Rodrigues is Mauritius as it was 50 years ago — no traffic lights, no high-rises, just a turquoise lagoon twice the size of the island itself, giant tortoises roaming a restored valley, and women wading at low tide to spear octopus.
Most cruise ships anchor in the lagoon and tender passengers to Port Mathurin's jetty — a 10-15 minute ride. The town is flat and very easy to navigate on foot.
💡 Pro move: If your ship calls on a Sunday, most Port Mathurin shops and the market will be closed. Pre-book a taxi or ship excursion, as the Tortoise Reserve and beaches remain open.
Rodrigues has a single quay at Port Mathurin primarily used by cargo and inter-island ferries; nearly all cruise ships tender passengers ashore.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Most cruise lines (MSC, Costa, etc.) | Port Mathurin anchorage📍 | Tendered |
| Small expedition vessels | Port Mathurin quay📍 | Docked |
Rodrigues rewards those who venture beyond the port — a tortoise reserve, cave systems, and remote beaches that require wheels to reach.
Walk among hundreds of free-roaming Aldabra giant tortoises in a beautifully restored valley at Anse Quitor, then take a guided tour of the Grande Caverne limestone cave. The must-do on the island.
Find tortoise reserve tours →An extensive limestone cave (over 1 km of passages) filled with stalactites and stalagmites; guided tours cover roughly 700 metres. Local guides lead you through by flashlight — a genuine adventure for a very small price.
Find cave tour options →Saint François is the most accessible white-sand beach on the east coast and the start of a 30-45 minute coastal hike to Trou d'Argent — one of the most beautiful secluded coves in the Indian Ocean.
Find beach day tours →A protected flat sandy island in the lagoon packed with thousands of noddy and fairy terns. Access is by local boat only, typically bundled with a Creole seafood lunch on the beach.
Find Île aux Cocos boat tours →The island's bazar is a short walk from the jetty and sells hand-woven leaf baskets, chili pastes, and jarred Rodrigues lemons. Liveliest on Saturday mornings but worth a browse any day.
Explore Port Mathurin independently →The island's highest point (398 m) offers a 360-degree panorama of Rodrigues and its turquoise lagoon. Taxi to the trailhead, then a short 10-minute walk to the summit.
Find island tour packages →Port Mathurin is tiny and flat — easy to cover on foot in under an hour, with the market, colonial streets, and waterfront all close together.
From the jetty, walk to the Port Mathurin market (5 min), browse the colonial main street with its colourful wooden buildings, then loop back along the waterfront. Flat, compact, and fully walkable.
Climate normals for Rodrigues Island, Rodrigues, Mauritius (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 80°F / 27°C | 78°F / 26°C | 15 | 5:20 AM | 6:31 PM |
| Feb | 81°F / 27°C | 78°F / 26°C | 16 | 5:38 AM | 6:22 PM |
| Mar | 81°F / 27°C | 78°F / 26°C | 18 | 5:48 AM | 6:01 PM |
| Apr | 80°F / 27°C | 77°F / 25°C | 16 | 5:57 AM | 5:35 PM |
| May | 78°F / 26°C | 75°F / 24°C | 12 | 6:07 AM | 5:17 PM |
| Jun | 75°F / 24°C | 73°F / 23°C | 11 | 6:18 AM | 5:15 PM |
| Jul | 74°F / 23°C | 71°F / 22°C | 14 | 6:21 AM | 5:23 PM |
| Aug | 73°F / 23°C | 70°F / 21°C | 10 | 6:07 AM | 5:33 PM |
| Sep | 73°F / 23°C | 71°F / 22°C | 6 | 5:42 AM | 5:40 PM |
| Oct | 74°F / 23°C | 72°F / 22°C | 6 | 5:16 AM | 5:48 PM |
| Nov | 77°F / 25°C | 74°F / 23°C | 8 | 4:59 AM | 6:02 PM |
| Dec | 79°F / 26°C | 76°F / 24°C | 12 | 5:02 AM | 6:20 PM |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)