Mauritius and Rodrigues: the Indian Ocean twin-centre you need to know about

Alex, one of our travel experts from our Kuoni Manchester, has just returned from an island-hopping trip through Mauritius and Rodrigues. We caught up with her to find out why this lesser-known pairing is the Indian Ocean twin-centre more travellers should have on their radar.

Alex, set the scene. What makes Mauritius and Rodrigues such a good twin-centre?

It works so well because you get two very different sides of the Indian Ocean in one trip. They don’t do the same job, and that’s the magic of it. Mauritius is the bells-and-whistles half of the holiday: stunning beaches, anything-you-want dining, and loads to do, from golf to wine tasting.

Rodrigues (pronounced Rod-reeg) is the island secret most people haven’t heard of, which is exactly why you should go. It’s not Mauritius in miniature. It’s like the Mauritius of 30 years ago: smaller, quieter, rustic and still moving to its own local beat.

How different are the islands?

Very. Mauritius is the full-colour Indian Ocean holiday. It’s known as a beach holiday, and fair enough, the beaches make a very good argument. But there’s plenty more going on here too. Your days can be as beachy, foodie, active or lazy as you want them to be.

Rodrigues isn’t trying to compete with Mauritius’s five-star scene, and that’s not a flaw. That’s the charm. You might have birds nosing around at breakfast, goats wandering near the beach, patchy wifi and even the odd power blip, so you need to go with a bit of an adventurous spirit. The cabanas are made from local wood, the days are outdoorsy, and everything feels more connected to the island rather than sealed away from it. It's less geared around tourists, but people are incredibly welcoming, which is a big part of why the island gets under your skin. 

What can you do in Mauritius?

The resorts are of course gorgeous, but Mauritius has so much going on beyond the beach. I’d absolutely get out for a day or two with a car and driver, because it’s compact, about an hour’s drive north to south, and really easy to explore.

Definitely spend an hour or two in Port Louis, the capital. Go for the street food, the waterfront, a mooch around the markets and a bit of souvenir shopping, then head on to Pamplemousses Botanical Garden for a shaded wander past giant water lilies, spice plants and rare palms.

Grand Bassin is well worth seeing too for a culture kick, with its Hindu temples and sacred lake. And make time for the water. You’re in the Indian Ocean, after all. Head out by boat to snorkel or dive the reefs, or go a little further offshore in search of dolphins, sperm whales and humpbacks in season.

Food is a big part of the island too. Mauritius has Creole, Indian, Chinese and French influences running through its cooking, so you’ll find curries, noodles, seafood, chilli, fresh fruit and little market snacks everywhere you go.

What can you do in Rodrigues?

I loved the half-day coastal walk, stopping at hidden beaches for a swim. You can do it with a guide (known as the 'C Trek') or go independently, as the trails are signposted. Ask the hotel for a picnic and make a morning of it.

The lagoon is beautiful too. It’s calm, warm and protected by a huge reef, so you can walk straight in for a swim.

I’d also go to the market. It’s not a staged market where everyone is trying to sell you something, but the local one where people are buying their produce. You’ll see homemade honey, fermented mango, jars of chilli and whatever has come in from the farms or the fishermen.

Food is simpler than Mauritius, so that’s worth knowing. Octopus is the speciality because they get it straight from the ocean, and a lot depends on local farmers, fishermen and island deliveries. The food I had was lovely, but the menus are not as extensive, so let the hotel know in advance if you have allergies or dietary requests.

How to combine Mauritius and Rodrigues: Alex’s winning itinerary

If I was building the ideal version of this trip, I’d make it a three-stop holiday: start with three nights at Constance Le Chaland, fly over to Rodrigues for three or four nights, then come back to Mauritius for a week at Constance Belle Mare Plage.

Le Chaland is a great first stop after the long-haul flight. It’s close to the airport, with a lovely beach, a fabulous pool and just enough going on while you settle into Mauritius time.

Then fly over to Rodrigues. I wouldn’t do a full week there, but three or four nights is perfect. Our go-to stays are C Rodrigues Mourouk, which has a bit more going on, and Constance Tekoma, which is more about beach time, walks and sea-facing rooms.

Then finish at Constance Belle Mare Plage and you get the big Mauritius pay-off: a long sweep of beach, plenty of room choice, a quiet pool if you want it, two championship golf courses and exceptional restaurants. Blue Penny Cellar is your big dress-up dinner. It’s set in the wine cellar, with wine flights and bistronomy-style dishes, so save it for later in the stay.

You can also combine Mauritius and Rodrigues with La Réunion, as there are flights between the two, so with good planning it can become more of an Indian Ocean triple-centre. But there isn’t one perfect route. It depends on your flights, your pace and what you want the holiday to feel like. That’s where we come in: we’ll shape it around you, not squeeze you into a template.

Why choose Constance Hotels for this combo?

Because you get the high-comfort hotel feeling without losing the character of each island. Food and wine is a huge part of the Constance experience, especially in Mauritius. The dining and wine pairings were outstanding, and you can tell the team are proud of what they do: the award-winning sommeliers passionately share their knowledge and talk you through what’s on the table.

Practicalities: how do you get there, and when is the best time to go?

International flights land in Mauritius, and Rodrigues is reached by a separate onward flight from there, which takes around an hour and a half. It’s an easy hop, but it’s still a hop, so I wouldn’t cram it in unless the timings make sense. My advice? Don’t build the trip backwards from the flights. Start with what you want from the holiday, then we’ll plan the route around that.

The best time to go is generally May to December, when Mauritius and Rodrigues are cooler, drier and less humid. July and August can be windy on the east coast, so beach lovers may prefer May, June, September or October. January to March is hotter and wetter, with more chance of tropical weather, but it can still work if you’re flexible.

Who will love this twin-centre?

Active couples, honeymooners who want more than beach and book, repeat Mauritius travellers and golfers who fancy something different around the fairways.

It can work really well for families too, as long as you keep Rodrigues to three or four nights. It’s a quiet island, so the hotel matters. C Rodrigues Mourouk is the stronger pick if you want more going on, with kite surfing and a great kids’ club for younger children and teenagers.

For me, it’s for travellers who want Mauritius for the beach days and all those lovely little luxuries close to hand, then Rodrigues for a little adventure somewhere nature runs the show. It’s a brilliant mix, and you’ll come home with better stories because of it.

The information is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication.