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Symbol of Reunion, the Mafate circus is a natural fortress reserved for experienced walkers. - Jean-Claude Urbain

Reunion has a fiery temper. Emerging with a crash from the Indian Ocean three million years ago, this volcanic island is not one to be lulled by the warm breath of the trade winds. The steep and luxuriant sides which it raises in the tropic of Capricorn are more favorable to sporting activities than to lascivious laziness. From its tumultuous origins, this overseas department retains peaks over 3,000 meters above sea level, calderas with vertical ramparts and capricious craters, which regularly express their telluric power.

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To protect this unique universe, populated by many endemic species, a national park has been created on 42% of the territory of Reunion. And to find out, more than 1,000 kilometers of walking paths have been developed there. From a ride lasting a few hours to crossing several days, there is something for everyone. In particular, the island has three long-distance hiking trails, including the R1, elected favorite GR of the French in 2019.

In the Cilaos circus, the waterfalls invite hikers to catch their breath. - Jean-Claude Urbain

From one circus to another

In the “Hauts” of Réunion, three large natural circuses constitute an inexhaustible playground for walkers. From the "Bas", you can reach it by going up green gorges where the tumult of torrents resounds. Crossed by the famous GR R1, they are all inhabited, surrounded by vertiginous walls and slashed with deep gullies. Salazie, the most watered of the three, is the privileged domain of waterfalls and tropical forests. Cilaos, the most southerly, forms a huge basin where a delicious spa town nestles in the shade of the highest peaks of the island: Piton des Neiges and Gros Morne. Mafate, finally, is the most landlocked. The wildest too.

Refueling by helicopter, solar panels and the telephone network are the only concessions to modernity here. Deprived of any road access, this circus of approximately 100 square kilometers can only be discovered by the strength of the calves. Some 150 kilometers of trails connect a set of plateaux called islets, which reward the brave with breathtaking panoramas.

The sensational relief of Mafate is unveiled from the belvedere of MaĂŻdo. - Jean-Claude Urbain

A landscape in motion

On the southern part of Reunion, the permanent threat of the volcano commands respect. It is generally in the vast slope of the Grand Brûlé that lava flows from one of the most active volcanic systems on the planet have been pouring for hundreds of years. Piton de la Fournaise spits its magma approximately every eighteen months. These successive eruptions have drawn a dantesque, but easily accessible relief.

Remnant of the old caldera of the volcano, the Plaine des Sables projects visitors to another planet. This vast lunar expanse is the antechamber of the beast. The approach to its "Enclosure" can continue by car until Bellecombe. Beyond, it is only on foot that one feels the pulsations of the island beat. In the current caldera, the marked path, which climbs towards the cone of the Dolomieu peak, had been cut by the eruption of 2018. Its recent reopening allows hikers to evolve in a multicolored chaos of frozen rivers. But beware, the volcano heart is still fiery. Below, in the Grand Brûlé, the October 2019 flow still crackles in the rain…

The Plaine des Sables which precedes the Enclosure of the volcano is accessible by car. - Jean-Claude Urbain

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Go

The seasons in Reunion are reversed compared to the Metropolis. The southern summer, which stretches from November to April, is marked by heavy precipitation, high temperatures, and therefore, a cyclonic risk. Between May and October, the cooler and drier southern winter is the best time to hike.

Good plan

For visitors wishing to discover the island by walking, but without embarking on a circuit of several days or worrying about logistics, the Bureau Montagne RĂ©union offers day hikes, from 50 euros. Supervised by qualified guides, these outings are different every day: Monday, BĂ©louve, Tuesday, Mafate, Wednesday, La Fournaise, etc. All departures are guaranteed, even for a single participant.

Housing

The Diana Dea Lodge is hidden in a large park overlooking the east coast of Reunion. Refined and discreet, this charming address offers two walking trails allowing you to observe the deer that circulate freely in the property.

Isolated in a tropical setting, the Palm Hotel & Spa overlooks the photogenic Grande Anse bay. This 5-star establishment offers a dream balcony to admire the sunsets and the breath of the whales while sipping a cocktail.

Combining the optimal comfort of a residence and the personalized service of a high-end hotel, the Ness by D-Ocean is the ideal setting for a family stay. Its large rooms are all equipped with a kitchenette and its mirror-effect swimming pool opens onto the turquoise waters of the lagoon.

Lodges finally welcome hikers in the hamlets of the Mafate cirque. In Aurère, the Poinsetia is cheerfully kept by Madame Boyer, who delights her guests with traditional flavors every evening. Guaranteed atmosphere around its large tables at the appointed rum hour!

To do

The helicopter puts the subtleties of the relief of Reunion within the reach of the greatest number. Seven days a week, the Helilagon company offers different formulas, all unforgettable, from flying over Mafate in 15 minutes to that of all the essentials in 55 minutes. A free shuttle transports passengers from their accommodation to the base in Saint-Gilles, where the rotations run from 6.30 am to 8 pm. Our advice: favor an early hour, before cloud formation!

Information

All the natural and cultural assets of the island are to be discovered on the site of the Reunion Regional Tourism Committee.

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