Rodrigues Island, 18 kilometres long by 8 kilometres wide, is set in the monochrome blue of a typical postcard scene, representing some 200 square kilometres of lagoon. Lying 560 kilometres east of Mauritius, Rodrigues has frozen into the role of the Cinderella of the Mascarenes. Everything differentiates Rodrigues from her older sister, Mauritius. No green sugar cane fields to be found here. No hilltops shrouded in clouds. No flame trees. Instead, rocky hillsides dressed in yellow straw in coconut and casuarina trees and in pink flowered brushes called ‘vieilles filles’ (spinsters).

The coral reef is as far away at 7 kilometres in some parts. The white sand beaches, the little turquoise blue creeks and the small islands all around seem to spring from the Robinson Crusoe story. Distances may seem to be at a stone throw but its mountainous and varied landscape and the expanse of the lagoon speckled with desert islets, reveal a whole new world waiting to be discovered.

CURRENCY:	Mauritian Rupee
TIME DIFFERENCE:	GMT+4
VISA:	None Required for Irish Passport holders
VACCINATIONS:	No compulsory vaccinations required.

Rodrigues

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Sun hrs	9	9	7	7	6	6	7	7	7	8	9	8
Rain mm	208	203	195	115	90	60	62	66	35	42	40	125
Temp C	31	30	27	26	25	25	25	25	27	28	30	31