Sports and leisure activities Cirques

Aparksa Montagne is a travel agency based in Cilaos, Reunion Island. It offers a range of mountain activities including hiking, canyoning and trekking. In addition to mountain activities, the agency also offers tours of lava tunnels. To get you to the activity sites, you'll benefit from a comfortable vehicle that can accommodate up to 9 people. Services include a picnic lunch for day trips. You can choose half-day, full-day or multi-day outings. To get to Aparksa Montagne, simply head for Saint-Louis and then Cilaos. Once in Cilaos, drive through the town center to the Maison du Tourisme, where you'll meet your guide.

Based both on the west coast and in the heart of the Mafate cirque, Yannis, a certified mountain leader, designs tours on all the reliefs of Reunion Island. He will take you to discover traditional ways of life, sprinkling his routes with local tables d'hôte and meetings with the inhabitants. Along the way, through the exchanges and the landscapes crossed, we reconnect with enthusiasm to the present moment, and with authenticity to the history of the island. An experience full of common sense adapted to all levels.

Passionate about mountain sports and new adventures, several monitors have gathered within this structure, which offers climbing, canyoning, edge races, mountain bikes, lava tunnels, hiking (over one or more days) and multi-activity packages through cilaosiens reliefs but also on other sites. Small equipped, thoughtful monitors and a friendly atmosphere, the spirit «léo bien there». For any profile: amateur athletes with the taste of the extreme! Most: possibility to get photos of the output!

A paradise for hikers, with no roads or cars, inaccessible only on foot or by helicopter, the cirque de Mafate abounds in fascinating scenery and a network of well-marked trails. But a hike in the cirque de Mafate can't be improvised. Prepare well.

Equip yourself well. Take good walking shoes (with spare laces and Compeed® bandages), appropriate clothing (including fleece and K-way) and enough food and water (between 1.5 and 2.5 liters per person). In your rucksack, you should also pack a cap, a first-aid kit, a few provisions, a rubbish bag for your garbage, sunglasses and sun cream, a headlamp and, of course, your fully-charged cell phone and camera. Don't forget to withdraw cash before you leave, as gîtes and small shops don't always accept credit cards.

Check the weather conditions. The weather can change rapidly on Mafate, and you're not safe from heavy rain that could lead to landslides or river overflows. Consult the Météo-France website before setting off (www.meteofrance.re).

Check the duration of your trip. The duration indicated on the information sheets is given as a guide only, and will depend on your walking pace, your breaks, the group, etc. Set off early in the morning and make sure you return before nightfall, and never set off alone.

Follow the marked trails. Each circuit is marked by a GR (grande randonnée). The red and white GR is used for the main itinerary of the GR.R1 and GR.R2 (linear paths), the red and yellow GR corresponds to loops and the GR.R3 circumnavigates the cirque of Mafate. Some trails may be prohibited by prefectoral decree, in which case it's best to give up or change route.

Respect nature. Many of our forests are part of Unesco's World Heritage List, and you'll have the chance to walk through dense, endemic vegetation. Leave no trace of your passage. Don't light fires outside designated areas. Take all your garbage with you and don't pick plants or disturb wildlife.

Respect the inhabitants. Mafate is inhabited by a small community. Be discreet, respect their privacy and ask their permission before taking photos.

Useful numbers. Mountain rescue: 0262 930 930 or 112. Allô sentier: 0262 373 83.

Useful websites : www.reunion-mafate.com, www.onf.fr and www.ouest-lareunion.com.

If you're spending the night in the cirque, don't miss this not-to-be-missed hike, one of the most beautiful in Cilaos. It takes you to La Chapelle, a very narrow canyon carved out over the centuries by the Bras Rouge river. The descent is punctuated by magnificent panoramas. Once you've reached the gully, it's time to head back upstream. At the entrance to La Chapelle are a swimming pool and two huge 100 m-high boulders. A route to be avoided after heavy rain or in case of uncertain weather.

The ascent of the 4.5 million-year-old Piton des Neiges, an extinct volcano and the highest peak in the Indian Ocean, is often the goal of a trip to Réunion Island for many hikers. Its ascent is reputed to be challenging, but the exceptional panorama on arrival is well worth the effort. Of the three trails, the start from the Cilaos boulder is the most popular, the fastest and also the steepest. The climb is immediate and doesn't stop until you reach the summit. False flats are rare. It's best to make the ascent over two days, with a night in a gîte, so you can watch the sunrise over the Piton de la Fournaise before the clouds cling to it.

Three trails, three options. This hike starts at Le Bloc, 3 km from the village of Cilaos (bus 63). But access to the Piton des Neiges can also be made from the Plaine des Cafres or from Salazie (this option is the easiest, but also the longest).

Sound advice. In high season, if you want to spend the night on the summit, you'll need to make a reservation at the Dufour barracks refuge, also known as the piton des Neiges gîte. Make sure you're well equipped (including for the cold - there's no snow on the summit, but there may be ice, and temperatures can drop to 5°C), and poles are highly recommended. There's little risk of altitude sickness, but you'll need to keep well hydrated and progress at your own pace.

In Cilaos, towards Bras-Sec, cryptomerias abound. These large trees, originally from Japan, are ideal for setting up thrill courses. Monkey bridges, 80-metre zip lines and other obstacles will delight you on the six courses. For the little ones, aged 3 to 6: perched huts, giant trampoline and accrobranche courses on secure nets. Departures at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Other activities include guided and themed tours with local guides, mountain bike outings, treasure hunts... Reservations strongly recommended.