Ile aux Cocos

Ile aux Cocos is a low sand island about a kilometre long in the western part of the Rodrigues lagoon, planted with casuarina and coconut, and it is a nature reserve because of its birds: thousands of pairs of noddies, fairy terns and sooty terns breed here, and the colonies are dense enough that the noise and movement are the dominant impression on landing. Visits require a permit and an official guide, who keeps groups on a fixed path along the shore so nesting areas are not disturbed. The boat crossing takes roughly forty minutes from the west of the island, and trips usually include lunch on the beach and time in the lagoon. It is the standard full-day excursion from Rodrigues.

What you actually see

• Tern and noddy colonies - thousands of breeding seabirds on the islet.
• The casuarina strip - the planted trees along the sand spine.
• The lagoon crossing - the shallow run out from the western shore.
• The beach - the sand where groups land and eat.

When to go

May to December for calmer crossings. Seabird breeding peaks in the southern summer, so numbers vary through the year. Trips depend on tide as well as weather, since the lagoon is very shallow.

Honest expectations

A permit and licensed guide are required and independent landing is not allowed. Movement on the island is restricted to a set route. Trips cancel with wind or tide. There is no shade beyond the trees and no facilities.

Nearby

Port Mathurin lies northeast; the western lagoon surrounds the islet.