What to see in Réunion: 10 must-sees
Discover what to see in Réunion: 10 must-see destinations, from Cirque de Cilaos to Piton de la Fournaise. Predominantly natural and city; each entry includes the best time to visit and the link to its official source.
Natural(7)
Cross the Cilaos loop, a road of tight hairpin bends, to descend into the volcanic cirque at 2,200 meters, surrounded by waterfalls and cloud forest. Hike the trails that climb between basalt walls and viewpoints over the amphitheater, with Piton des Neiges in the background. In the village, visit the workshops where weavers hand-embroider tapestries and Cilaos lace, a tradition more than a century old. Bring hiking boots and warm clothing: clouds cover the cirque almost every afternoon and the temperature drops quickly after sunset.
Take in Piton de la Fournaise, the largest active volcano in the Indian Ocean, rising 2,632 meters above Sainte-Rose. Hike its trails among smoking craters and solidified lava flows that shape an almost lunar landscape, and watch lava in motion when the volcano erupts—something that has happened 50 times since the 18th century. Get close to the geological formations that tell its eruptive history, discover the wildlife and flora adapted to this volcanic soil, and experience hiking in one of the most active environments on the planet.
Descend the Cilaos trails after spending the night at the mountain refuge, having reached the 3,070 meters of the highest peak in the Indian Ocean. The full ascent is usually spread over two or three days, with an overnight stay at the Caverne Dufour before the final stretch at dawn. From the summit—glacier-free but with eroded volcanic ridges—you can see Piton de la Fournaise, the cirques of Mafate and Salazie, and the blue line of the sea. Bring warm clothing: at the top, temperatures can approach freezing even in the austral summer.
Admire the waterfalls and cloud forest of the volcanic cirque of Mafate, accessible only on foot from La Possession. Hike the 2-day trails between ridges and valleys, sleep in the huts of the hilltop villages, and learn how the arrivants have lived in isolation here for 200 years. Take in the geological formations of the ancient volcano, its endemic wildlife and flora, and go hiking in one of Réunion's most remote corners.
Camp near the Maïdo viewpoint, 2,205 meters above Saint-Paul, and wake up facing the Mafate cirque silhouetted against the Piton de la Fournaise. From the rim, the view spans 180°: lava walls, waterfalls plunging between the islets and, in the distance, the Indian Ocean. Walk the trails among tamarinds and helichrysums, take in the volcano's geological formations and, with luck, spot the glow of active lava. Here the chill of altitude and the silence of the mountains replace the bustle of Réunion's coast.
Explore the slopes of Piton de la Fournaise in Sainte-Rose, where recent lava flows have left black terrain that looks like science fiction. Walk the trails across the solidified lava and watch how ferns and pioneer plants colonize the rock after each eruption. In Grand Brûlé you'll see geological formations alongside the local wildlife and flora, and the road the lava has cut off several times on its way to the ocean. Hiking and nature observation in the midst of active volcanism.
Follow the road that winds from Saint-Denis toward Salazie and you'll enter Réunion's greenest cirque, where cloud forest drapes the volcanic walls. Walk its trails among waterfalls, stop at the Bridal Veil waterfall, which drops 200 meters, and explore villages of Creole houses like Hell-Bourg. Learn the story of the runaway slaves who took refuge in these mountains and spot tree ferns, orchids and endemic birds around every bend.
City(2)
Explore Saint-Denis, the capital of Réunion, and step inside the Cathedral before haggling at the stalls of the Market, where spices and Creole goods are sold. Visit the History Museum, stroll through the botanical garden, and discover the Villa Créole, an example of local architecture. Take in the daily life of this French island in the Indian Ocean: sidewalk cafés, colonial buildings, and a cultural mosaic blending tradition and modernity in every neighborhood.
Explore Hell-Bourg, a former spa town in the Salazie cirque, where wooden Creole houses with lambrequins line streets amid gardens of hydrangeas and anthuriums. Stroll to the viewpoint to admire the cirque walls and the waterfalls tumbling from the peaks, visit the Maison Folio with its tropical garden, and learn the story of the arrivants, the settlers who made their home in these mountains. The village keeps the charm of the era when the thermal baths drew visitors up from the coast.
Beach(1)
Stroll along Saint-Pierre's volcanic black sand beach, where coconut palms lean over turquoise waters and local fishermen practice traditional fishing just off the shore. Swim among the nearby reefs, snorkel in the crystal-clear water, and stay to watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean, as the sea breeze cools the seafront promenade and the terraces of the fishing quarter begin to fill up.
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