Rodrigues
A quiet, autonomous outer island far to the east, with wide lagoons and open hills.
Hero image: fred_pnd, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Rodrigues is an autonomous outer island of the Republic of Mauritius, roughly 600 km east of the main island. It is smaller, drier, hillier and far less developed than Mauritius, with a population living mainly from fishing, farming and small-scale tourism.
Port Mathurin on the north coast is the main town. The island is ringed by a wide lagoon, broadest in the south and east, with beaches such as Pointe Coton and Trou d’Argent on the east coast and the lagoon around Mourouk and Port Sud-Est in the south-east.
Rodrigues at a glance
- Main places
- Port Mathurin, Anse aux Anglais, Pointe Coton, Trou d’Argent, Mourouk
- Getting there
- By air to Plaine Corail, or by sea from Port Louis
- Suggested stay
- Four to seven nights
- Best time
- The cooler, drier months are best for walking
- Landscape
- Hilly interior, wide lagoon, islets and limestone
- Signature walk
- The east-coast path between Graviers and Pointe Coton
Where to stay and what to book
Places to stay
In this Rodrigues guide
Why visit Rodrigues
Rodrigues suits travellers who want to slow down: coastal walks, small guesthouses, a wide lagoon, a weekly market in Port Mathurin and a strong local identity. It feels very different from the main island.
It requires extra travel and planning. Flights and sea crossings are limited, accommodation is mainly small-scale, and the island’s quiet pace is the point rather than a drawback to be fixed.
Our Rodrigues destination guides: Port Mathurin.
Main towns and places
Port Mathurin
The island’s small capital and harbour on the north coast, with its market, services and nearby Anse aux Anglais.
Pointe Coton & East Coast
Beaches on the east coast including Pointe Coton, Saint François and Trou d’Argent, linked by coastal walking paths.
Mourouk & South
The south-east coast facing Rodrigues’s widest lagoon, around Mourouk and Port Sud-Est.
Walking, the lagoon and the islets
Paths along the east coast link a series of beaches and coves, and the hilly interior offers wide views over the lagoon. Boat trips from Port Mathurin and the south-east reach islets such as Île aux Cocos, a protected seabird site, while the south-east lagoon is popular for kitesurfing and boat outings.
Getting there and around
Rodrigues is reached by air from Mauritius to Sir Charles Gaëtan Duval Airport at Plaine Corail, or by sea from Port Louis. Check current schedules; both are limited and weather-dependent. There is no road or ferry connection to make on a whim.
On the island, taxis, hire cars and local buses connect Port Mathurin with the villages.
Best time to visit
The cooler months are best for walking. The summer months are hotter and include the cyclone season, which can disrupt flights and boats.
Destination guides
- Port Mathurin — Rodrigues’s small capital and harbour, the island’s main base.
Nearby regions
Port Louis & Central PlateauThe capital’s markets and heritage sites, and the cooler towns and sacred lake of the uplands.Explore Port Louis & Central Plateau 
South-East CoastHistoric Mahébourg and the Blue Bay lagoon, the closest coastal base to the international airport.Explore South-East Coast 
North CoastSheltered lagoon beaches, Grand Baie’s restaurants and boat trips to the northern islets.Explore North Coast Read next
- Where to stay on Rodrigues
- Mauritius itineraries
- Mauritius travel planning
- All Mauritius destinations
Official sources
Opening hours, entry fees, boat and transport schedules, access rules and park conditions change; check the official source before you travel.
- Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) — official visitor information
- Mauritius Meteorological Services — forecasts, warnings and cyclone bulletins
Plan your Rodrigues trip
Choose a base, then use the destination guides to plan your days.
Where to stay, and what to book
Read where to stay on Rodrigues to choose an area, then browse Rodrigues accommodation and Mauritius tours and activities.