Things to see and do High Plains - Volcano

Opened in 1992, then rehabilitated from 2011 to 2014, this science museum is a modern, family-oriented and fun discovery space. Inside, models, interactive terminals, video screens allow you to live the experience of the volcano! You will discover the reproduction of a lava tunnel, a panoramic projection room, a dynamic 4D cinema, a bathyscaphe and many holographic devices. It is the geological history of Reunion Island that you will remember: from the first eruptions at sea to the formation of today's Intense Island!

Take the Route Forestière du Volcan from Bourg-Murat and plunge into a whole new world. It's 24 km long and passes through superb, varied, lunar landscapes. On your way there or back, take the time to stop at Nez de Boeuf to admire the view of the Rivière des Remparts, then at the Commerson crater. You'll then cross the Plaine des Sables, before finishing at the Pas de Bellecombe, culminating at 2,311 m, to admire the magnificent panorama of the Fouqué enclosure and the volcano. It's also a meeting point for hikers.

The offices of the Office are accessible from the top of the Grand Kiosks. Turn left and walk along the retaining wall. A charming welcome, relevant information on the trails and the volcano, a must visit if you go through the Plaine des Cafres. Also all the information you need to discover the nature in the surroundings with hiking, horse riding, mountain biking or 4x4. If you need a taxi, don't hesitate to go through them.

Created in 2007, its 1,054 km² encompass 42% of the island. It was founded to ensure both human and ecological preservation of the heart of the island. The fauna and flora, the forest, the volcano, the cirques, the landscapes, the traditions and the roots of Reunion's identity are all assets to be protected. Visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists, the national park constitutes a real laboratory for sustainable development in order to respond to the realities of the territory.

A simple detour on the Route des Plaines allows you to discover this grandiose panorama, often forgotten by tourists. The vertiginous belvedere offers a plunging view of the Grand-Bassin islet, located 600 m below, at the bottom of the gorges of the arm of La Plaine. You can also see the Niagara waterfall from the South with the arduous ribs of Dimitile in the background. On the site you will find picnic kiosks, very popular on weekends, as well as a bar-truck and kiosks with fruit vendors, handicrafts, corks and samoussas.

Teachers in the same establishment, Luc Souvet and Pascal Dorr met in 1993 and decided to create the first site in 1998, during the great eruption that put an end to five years of silence at La Fournaise. Redesigned in 2017, this website now offers all the information about the activity of the Piton de la Fournaise and the possible hikes. The authors also offer educational activities and resources. Six webcams allow you to see the site live. To be consulted in French, English or German.

The Domaine des Tourelles, a listed historic monument, is at the heart of the "Archipel des métiers d'art", a center for the promotion of craft trades. The craftsmen (sculpture, brewing, distilling, painting and foundry) work and show their workshops at the foot of the superb house. Built in 1927 by Alexis de Villeneuve, a major landowner in Saint-Benoît, the house was completely demolished and rebuilt identically in 1993. Visits to the house are free of charge. There's also a store selling local crafts.

At the edge of the grandiose panorama of the Rivière des Remparts a ravishing undergrowth, full of tamarinds, calumets and arums, stretches out on a gentle slope. The trail cuts through this colourful forest, rich in endemic Bourbon species, and climbs up to the hillsides that dominate the deep gorges of the river. The view is sublime. A belvedere allows you to discover the Mahavel scree and the enclosed islet of Roche-Plate, some 800 m below.

The Fournaise massif occupies the southeastern third of the island. The national park includes the Mare Longue forest, the Route des Laves, the Route du Volcan, the Route des Plaines and the Piton de la Fournaise (2,632 m). It perpetuates the island's volcanic history, following in the footsteps of its elder brother, the Piton des Neiges volcano (3,070 m). It last erupted on September 19, 2022. To find out more, visit the website or the Maison du Parc in La Plaine-des-Palmistes.

The Pat' Jaune company, a troupe of actors and musicians famous for its "Yab" music (de petits Blancs des Hauts), whose playful tunes describe the daily life of the Hauts de la Réunion with tenderness and humor, welcomes its audience to an astonishing space. The concept? To organize evenings of exchanges, shows and music, during which people sit down in a magnificent, luminous, wooded room, before being invited to sit on bleachers, in an intimate, warm room, to attend a concert like no other.

The office welcomes visitors to the heart of the Maison du Parc National. Come to the reception desk for advice on where to start your hikes. You'll find all the tourist information you need about La Plaine-des-Palmistes: accommodation, restaurants, activities, some of which are organized in conjunction with the tourist office (including an electric mountain bike excursion through forests, pools and waterfalls). The fun and educational exhibition at the Maison du Parc is also well worth a visit.

Each year, over a period stretching from April to August, this 6 hectare orchard comes to life little by little as the famous guava trees, delicious tangy red fruits, grow. The principle is simple: you are given a bucket and you harvest as much fruit as you like. The price is not by weight, but by the number of buckets harvested, a good deal! What's more, harvesting itself is an enjoyable activity, to be done in love or with friends. Mickael is on site to advise you and give you recipe ideas.

The Col de Bellevue is located at an altitude of 1,600 m, on the plains road at the boundary between the Plaine des Palmistes and the Plaine des Cafres. Stop off here to enjoy magnificent panoramic views of this part of the island. The Col de Bellevue offers a superb view of eastern Réunion, its peaks and coastline. A number of picnic tables await you, as do several starting points for hiking and horse-riding. During the austral summer, make sure you get there early to enjoy the view before the fog rolls in from below.

Beyond the picking of guava trees that you can pick by hand, Georges invites you to discover the orchard, the workshop and the shop through a guided tour lasting about 2 hours. Please note that visits are by reservation only. Out of season, you can discover the endemic floral species through another visit. On the shop side, confits, jellies, spicy sauces and coulis will fill your luggage to bring to your kitchen the flavours of this very special region.