Port Sud-Est – Boat Trips and the Southern Lagoon

Port Sud-Est offers two different ways to explore the area from the water. Take a small boat to Hermitage and Cat Island on the south coast of Rodrigues. You can also explore the bays of the southern lagoon by sailboat from Port Sud-Est.

Boat Trips from Port Sud-Est

The destination is the main factor when choosing between the two trips: the small boat takes you to the two named islands, while the sailboat focuses on the bays of the southern lagoon. Both activities start in Port Sud-Est, but differ in boat and destination. If you are planning a trip, check the specific arrangements for your date in advance.

Rodrigues: Nature, Scenery and Culture

Rodrigues is 18 km long and 8 km wide. The Rodrigues region has ten marine protected areas. These measurements give a sense of the overall size of Rodrigues, while the protected areas add a marine perspective. Together, they place the destination’s size in the broader context of marine conservation.

On Rodrigues, the François Leguat Reserve offers guided tours through a valley with hundreds of giant tortoises, tropical birds and tens of thousands of native trees. For nature enthusiasts, the tour is a distinct highlight of the destination. Unlike the four museum galleries, the guided tour focuses on the valley and its wildlife and plant life.

The reserve lies in southwestern Rodrigues, in a limestone landscape with nine caves and sinkholes. Within the reserve, Grande Caverne features impressive limestone formations. Mont Limon on Rodrigues offers views of the geological landscape, agricultural terraces and the ocean. Together, these features offer different perspectives on Rodrigues: the limestone formations in the reserve and the views from Mont Limon.

The museum at the François Leguat Reserve gives visitors an insight into the natural history of Rodrigues through its four galleries. Sega Tambour, a traditional dance from Rodrigues, offers a cultural perspective and was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2017. The museum galleries and the dance tradition represent different aspects of the destination: natural history on the one hand and cultural heritage on the other.

When planning your trip, it helps to distinguish between the specific location and Rodrigues’ wider attractions. Port Sud-Est is associated with the two water-based trips described here; Rodrigues also offers scenery, natural history and culture. When searching for a hotel, first decide on your preferred destination, then choose which of these aspects matter most for your stay.

Discover more destinations: La Ferme, Grande Montagne, Petit Gabriel, Saint Gabriel, Terre Rouge.

Back to the main travel overview: Rodrigues.