Rodrigues Island (Île Rodrigues)

Rodrigues Island is a 108 km² volcanic island some 550 km east of Mauritius. The island is very similar to Mauritius itself; it is surrounded by coral reefs, the vegetation is similar to that of Mauritius and the climate is the same. But because terraced farming is widely used, the landscape is very different from that of Mauritius. Rodrigues receives much less tourists than Mauritius, so it is an excellent and quiet place to relax. The only downside is that the island is hit frequently by cyclones, prone to the region.

The island's highest points are Mt. Limon and Mt. Malartic, each of which rises nearly 400 m (1300 feet) above sea level. The area around the peaks is good for hiking. Hikes along the shore can be made from Port Mathurin to Port Sud-Est, along the eastern side of the island.

The best beach on Rodrigues Island is at Point Coton on the eastern coast, although the ones at St. François, Trou d'Argent and Petit Gravier are also quite good. On the southwestern side of the island is Caverne Patate, a cave that is well worth a visit.

Rodrigues Island, as well as several of the smaller islands that surround it, is excellent for snorkeling and scuba diving. Trips can be arranged from most of the larger hotels. The water around some of the islands requires permits, as they are nature reserves. For example Île Cocos (Cocos Island) and Île aux Sables can only be visited with a permit, while Île aux Crabes (Crab island) and Île Hermitage are open to the public. There is hardly any difference in beauty between the various islands, so it is not necessary to go through all the hassle to get a permit while you can visit similar places without one.

There are plenty of hotels and restaurants on Rodrigues Island. There are daily air connections between Rodrigues Island and Mauritius and you can get there by boat as well. Transportation around the island is by bus. Port Mathurin is the island's capital.