Mauritius

Rodrigues

Ninety minutes' flight east of Mauritius, Rodrigues is what its big sister was fifty years ago: a volcanic speck inside a lagoon twice the island's size, where octopus curry is the national dish and Saturday's Port Mathurin market is the week's main event.

Best forWellness & slow travel · Couples · Walkers & hikers
Ideal stay4–5 nights
Approx. flying time~22h 30m from Los Angeles

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Rodrigues, Mauritius Open in Google Maps Powered by Geoapify · © OpenStreetMap contributors · © OpenMapTiles

CurrencyMURMauritian rupee
LanguageEnglish, French and Mauritian Creole
Local time13:283h ahead of the UK
PlugsType C / GUK plugs fit
Drive on theLeftSame as the UK
Dialling code+230

Why go

The island is small, hilly and almost entirely undeveloped, with a road system that runs out quickly and a lagoon several times its own size. Fishing and small farms still shape daily life, the Creole spoken here has its own accent, and evenings are dark and quiet. Days go on cliff walks, boat trips out to the sandbanks and long lunches that nobody hurries.

Most people arrive on the short flight from Mauritius and stay four or five nights, often tacked onto a longer Mauritian holiday. A ship runs as well, though it is slow and not always comfortable. May to November is cooler, drier and windier, which suits kitesurfers, and cyclone risk runs from January to March. Anyone wanting resorts, spas and nightlife will be disappointed here.

Ideal stay: 4–5 nights
The vibe: Remote, Creole, unhurried, undeveloped

From our guides

There are no resorts to speak of — family-run guesthouses do the hosting. Walk the coastal path to Trou d'Argent beach, routinely rated the Indian Ocean's loveliest and reliably deserted.

Featured in Ten quiet tropical islands nobody talks about yet

Things to do

Ile aux Cocos

A sandbar islet in the western lagoon that is a breeding ground for terns and noddies. Visits are permitted only with a licensed boatman, usually as a half day.
Francois Leguat Reserve

A restored limestone valley of giant tortoises and endemic plants, with caves beneath it. Named after the Huguenot who described the island in the 1690s.
Caverne Patate

A guided walk through a long limestone cave of stalactites, where bones of the extinct solitaire bird were found. Cool, damp and a good option at midday.
Mont Limon

The island's high point, at just under 400 metres, reached by road and a short climb. The whole lagoon and the line of the reef lay out below.
Kitesurfing at Anse Mourouk

Steady south-east trade winds and a shallow, protected lagoon make the south coast a serious kite destination between roughly May and November.
Grande Montagne reserve

Native forest replanted along the island's ridge, with guided walks that turn up the Rodrigues fody and warbler, two birds found nowhere else on earth.

Getting there

Fly to
Port Mathurin (RRG)

Nearest airport to Rodrigues, about 10km away as the crow flies.
Then
To Port Mathurin

Rodrigues (RRG) at Plaine Corail is about 40 minutes by road from Port Mathurin, and the flight over from Mauritius takes around an hour and a half.
On the ground
Getting around

Buses and taxis link Port Mathurin with the villages, guesthouses usually arrange transfers, and Trou d'Argent is reached on foot along the coastal path from Saint Francois.

Public transport: Local buses reach most villages during the day but stop early in the evening, so plan dinners accordingly.

Flights

Los Angeles Rodrigues, Mauritius

Flying from

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Roughly 22h 30m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.

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Where to stay

Family run guesthouses and chambres d'hotes serving home cooked octopus and sausages, plus two or three small hotels. There are no resorts, no chains and no nightlife to book around.

Best base overall
Port Mathurin

The island's only town, with the Saturday market, the bus network, banks and a cluster of guesthouses. It is workaday rather than scenic, and it empties by early evening.
Find stays in Port Mathurin
Best for couples
Pointe Coton

The north east corner, with the island's best swimming beach and a few small hotels facing it. Dinner means eating where you sleep, as nothing else is within walking distance.
Find stays in Pointe Coton
Best with children
Mourouk

A sheltered lagoon on the south coast, warm, shallow and good for kitesurfing lessons when the wind gets up. Remote enough that you will want a hire car.
Find stays in Mourouk
Quietest
Graviers

A scatter of houses on the wild east coast, the starting point for the walk to Trou d'Argent. Table d'hote dinners at the guesthouse, no shops, no lights.
Find stays in Graviers

Worth knowing before you book: The island has few rooms, so the December to January and European summer peaks sell out well ahead. Most guesthouses include breakfast and dinner, and many prefer cash.

Search everything else in Port Mathurin by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.

Or see everything in Port Mathurin

Good to know

Getting there: Flights from Mauritius take about ninety minutes on small aircraft with strict luggage limits. Book early, because seats are genuinely limited.
Cash or card: The Mauritian rupee is used. Cash is essential outside Port Mathurin, and card acceptance is patchy even in guesthouses.
Timing: Saturday morning is market day and the busiest moment of the week. Sundays are very quiet and many places close entirely.
Pack this: Reef shoes, sun protection and a torch for unlit lanes at night. Bring anything specific you need, as shops carry the basics only.
Etiquette: Half board at a guesthouse is the norm and the food is the point. Tell your hosts in the morning if you would like octopus for dinner.