Hiking Rodrigues

This is one of the most beautiful hikes on the island, and one that is very popular with travelers, without detracting from the magical feeling of being alone in the world. Devote at least half a day or a full day to it, including a picnic - except for lunch in one of the seaside restaurants or huts.

The landscape alternates between immaculate, solitary dream beaches, sublime coves and rocky areas overlooking the ocean. First we pass the long, beautiful, wild beach of Graviers, where the sea is quite rough. Then we come to Anse Bouteille, with its superb sandbank overlooking a clear stretch of lagoon squeezed between two walls. The anse Philibert (or Grande Anse) we reach next is named after a former governor of the island, Philibert Marangon. Beware of the currents in this cove. What a gift when, from the top of a cliff, you come upon Trou d'Argent, THE most talked-about beach on Rodrigues: a stretch of cove sandwiched between two cliffs, ideal for swimming... The water is so clear that, even without a mask, you can see the bright colors of the fish. A little further north-east, between Baie de l'Est and Tasman, we cross a protected area replanted with filaos. The path then skirts the coast again, crossing the superb beaches of Saint-François, Anse Ally and Fumier, idyllic in their gentle solitude. Finally, you arrive at Pointe Coton, where, after a last swim in a deep lagoon, you can enjoy a drink at the Cotton Bay bar (if re-opened).

This easy walk reveals one of the most beautiful landscapes of the island: a vast plain covered with undulating grass, at the edge of a torn coast where the turquoise of the sea contrasts with the scorched yellow of the vegetation. Here and there, sea urchins dry in the sun, hanging from a stick in front of a fisherman's hut. Don't hesitate to go around Mapou Point for the view of Cocos Island and Sable Island, in the distance.

Going west from Anse aux Anglais and well after Port Mathurin, we cross beautiful coastal landscapes such as Baie aux Huîtres (so named because of its shape) and Baie Malgache where many mangroves have been planted to fight against erosion. We pass in front of the prison whose door remains open during the day to allow the penitentiaries (poor bastards having generally forced themselves on rum) to go gardening or fishing.

At the end of the beach of Anse aux Anglais, follow the path along the sea. It ends at Grand Baie, absolutely superb in its deserted immensity. The landscape of the inlet, bordered in the background by a lush coconut grove, is reminiscent of an oasis. At low tide, it is possible to continue on foot through the rocks to Baladirou beach, nestled in a cove. Alternatively, go by the coastal road where cars are quite rare.