approximately 55 to 65 minutes under normal conditions via the M1 motorway and the west coast road. During Port Louis rush hour between 6.30am and 9.30am allow up to 85 minutes. Outside peak windows the journey is smooth and predictable. The west coast road from Flic en Flac to Tamarin — approximately 15 minutes — is light at all hours.
What is the price of an airport transfer to Tamarin Mauritius?
Private transfers from SSR to Tamarin start from €50 per vehicle. This covers the full vehicle regardless of how many passengers are travelling. A family of four pays the same as a couple booking the same vehicle. Child seats are included free on request. For an exact price for your group and address, message the team on WhatsApp at +230 54 92 8500.
Is there a taxi from Mauritius airport to Tamarin?
Standard airport taxis at SSR will travel to Tamarin but this is not the recommended option for groups, families, or anyone with significant luggage. Standard taxis are four-seat saloon cars with limited boot space, no child seat provision, and no confirmed price before you land. For surfers with boards or families with strollers a standard taxi is simply the wrong vehicle. A pre-booked private minivan with Barefoot Transfers solves all of this — vehicle type, child seats, and price are all confirmed before you travel.
Is Tamarin good for surfing?
Yes — Tamarin Bay is the most well-known surf break in Mauritius. The wave works best during the southern hemisphere winter between May and September when southern swells wrap into the bay and create a consistent left-hander. It is not a demanding wave by international standards but it is a fun, accessible break that suits intermediate surfers well. Beginners are better served at the beach break near La Preneuse a few kilometres south. The surf community in Tamarin is small and welcoming — local surfers use the bay year-round and the morning sessions before the wind picks up are the best window.
What are the dolphins in Tamarin Bay?
Spinner dolphins — a species known for their acrobatic spinning leaps. They use Tamarin Bay as a resting and socialising area in the early morning hours after feeding offshore overnight. Boat trips depart from the bay before sunrise to find and swim with the pods. The experience is genuinely wild — this is not a captive or semi-captive encounter. The dolphins choose to be in the bay and choose whether to interact with swimmers. Early morning departures — typically 6am to 7am — give the best chance of finding large pods before they move offshore for the day.
Is Tamarin close to Flic en Flac?
Approximately 15 kilometres south along the west coast road — about 15 to 20 minutes by car. The two towns are close enough that guests in Tamarin regularly drive to Flic en Flac for the wider range of restaurants and supermarkets, and guests in Flic en Flac drive to Tamarin for dolphin watching or evening drinks. They are distinct in character — Flic en Flac is busier and more resort-oriented, Tamarin is quieter and more village-like — but practically they function as part of the same west coast cluster.
How to get from Tamarin to Black River Gorges National Park?
The main Alexandra Falls viewpoint and the nearest park entrance are approximately 15 minutes by car from Tamarin via the road that climbs into the hills behind the town. The main Chamarel entrance is approximately 20 minutes. There is no public bus service that makes this journey efficiently. A rental car, scooter, or private taxi is the practical option. Barefoot Transfers handles inter-destination transfers — message +230 54 92 8500 for availability.
Are private transfers from Tamarin to SSR available at night?
Yes. Barefoot Transfers operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Early morning departure pickups from Tamarin are covered at no extra charge. A 4.30am pickup for a 9am flight costs the same as a midday one.
How to book
Message Barefoot Transfers on WhatsApp: +230 54 92 8500
Confirm your Tamarin address — hotel, villa name, or exact location
Share your flight number and arrival date and time
Confirm number of passengers
Describe luggage — suitcases, surfboards, dive bags, stroller, or oversized items
Request child seats if needed — ages and weights
Receive confirmed price and booking confirmation with driver details
Find your driver inside SSR arrivals hall — name board ready
Pay at your Tamarin address — no deposit required
Related pages
Mauritius Airport Transfers by Destination
Mauritius Airport Transfer to Flic en Flac
Mauritius Airport Transfer to Black River
Mauritius Airport Transfer to Le Morne
Minivan & Minibus Airport Transfer Mauritius
Mauritius Airport Transfers for Families
Book your Tamarin airport transfer
Book your private transfer from SSR to Tamarin via WhatsApp on +230 54 92 8500 or through the contact page. Share your flight details, address, and group size — your driver will be waiting when you land.