Discover Port Sud-Est

Port Sud-Est is a starting point for experiences on the water. From here, you can take a small boat to the islands of Hermitage and Cat Island off the south coast of Rodrigues. A sailing boat lets you explore the bays of the southern lagoon. These two activities give the place a distinctive appeal for travellers who want to include boating experiences in their holiday plans.

Boat trips with different destinations

A trip by small boat takes you to two named islands: Hermitage and Cat Island. Sailing, by contrast, is about exploring the bays of the southern lagoon. The two options therefore differ in focus: a trip to specific destinations or exploring a lagoon landscape. If you are planning together, this comparison can help you talk about which kind of excursion appeals to you most.

This connection to the water may also play a role in choosing where to stay. If you want to include the trips described and sailing in your plans, you can consider Port Sud-Est as a starting point for these activities. When looking for a holiday rental, this offers a specific point of reference, without implying anything about the facilities or features of individual properties.

Rodrigues: nature and landscape

The wider destination of Rodrigues also offers other nature and landscape themes. Rodrigues is 18 km long and 8 km wide. In the southwest of Rodrigues lies the François Leguat Reserve, set in a limestone landscape with nine caves and sinkholes. The landscape thus combines a geological feature with a clearly defined natural area.

The François Leguat Reserve offers guided tours through a valley with hundreds of giant tortoises, tropical birds and tens of thousands of native trees. The tour therefore takes visitors through a landscape where both wildlife and plant life are at the heart of the experience. For visitors interested in nature, the reserve offers a distinct theme within the wider destination of Rodrigues.

The Grande Caverne in the reserve also features impressive limestone formations. The François Leguat Reserve museum complements this geological perspective with natural history: its four galleries give visitors an insight into the natural history of Rodrigues. The cave landscape and the museum thus offer two different ways to explore the area: one through geology, the other through the history of nature.

Views and culture on Rodrigues

Mont Limon offers views of Rodrigues’ geological relief, agricultural terraces and the ocean. The Rodrigues region is also home to ten marine protected areas. Together, these themes give an impression of the diversity of nature and landscape across the wider destination, without attributing them to Port Sud-Est.

Rodrigues’ culture also offers a distinct avenue for discovery: Sega Tambour is a traditional dance from Rodrigues and was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2017. Nature, landscape and living tradition thus offer different ways to explore Rodrigues.

Interests as a guide to choosing where to stay

When choosing a holiday rental in Port Sud-Est, you can start by considering what role the local boating activities will play in your plans. Trips to Hermitage and Cat Island and exploring the southern lagoon under sail offer two different focuses. If you also want to include nature, geology or culture, the themes mentioned are part of the wider destination of Rodrigues. This can help you tailor your search to the experiences that matter for your trip.

Discover more destinations

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

Back to the main travel overview: Rodrigues.