Rodrigues is a volcanic island 619 km east of Mauritius, ringed by a lagoon roughly twice the size of the island itself. That gives enormous areas of shallow, flat, reef-protected water with almost no one riding it. The trade wind season runs June to November. There are no big resorts — accommodation is guesthouses and eco-lodges — which is exactly why it stays quiet.
The case for Rodrigues
Most kite destinations are a spot with a town attached. Rodrigues is the other way round: an island of about 44,000 people, surrounded by more lagoon than land, where the kiting happens to be excellent and almost nobody has noticed.
The lagoon is the whole story. Coral reef encircles the island and holds back the Indian Ocean swell, leaving shallow flat water dotted with more than a dozen islets. On a good day you can ride for a long time without crossing another kite’s path — which, if you have queued for a run in Tarifa or dodged forty kites in a Egyptian lagoon, is worth a great deal.
Rodrigues vs Le Morne
| Le Morne, Mauritius | Rodrigues | |
|---|---|---|
| Water | Flat lagoon plus reef breaks (One Eye) | Vast flat lagoon, very shallow in places |
| Crowds | Busy in peak season | Close to empty |
| Schools & rental | Full-service centres on the beach | Limited — book ahead, bring your own kit |
| Accommodation | 4–5★ resorts on the kite beach | Guesthouses and eco-lodges |
| Non-kiting partner | Spa, pool, restaurants, dive centre | Hiking, snorkelling, island life — but no resort facilities |
| Best for | Learners, mixed groups, wave riders | Independent riders who want space |
They are not really competitors. The common pattern is a week at Le Morne and a week in Rodrigues, which the 90-minute hop between the two makes straightforward.
When to go
The season broadly tracks Mauritius: June to November, with the most consistent trade winds from July through September. October is a good compromise of wind and warmth. Outside those months the wind is unreliable and the island becomes a walking-and-snorkelling destination rather than a kiting one.
Off the water
Rodrigues has embraced slow tourism deliberately. Île aux Cocos, an islet off the coast, is a seabird sanctuary; inland there are limestone caves at Caverne Patate, hiking with long views, and the François Leguat reserve with its giant tortoises. The market at Port Mathurin, the capital, is where the island actually meets — crafts, spices, produce. The food is Creole and genuinely good: octopus curry, pickled lime, tourte.
Who it isn’t for
Be honest with yourself about two things. First, if you are learning, the limited school infrastructure is a real constraint — learn at Le Morne or on a learn to kitesurf holiday and come here afterwards. Second, if you want a resort — room service, a spa, a choice of restaurants — Rodrigues does not have one, and no amount of enthusiasm changes that. Someone expecting a luxury kitesurf holiday will be happier at Le Morne or Bel Ombre.
What Rodrigues gives you instead is space, and a lot of it. See the full picture on our Rodrigues Island kitesurfing page, or the wider country on Mauritius kitesurfing holidays.
Thinking about Rodrigues?
It is a place worth getting the details right on — which months, which side of the island, whether to bring your own kit, and how to pair it with Le Morne. Tell us your dates and your level and we will put a plan together, with flights and the inter-island hop included.
Free, with no obligation and no booking fee. We’re a UK tour operator, trading since 2001 —
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Frequently asked questions
Where is Rodrigues Island?
Rodrigues sits about 619 km east of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean and is part of the Republic of Mauritius. It is reached by a roughly 90-minute flight from Mauritius, so most trips combine the two islands.
Is Rodrigues good for kitesurfing?
Yes. The island is ringed by a lagoon roughly twice the size of the land mass, protected by coral reef, which gives huge areas of shallow flat water with very few people on it. The trade wind season broadly matches Mauritius, June to November.
Is Rodrigues suitable for beginners?
The shallow lagoon is forgiving, but Rodrigues has far less infrastructure than Le Morne — fewer schools, less rental kit, no large resorts. Absolute beginners are usually better served learning at Le Morne first and coming to Rodrigues once they can ride independently.
Where do you stay in Rodrigues?
There are no large resorts or high-rise hotels. Accommodation is guesthouses and small eco-lodges, many family run, mostly around Port Mathurin and the coast. That is the trade-off: the island is quiet because it has not been developed.
Rodrigues or Le Morne — which should I pick?
Le Morne if you want a school on the beach, a choice of hotels, a reef break and a non-kiting partner kept happy. Rodrigues if you already ride independently and what you actually want is empty water, no crowds and a slower island.
