A French department located in the heart of the Indian Ocean, Reunion Island promises diverse and memorable experiences. Nearly 40% of its territory is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, with spectacular landscapes. It is also a destination of choice for hikers. With temperatures that remain mild throughout the year, a trip is also an opportunity to enjoy the most beautiful beaches, with translucent waters and lush vegetation. The rest of the time, you will discover the Reunionese culture, with its colonial architecture, its gastronomy and its way of life that invites you to relax and to make sweet discoveries.
Reunion, a nature destination par excellence
There is no doubt that all travelers who set foot on the island after a flight from Paris to Reunion Island dream of conquering its most beautiful natural and preserved landscapes. A first ascent leads to the foot of the master of the place: the Piton de la Fournaise. By taking the Dolomieu crater trail, you get closer to its center and its bubbling lair. Around, the lunar landscapes are simply sublime.
Reunion Island also has no less than three cirques to explore. Mafate is the most remote of them and reveals breathtaking volcanic and mountain landscapes. The circus of Salazie is a real green lung from where superb waterfalls gush out. The one called "Voile de la Mariée" (Bridal Veil) is impressive, with its 20 m high and 100 m wide. The camera is required! Finally, the cirque of Cilaos offers the opportunity to admire the highest peak of the Indian Ocean. It is the Piton des Neiges, which culminates at more than 3 000 m of altitude.
Later, as we get closer to the sea, we discover places that locals and visitors like to visit for their exceptional natural setting and the calm that reigns there. The Anse des Cascades is one of them. This bay located near Piton Sainte-Rose is the ideal place for a picnic, with the ocean, an abundant vegetation and waterfalls with crystal clear waters just a step away.
Reunion Island and marine pleasures
It is difficult to imagine a stay in Reunion Island without spending some time on its most beautiful beaches. The beach of l'Hermitage is distinguished by its friendly atmosphere, its white sand and its turquoise sea. Boucan Canot is a lively stretch of sand. It seduces those who wish to enjoy a game of beach volleyball, try their hand at surfing or taste some of the local specialties by the sea. For a change of atmosphere and to see a beautiful beach of volcanic sand, go to the beach of Etang-Salé, lined with philaos which are shelters to protect yourself from the sun and to rest with the noise of the waves in the background.
Reunion Island is also a paradise for nautical activities. Especially on the west coast. Swimming with dolphins in the bay of Saint-Paul, observing the sea bed in a transparent kayak, snorkeling, massage on a paddle set up as a floating table on the lagoon of the beach of La Saline... there are many ways to enjoy the beauty of the coastline.
Stroll in the most beautiful towns of Reunion Island
Reunion Island has many towns and harbor villages that are a must-see. In Saint-Denis, the rue de Paris is home to beautiful Creole huts from the 19th century. Monuments such as the Saint-Sauveur cathedral, the Noor-e-Islam mosque and the Kali Kampal temple testify to the great cultural diversity of the island. And then the parks and gardens like the Happy Valley are oases where you can relax. Saint-Pierre is another very nice city to visit, why not by Segway? We stop in front of beautiful colonial buildings like the old city hall and the old train station. In Saint-Paul, it is the market which is unmissable. It remains the landmark for gourmets wishing to try the Creole cuisine, with the proposal of generous recipes and the exhibition of multicolored foods.
At other times, why not go to some of the most beautiful villages of Reunion Island? At an altitude of 930 m, in the most humid part of the island, Hell-Bourg is a spa town labeled Most Beautiful Village in France. Its colorful colonial houses and its enchanting nature offer a bucolic atmosphere. Petite France is also one of the most charming villages of Reunion Island. Populated with geraniums, you can taste Creole dishes made of this plant known by all. Not far away is the Maïdo lookout, with as a reward one of the most incredible views on the cirque of Mafate.
