Réunion Island

Antoine's view

As soon as one talks about the Réunion island, there is always someone to say "There are no beaches in the Réunion..."

I systematically reject this claim by explaining that one does find a few kilometers of magnificent beaches on the west coast around Saint Gilles, well worth that of other islands of the Indian Ocean.

However, Réunion is far more than just a few beaches: landscapes are breathtaking with mountains, craters, volcanoes and barren landscapes giving the impression we are on another planet (science-fiction movies have been filmed there). There are lush forests where thousands of trees, flowers and plants species grow and enable to extract a rich variety of spices.

Besides the city, where you will find many historical treasures and the west coast appreciated by tourists, one should not miss penetrating the heart of the island, and especially visiting the "circuses". There, you will not find any clowns, trapeze artists, nor tamers, but three immense circular walls surrounded by high and abrupt mountains where impressive waterfalls tumble down together with lush vegetation varying from aridness to luxuriance with a few magnificent primary forests offering many hiking possibilities.

An original way of discovering the island of Réunion is to go on a helicopter ride. You can choose among rides of a few minutes up to an hours long to admire craters, circuses and fabulous waterfalls that are difficult to reach otherwise.
Don't miss the " Wild South ", where the heavy swell explodes in showers of foam on torn seashores, whose disrupted shore still shelters barely a few tiny fishing havens.

Here, you will see the first testimony of volcano activity, the lava flow from a recent eruption, thereby increasing the surface of the island.
Climbing through the cafres plain to the Bellecombe path, you will discover the lord of the lords: the Fournaise volcano. There, you will truly feel like you are on another planet. Take a good pair of shoes, a hat and some water and you will climb the steep path of the volcano, discovering a landscape which will bring you back to the origins of the world.