Ile Rodrigues, Indian Ocean

RODRIGUES, UNSPOILT, UNDISCOVERED & UNTAMED

Rodrigues is a tiny island about 600kms east of Mauritius in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The island is small , only 8 by 18kms with a population of 40 000 islanders.The island is entirely fringed by extensive coral reefs , a scuba diver's paradise. Rodrigues offers an escape to a world where life is unhurried and relaxed. Guests will be captivated by the beauty, charm, and tranquility of Rodrigues, all while enjoying the luxury and comfort of Cotton Bay Hotel.

Cotton Bay Hotel is situated on the Northeast coast of Rodrigues Island. The hotel is located at Pointe Coton, one of the finest beaches on the island. Secluded and peaceful, Cotton Bay Hotel is the perfect holiday destination for those wishing to get away from it all. Cotton Bay will charm you with its bungalow accommodation. All rooms overlook the white sandy beach of the Pointe Cotton Lagoon. The hotel consists of 40 superior rooms, six deluxe rooms and two private suites, which are located in a separate bungalow for extra privacy and convenience.

All hotel accommodation includes air-conditioning, a ceiling fan, mini bar, telephone, music system, TV and satellite channels, hairdryer, safe, and a private bathroom with a shower and toilet. Bathrooms in deluxe rooms and the private suites have a separate bath and shower. A laundry service and a boutique/gift shop are available for your convenience.

The large restaurant serves buffets and offers an à la carte menu. The half-board package includes American breakfast and dinner (with an open theme night buffet every day), while during the day guests can choose snacks or enjoy an à la carte lunch. The hotel has an entertainment programme during the day, and a cabaret and music in the evenings.

SCUBA DIVING RODRIGUES

Huge plate corals the size of coffee tables are interspersed with dense forests of staghorn and the occasional dome of brain coral rose above the rest of the reef atop coral columns ten feet high. The coral reef here in Rodrigues is unique in that it is self-seeding, as the island receives no zooplankton from elsewhere. Not only has this has led to a highly adaptive and self-contained ecosystem but the coral is able to rapidly spawn and grow fast rather than rely on coral eggs drifting in from elsewhere. In other words, the reef is able to rejuvenate at a rate far higher than the other islands of the Mascarene group, which explains why Mauritius’ corals are nowhere near has healthy as Rodrigues. The ancient Arab mariners marked Rodrigues down on their stylized maps as “Diva Harab” meaning “Desert Island” referring to its drier climate compared to the densely forested islands of Mauritius and Reunion, but the name is more apt when one thinks of the unique coral life here. The water washing over the island is like a desert devoid of life and minerals and the coral like many terrestrial desert creatures have learned to adapt and thrive in the sterile environment. Furthermore, thanks to the geographical isolation and distance of Rodrigues to other coral reefs the animals here are incommunicado from their brethren inhabiting the rest of the Indian Ocean and have, like the extinct terrestrial animals, evolved along different lines over the eons. Rodrigues thus supports a handful of endemic marine creatures – two unique species of coral, a damselfish, an angelfish, a differing version of a ghost pipefish and a number of crustaceans, making for one of the planet’s most idiosyncratic dive destinations.

7 NIGHT PACKAGE

approximate price per person sharing (October 2011)