OFFICE DE TOURISME DE RODRIGUES

A friendly team welcomes travelers in the center of Port Mathurin, in the heart of a renovated Creole wooden house that is well worth the detour. The wonderfully organized and decorated premises are a showcase for the island's main tourist attractions (activities, good restaurants, stores...) and local know-how. In addition to the traditional brochures and other useful information booklets, the house houses a permanent exhibition of the main Rodriguan handicrafts, culinary delights (honey, gingerbread, jars...) and the best books and CDs to be found on Rodrigues - available for consultation on site. You are then free to purchase any of these items and products from the market stalls, the stores in Port Mathurin and/or the various local workshops, depending on the advice given by the person on duty. At the back of the room, a few well-designed didactic boards retrace the history of the island in a few key stages... Bravo!

In the spirit of practicality, the Tourist Office also provides a schedule of the main events (festivals, parties, balls...) and tide tables for boat excursions. This information can also be found on the fantastic Discover Rodrigues application, which is packed with general and practical data (maps of the island, transport, climate, etc.) and a selection of good addresses classified by category (accommodation, restaurants, activities, popular spots, cultural sites, etc.). Download before you leave.

Discovery Rodrigues. Based in the offices of the Tourist Office, this government body was specifically created to develop, operate and manage two of Rodrigues' flagship sites: Cocos Island and Caverne Patate. Unless you purchase the excursion from a local tour operator who will take care of everything (this is the simplest option, and the one we recommend), you must go through this company to acquire an entry ticket and, above all, authorization to access the Caverne (visits at 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm) or Cocos Island (departure in the morning at variable times depending on the tide). Discovery Rodrigues can also provide you with a list of licensed local boatmen who visit Cocos Island every day for a fee of between Rs. 1,200 and Rs. 2,500 per person, depending on the comfort of the boat and the services offered.