The west of Rodrigues consists of the regions of La Ferme, Piments-Baie Topaze and Plaine Corail-La Fouche Corail, and the islets of Ile aux Cocos and Ile au Sable. All visitors will enter the country via the west of the island as the Sir Gaetan Duval airport is located here at Plaine Corail. Close to the airport in Plaine Corail-La Fouche Corail are the villages of Cascade Jean Louis, Citi Patate, Anse Quitor and Petite Butte.

Anse Quitor is a nature reserve that is famous for the François Leguat Giant Tortoise and Cave Reserve. This popular attraction is also close to another natural wonder, the amazing cave system of Caverne Patate in Citi Patate.
La Ferme with its villages of Baie du Nord and La Ferme Village contains various attractions such at the Tryst Kite-boarding School, as well as several accommodation choices like the Maison des Vacances gîte and Les Chalets guest house. Four kilometres from the West Coast, Ile aux Cocos is one of the most popular attractions in Rodrigues, a nature reserve where over 4,000 species of bird can be seen at any one time.

Anse Quitor

Anse Quitor on the south-western coast, just minutes away from the airport, is home to the François Leguat Giant Tortoise and Cave Reserve. Until the 18th century there were three species of tortoise to be found on the island, but over-exploitation for their meat for sea voyages decimated their population. Their remains have since been discovered on the limestone plains of the south and since then a nature reserve was established and tortoise species from Aldabra and Madagascar among others have been introduced. The 20-hectare nature reserve is an ongoing conservation project, that is endeavouring to re-introduce the shrubs and trees that once grew here and key animal species that were lost to recreate this once lost unique ecosystem. The Rodrigues Fruit Bat can also be found on this reserve, the only remaining endemic mammal on the island following the extinction of another species of fruit bat. Below the surface of the nature reserve is a network of eleven caves, the largest of which, the Grande Caverne is 500 metres long and is open to the public. Guided tours are informative and entertaining and the beautifully illuminated stalactites and stalagmites, formed over thousands of years are breath-taking.

Citi Patate

Citi Patate in the south-west of the island is home to the impressive cave system, Caverne Patate, now one of the more popular tourist attractions in Rodrigues.
Caverne Patate was formed as the result of tectonic plate movement and is located directly underneath a coral plain. The 600 metre long tunnel is filled with interesting stalagmite and stalactite formations, and on a guided tour, your guide will point out formations that resemble animals like the dodo, various buildings including Buckingham Palace and even Winston Churchill! Be aware that the tunnel can be slippery in wet weather so be sure to wear appropriate footwear. Be sure to watch for the spectacular white-tailed tropicbirds soaring overhead before you head into the caves.

Ile aux Cocos

Ile aux Cocos is one of the most popular attractions of Rodrigues. The islet is located 4 kilometres to the west of the mainland and emerges from the lagoon as a strip of sand where thousands of sea birds make their home. It is estimated that about 4500 birds can be seen on Ile Aux Cocos at any one time. The islet is around 1.5 kilometres long and 250 metres wide, and covered with coconut, casuarina trees and a large variety of prickly shrubs. Guided tours take you down the small path that runs down the centre of the island allowing you to discover the different species of birds. Some birds that you might encounter include white schooners, sooty terns, the virgin bird, and one of the most elegant and quite rate, the white tern. This protected nature reserve with stunning beaches offers a great excursion for nature lovers and bird watchers alike.