Port Mathurin

Port Mathurin is the capital and only town of Rodrigues, a grid of low streets on the north coast with a few thousand residents, wooden and concrete buildings, the regional assembly, a small harbour where the supply ship docks, and very little traffic. For most of the week it is quiet to the point of stillness. On Saturday morning the market takes over the centre: vegetables from the interior smallholdings, limes, chillies, honey, salted and fresh fish, octopus, baskets woven from vacoas leaves and cakes, with sellers coming in from across the island and the whole thing over by about eleven. That market is the reason to plan a stay around a Saturday.

What you actually see

• The Saturday market - the weekly market that fills the town centre.
• The harbour - the small port where the supply ship berths.
• Low town streets - the wooden and concrete buildings of the centre.
• Vacoas basketry - the woven work sold at the market stalls.

When to go

May to December for the weather. Saturday morning is the market, ending around eleven; the rest of the week the town is very quiet. Sundays close almost everything, including restaurants.

Honest expectations

Outside Saturday morning there is little happening and few places open. Restaurant and shop hours are short and Sunday closure is near total. Accommodation in town is basic. The harbour area is working rather than scenic.

Nearby

The airport lies east; Grande Montagne reserve is in the interior.