Remote Paradise of Rodrigues, Mauritius

Mauritius is fast catching the imagination of the tourists worldwide and the reason is the number of options it provides them with. Ranging from the hip lifestyle of its capital and the party scene of the beaches of its mainland to the remote paradises of its tiny islands, Mauritius has everything one can ask for a relaxing or an enjoyable vacation. Staying on its mainland has its own advantages like better infrastructure and facilities but if you are looking for an escape from your daily routine life and the questions like when your boss will offer you a promotion or will you be able to buy your own house by next year or if the world will end in 2012, then the best place to head to will be its tiny and remote volcanic island of Rodrigues.

Located 500 km northeast of the mainland Rodrigues has a pretty different look and feel than the rest of the country, as Mauritius has more of an Indian colour and flavour to it while Rodrigues with most of its 37,000 residents being the descendants of the free African slaves has an African feel to it. The only problem will be getting to this remote island, first is how to get to Mauritius. Mauritius has its only major international airport in its capital so you will have to take a cheap flight to Mauritius and make the rest of the journey by the ferries that leave daily for Rodrigues and other small islands of the country.

The island has maintained itself as an autonomous region and its residents are quite proud of their heritage which they jealously protect. You will find many resorts and hotels on the western side of the island which is also a place which has the most beautiful beaches of the island. Keep one thing in mind though the hotels in the island expect you to bargain so don’t agree to the first price they quote, search a little and the beach is beautiful so don’t mind taking a walk and talking to different hotels in the area before deciding where to stay.

Now once you get settled the very first attraction is the white sandy beach just outside your hotel and the coral reefs of the water close to it. You can just lie on its soft sand and get some sun rays into your body or swim in its turquoise waters. You can always rent the scuba diving kit from your resort and also a boat for taking you to the deep sea where you can take a dive and observe the exotic marine life of the Indian Ocean. If you do not have the license or the skills for scuba diving then you can snorkel in the waters close to the shoreline which is also an awesome experience. Rodrigues is different than rest of Mauritius and so is its cuisine which has more of a Swahili touch to it, so don’t miss out on the restaurants of the town of Port Mathurin which provides a great dining experience.