Never heard of Rodrigues?

Rodrigues in the Indian Ocean is a little-visited island with unspoilt nature, warm hospitality and a culture rich in tradition. White sandy beaches and picturesque mountain ranges characterise the 108 square kilometre neighbouring island of Mauritius. The Constance Hotels, with nine hotels in Mauritius, Madagascar, the Seychelles and the Maldives, now also has two hotels on Rodrigues.

An hour and a half's flight from Mauritius, an idyllic island awaits Rodrigues guests. Travellers will look in vain for large hotel bunkers or shopping centres here. The sleepy island is characterised by a slow pace of life and much preserved tradition.

Alongside Mauritius and Réunion, Rodrigues is the smallest Mascarene island, which was formed around 1.5 million years ago by volcanic activity and is now located just under 560 kilometres east of Mauritius. It is home to around 43,000 people - the majority of whom live in the capital Port Mathurin.

Fresh fish, traditional curries

As you stroll through the market, you can smell delicious aromas, including fresh tropical fruit. The island owes its name to the Portuguese navigator Diego Rodrigues, who discovered it in 1528. Although English is the official language and French, Hindi and Urdu are also widely spoken, the majority of the population on Rodrigues speaks Creole.

Rodrigues also has a lot to offer in terms of cuisine: European, Chinese, Creole and Indian influences come together to create flavourful dishes. Characterised by plenty of fresh fish and seafood, traditional curries are served here, such as the Ourite curry with squid, which is fished out of the local lagoons at low tide. Many baked goods that are still popular today, such as baguettes and croissants, date back to the French colonial era.

The island's most famous beach with turquoise-green sea and white sand is located in a bay between two steep cliffs where goats climb around. While the bay, like the island itself, is reminiscent of a hidden treasure - not easy to find, but beautiful - it can be reached on foot from Graviers, Pointe Canon, Saint François and is a 15-minute walk from Constance Tekoma Lodge.

Nestled in a tropical garden, the lodge offers a fantastic view of the ocean. 32 bungalows with patios and free-standing bathtubs invite you to relax. A gastronomic oasis that combines tradition with local ingredients is the hotel's own restaurant «1528», whose name is a tribute to the discovery of Rodrigues by Diego Rodrigues in 1528. The evening is rounded off with a drink at the gin bar.

Those who prefer to ride the waves will find the best spots for kitesurfing and windsurfing in the south-east of the island, on Mourouk Beach. The safe waters of the beautiful lagoon and frequent trade winds offer the perfect opportunity for adrenaline fans. Adventure and sports enthusiasts who like to fulfil their inner child can stay at the recently renovated C Rodrigues - Mourouk.

Here, all 65 rooms and two villas have a terrace or balcony where you can relax after a kite session, aqua gym or yoga class with a panoramic view of the ocean. The adventure programme is complemented by the so-called «Cignatures» such as sunset campfires on the beach, «C Trek», guided group hikes on the surrounding mountains, and «Crustacea», snorkelling excursions into the crystal-clear water. If you would like to pursue a long-standing local tradition independently of the hotel, accompany a local fisherman fishing. Initially practised for sustenance, fishing on Rodrigues now also has a sporting aspect.