Rodrigues Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Sea

The Mauritius Pride and the Mauritius Trochetia make the voyage from Port Louis to Rodrigues four times a month, docking at the passenger terminal on Rue Wolfert Harmensz in Port Mathurin. The outbound trip takes about 36 hours; the return to Mauritius 25 hours, depending on sea conditions. Return fares cost Rs 2450/4900 for a seat/cabin in the Mauritius Pride and Rs 3000 for a 2nd-class cabin in the Mauritius Trochetia. The boats are popular with locals, so book well ahead.

Information and tickets are available from travel agents or direct from the Mauritius Shipping Corporation. Contact Coraline Shipping Agency (217 2285; msc@coraline.intnet.mu; Nova Bldg, Military Rd, Port Louis) and the Mauritius Shipping Corporation (831 0640; www.mauritiusshipping.intnet.mu; Rue François Leguat, Port Mathurin). Tickets should be reconfirmed two days before departure.

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Air

The main Air Mauritius office (831 1632; fax 831 1959; ADS Bldg, Rue Max Lucchesi) is in Port Mathurin. There is also an office at the airport (832 7700), which is open for all arrivals and departures.

Air Mauritius has connections between Mauritius and Rod­rigues (Rs 5734 return, 1½ hours, two to four flights daily), while Catovair (831 0747; www.catovair.com; Patrico Bldg, Rue François Leguat) also operates on the route (Rs 5290 return, 1½ hours, two flights daily except Wednesday).

There is a luggage limit of 15kg per person, with excess charged at Rs 35 per kilo. When checking in at the Mauritius end, you may be asked how much you weigh. Don’t worry, you won’t have to go through the indignity of being weighed like a sack of potatoes – an approximation is fine.

All passengers are required to reconfirm their return tickets either immediately on arrival at Rodrigues (there is an Air Mauritius counter in the baggage hall) or at least three days before departure. It’s a good idea to phone the airline the day before you leave anyway, just to make sure there’s been no change to the schedule.

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