Things to see and do South

Located in the heart of the famous Isautier distillery created in 1845, the Saga of Rum is the only museum dedicated to rum in Reunion Island. Thanks to exhibition spaces and short films, you can discover the history and the successive stages of rum production. From elevated walkways, one can observe machines, stills and distillation columns. The visit ends at the "Dépôt de Rhum", a store fitted out as a Creole village where you can find all the ranges of rums and liqueurs, as well as local products from Reunion Island.

This 18th century estate, classified as a historical monument, breathes the history of coffee growing in Bourbon. It consists of a mansion with a huge courtyard. It includes a museum dedicated to furniture, textiles, porcelain and other art objects from Reunion and the Indian Ocean. In the store, you can buy beautifully crafted products in limited series and made with inspiration from the museum's works.

This bow-shaped basalt promontory, pierced by a cave, is a spectacular stopover. The waves crash so violently that the cliff trembles, the atmosphere disturbed by the sea spray becomes mystical. The place is pleasant and wild, bordered by a forest of vacoas, ideal for a picnic or a meal in one of the restaurants. In August, the festival of the vacoa and the palm tree takes place on the site. Finally you will surely meet here a lady, well known to the locals, who harasses passers-by to distract them from the devil! You can even find her on YouTube!

Discover the history of Reunion Island through its flora, from 1715 to the present day. Vanilla, vetiver, perfume plants, ornamental plants, creepers, bamboo, reconstitution of endemic forest... More than 900 varieties are gathered in this small paradise. The guides are as passionate as they are talkative. And what about coffee? 1 hectare is devoted to it, including the star: pointed Bourbon! You can taste it at the coffee bar, located in the craft shop, at attractive prices. The refreshment bar also prepares local home-made pastries. It is one of the most beautiful gardens in the south. Exciting visit.

At 11 km from Les Makes, this breathtaking view of the Cilaos circus is a must. The access is equipped for people with reduced mobility. It is best to arrive at dawn and before 9am at the latest to enjoy the show. Count 1 hour drive from Les Bas. The winding D20 is signposted from Saint-Louis. From June to December, you will come across trailers overflowing with cane, pulled by tractors or, more rarely, by mocha oxen. It is also the starting point for hikes, including a 3.5-hour hike offering sumptuous panoramas.

Wild, grandiose and atypical, this black sand beach will surely mark you. Its beauty is only equalled by the danger it can represent. Outside the swimming areas, the risk of sharks is real. Surfing is now forbidden. The currents are also very powerful. Fortunately, nets are installed with a MNS station and allow to refresh and play in the waves. On the beach, the sand can be very hot, especially in summer! Keep a close eye on your swarm and prefer to put your towel in the shade of the filaos.

It is one of the largest in the Indian Ocean and can accommodate up to 1,800 worshippers. Inaugurated in 1975, a Sunni Islam of Hanafite rite is practiced there. You will admire in particular the wouzou khana, the place of purification: hands, face, arms and feet are washed up to the ankles. White coats await on the first floor for those who have not hidden their knees and shoulders. Green dominates the floor, the colour of paradise, while the rich woods of the walls give this beautiful building an atmosphere of solemn meditation.

In the ^18th century, the area was invaded by a salt marsh that prevented cultivation. In 1873, a certain Robert proposed using filaos to fix the sand in the dunes. Over a million were planted. Today, the forest (922 ha) is divided into sections: the first to stabilize the dunes, the second for biological conservation, the third for firewood production and the fourth, 10 km long, for public use. The forest has become a leisure paradise: hiking, horseback riding, cycling (recumbent, elliptical), quad biking, segway, fitness trail...

Traced in an abandoned tea forest for more than 40 years, at the foot of the mountains, this vegetal labyrinth winds for nearly 700 m, without counting its dead ends and numerous side roads. You can discover all the stages of tea making on the only plantation in France! According to Jojo Guichard, owner of the site, it is capable of blossoming the five senses like the petals of the tea flower. For the sight, the exceptional site of Grand-Coude; for the hearing, the songs of endemic birds (zoiseau white, zoiseau glasses, zoiseau the Virgin, tec-tec...); for the touch, the velvety of the tree ferns and the diversity of textures of the tree trunks; for the smell, the suave perfume of the tea flower, of the geranium, of the galabert, or still the fresh exhalations of the humus As for the taste, it is after the visit that it will be satisfied by a pleasant cup of tea! Green or white tea, natural or scented with local essences. Sensual and bucolic, the stroll is embellished with places to stop: a small log cabin in the heart of the trail, themed games. A great idea for a walk in the heart of nature in the South, for young and old. Guided tours of about 1 hour are offered upon reservation at 10am or 2pm. A sales area La Maison du thé, with tea of course, but also tea syrup, tea jelly, essential oils, etc. You can also find on the website the different points of sale of their products in the island.

Founded by the renowned Aimé Rivière aka Mémé, this charming boutique offers delicious local products to take home, including their famous turmeric, a spice with recognized medicinal and gustatory qualities here in powder, syrup, jam, vinegar or punch. They also organize half-day tours of the garden, the farm and the spice cave, ending with a Creole meal. An authentic stopover, as rich in color as it is in flavor! Products also available for international delivery on the website.

This southeastern cape of the island offers a spectacular panorama. The contrast between the black of the coastline, the blue of the ocean, the white of the waves and the green of the flora which is taking back its rights, with vacoas several metres high, is striking. Panels explaining the origins of the 1986 flow show the horseshoe shape of the volcanic area and invite visitors to walk on the 30 hectares that have extended the tip of the Table. From the Puits-des-Anglais car park, one can walk on the lava platform and join the RN2.

Juanito Boyer is a "marmaille la cours", you can hear a local child, who knows Saint-Philippe and its lava tunnels like the back of his hand. A mountain guide, he has been surveying these tunnels for several years and will make you discover exceptional sites. Bring long clothes (ideally jeans), closed shoes and water. Safety equipment is provided (gloves, helmet, headgear, knee pads). Don't forget to bring your camera to immortalize the magic of these dark, improbably shaped bowels.

Starting from the Vincendo marine, here is a pleasant path offering superb panoramas on the wild coast, where the Indian Ocean comes to throw itself on the volcanic rock covered with Durand potatoes. Easy to access, the short walk will lead you to the Yellow Cape, a cliff of about fifty meters high, of ochre color. This geological curiosity is a rare natural wonder in Reunion Island. Its color comes from lava called hyaloclastite. A very steep path leads down to the foot of the cape, but be careful!

This oratory owes its popularity to a "miracle". On May 27, 1940, an old lady is said to have seen the statue of the Virgin move there. Since then it has been a place of recollection and prayer. Always full of flowers, this cave testifies to the attachment that many Reunionese have to the Virgin Mary's cult. The configuration of the site presents the originality of offering two devotions side by side. The grotto of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes is in fact backed by a Holy Expedition.

The tourist office welcomes you to discover, in the most beautiful and complete way possible, the "domaine des laves". At the gates of the Grand Brûlé, the site of the volcanic flows offers a wild environment, made of tropical rainforests, basaltic rocks and an untamed coastline. Here you will find all the information you need about accommodation, restaurants, activities, hiking trails and guided tours in and around the commune.

Also known as the fishermen's quarter, Terre Sainte is a small village in the heart of the city, an authentic place with a unique atmosphere. It's a good place to stroll along the pleasant waterfront, where you can see old Creole huts, lontan shops, huge banyan trees, as well as the works of local street artists such as Jace (the father of the famous Gouzou). Don't hesitate to get lost in its small streets or to put your towel on the peaceful white sandy cove.

Situated at the entrance of the village, there is a good chance that you will take a picture of this pretty Creole hut and its flowery garden. It is also for the very professional advice and the warm welcome that we advise you to stop there. In addition to the traditional missions of booking accommodation and restaurants, the office guides visitors on walks in the village and the Dimitile paths. Guided tours are also available.