Mauritius
Country : Mauritius
Rodrigues Island Travel Guide
Nestled in the Southern part of Indian Ocean and 600 km away from Mauritius, Rodrigues is an island that has garnered tourists from all walks of life. This tropical island is an idea destination where you can spend your time with your loved ones admiring the beauty of the palm fringed island. This island is famous for its friendly people, authentic culture and unspoilt places where you can experience serenity and tranquility. The island is a remote holiday destination and is an ideal getaway for those who are looking for a beach vacation. The Rodrigues Island is 18km in length and 8 km wide which is entirely surrounded by coral reefs that offer world class diving and snorkeling experience to the enthusiast travelers. This famous island is named after Portuguese explorer Diogo Rodrigues and has now become a popular attraction in Mauritius. The island is strikingly beautiful and boasts of plethora of flora and fauna which makes it appealing and a must visit place in Mauritius. The island is one of the best places to visit if you want spend a memorable and quite holiday with your family or friends. For nature lovers, this island is sure to make your Mauritius tour worth the while and one of the amazing holiday destinations in the world. The scenic beauty, tropical vegetation, vibrant culture, breathtaking landscape and tranquil surrounding is definitely going to make your trip to Mauritius a memorable one. Ideal for families, solo travelers and honeymoon couples, Rodrigues Island has everything to offer to the avid travelers.
Places To visit In Rodrigues Island
Port Mathurin
Situated in the North Eastern side of the Rodrigues Island, Port Mathurin is the capital offer all the necessary facilities which cannot be found anywhere in other parts of the island. The capital boasts of facilities like banks, ATMs, markets, craft shops, restaurants, casinos and much more. Stroll around the streets and admire the picturesque beauty of the island. Munch in some succulent dishes in some of the famous restaurants whilst basking in the weather of the place.
Mont Limon
Mont Limon is one of the famous places to visit in Mauritius attracting people from all over the world. If you want to get a panoramic 360 degree view of the island, Mont Limon is the best place to head to. Situated at the heart of the island, the mountain has the highest point at 1300 ft above the sea level. The mountain proffers breathtaking views of the island, agricultural terraces and azure blue ocean making it an ideal spot to spend a day with your loved ones.
Trou d'Argent
A sandy beach, Trou d'Argent is located in Rodrigues Island garnering tourists from all across the globe. The beach covers a vast area that offers photogenic stills and backgrounds for those who want to capture scenic beauty of the place. This beach is an ideal holiday destination in Mauritius that is sure to give you lifetime of memories to cherish. If you want to enjoy a peaceful environment, away from the bustling city life, Trou d'Argent beach has everything to offer to the enthusiast travelers.
Ile Aux Cocos – The Bird Sanctuary
This bird sanctuary in Rodrigues is very popular among the tourists and is well known for its sandy beach encircling it shores. For bird lovers, this sanctuary is a feast to the eyes as you will get to see abundance of bird species all together in Ille Aux Cocos sanctuary. You can spot the white tern, the noddy, and migratory birds like the sooty terns which come and stay on the island during summer season. It is a treat to watch these birds flocking here and there on the island giving a spectacular view of the place.
François Leguat Giant Tortoise Reserve
Situated on the Southern coast of the island and minutes away from the airport, François Leguat Giant Tortoise Reserve is a must visit place in Rodrigues Island. With rich flora and fauna and scenic vistas, the reserve allows the travelers to get up close and personal with the giant tortoises. Enjoy a nice stroll around the reserve, interact with these giant species and get to know about their natural environment.
Caverne Patate
For all the history buffs, this site in Caverne Patate is highly recommended for the tourists because of its amazing discovery of stalactites and stalagmites that surrounds the cave. Entrenched by a coral plain underneath, Caverne Patate is one of the places in Mauritius that should not be missed. You can take a guided tour where you will get to know some interesting facts about the cave.
Rodrigues Jardin des 5 Sens
Located in the centre of the island “Jardin 5 Sens” is an enchanting botanical garden that has attracted tourists from all walks of life. Housing rich flora and fauna, endemic fruit trees, aromatic and medicinal plants and flowers, this garden is a must visit place in Mauritius to reminiscence the beauty of nature. You can take a guided tour in the garden and get to know about the place.
Best Time To Visit Rodrigues Island
Since Rodrigues is a tropical island, the place experiences lush green and colourful vegetation throughout the year. The island is now a great holiday destination in Mauritius because of its pleasant weather. The island has two seasons-Summer season is from the month of November to April and winter season is from May to October. The average temperature in summers ranges from 24-34 degree Celsius during the day and in winters the temperature ranges from 16-27 degrees Celsius during the day. It is a year round destination and can be visited anytime of the year because of its amazing tropical climate.
Things To Do In Rodrigues Island
Let the experts guide you to the best of this mesmerizing destination
Ziplining
Boost your adrenaline rush by trying Ziplining in Rodrigues Island and make the most of your trip. South Coast of the Island offers various Ziplining options where you can try something unique and different. Try the longest zip line and watch the stunning views of the lush green valleys as well.
Trekking
If you are a nature lover, Rodrigues Island is the best place where you can go for trekking. Enjoy hiking and trekking in this spectacular island and enjoy your lush greenery of the place. Discover various breathtaking views, maize plantations and hilly landscapes where you can just walk freely and enjoy the view around. You can start your trek from the Grand Bay which is a tiny coastal village and complete your trekking journey to the South of Rodrigues at Port Sud Est.
Visit the Saturday market
Saturday market in Rodrigues Island is a must visit place where you can spend your day alone or with your friends. Saturday market is held in Port Mathurin where you can buy things like home preserves, pink piles of dragon fruit etc. Stroll around the place and do not forget to take your camera along as it is a camera friendly place in Mauritius.
Kite surfing
Rodrigues Island holds occasional kite surfing festival annually where you get to see many kite surfers from across the world share the passion of kite surfing with the locals. Places like Mourouk, Graviers, Plaine corail, and Ile aux Cocos holds the festival every year and attracts tourists from all across the globe. Many photographers come over to the island to cover this exceptional event.
Sail Boat Trips
Being a tropical island, Rodrigues proffers sail boat trips to the travelers where they can sail and enjoy the picturesque beauty of the place. The island is the best holiday destination to enjoy sail boat trips with your friends and family. Enjoy the gentle caress of the wind while you sail across the ocean and discover the wonders that are hidden there in the island. Sail boat trip is truly a unique experience for those who love sea adventures.
Rodrigues Island Nightclubs
Enjoy the vibrant nights of Rodrigues Island with some of the best music to swing on. From local to international beats, the nightclubs in Rodrigues will definitely surprise you in every way. The famous nightclub of Rodrigues is situated in Port Mathurin which attracts tourists fro, all walks of life. Spend your night enjoy the vibrant life of the locals and have the time of your life.
How to Reach Rodrigues Island
By Boat
The Mauritius Trochetia which is a mixed cargo and passenger boat serves the island on bimonthly basis and allows the passengers to travel easily. The boat departs from Port Louis and runs between 36 to 48 hours depending on the sea conditions.
By Plane
Various planes ply to and from Mauritius on daily basis. Daily flight ranges from 2 to 5 depending on the services and the period of the year. Air Austral provides flight services between Rodrigues and Re union Island and operates on daily basis.
