Hiking Réunion

This service provider was one of the first to start hiking through the lava tunnels. Roby Soriano, famous guide in the circus of Cilaos, takes you to the bowels of the Piton de la Fournaise. Entering the caves and lava tubes formed by the recent eruptions, cooled down, one travels almost 2 km under the lava, passing several times in the open air. The route "20 000 leagues under the lava" has even been broadcast on the national news. A must-see!

Ludovic Marconnot, mountain guide and graduate in speleology, offers you extraordinary hikes on the ground as well as below! Come and discover the interior of the island literally by traversing its entrails through the lava tunnels, these natural corridors left by the lava while flowing. Ludovic and his team organize outings, accessible to all, on the side of Saint-Philippe. Réunion Mer et Montagne also organizes your day hikes, in particular to Mafate by the Galets river, with return by foot or by helicopter.

A sporty hike with varied landscapes, feasible over two days. Starting from Grand-Galet, the path crosses pineapple plantations. The terrain is flat as far as the chapel of Cap-Blanc, where you can bivouac and take water. We then cross a forest of filaos, then the climb is steep to Grand-Pays and the ramparts of the volcano. You will see waterfalls and a natural arch. Behind the mountain, the Plain of Sands appears: a spectacular reward!

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.

Nicknamed the three D's in reference to the three peaks that surround Bourg-Murat, this walk, accessible with the whole family, will allow you to enjoy magnificent views over the entire Plaine des Cafres, the Piton des Neiges and the ocean. You will pass between the cryptomerias, in a forest of plane trees or in front of the numerous herds of cows and sheep. Achievable in 3 hours, its only difficulty is on the slope of the piton Dugain.

This pleasant seaside walk starts off strong: the starting point of the Coastal Path is none other than the Étang-Salé abyss. Formed by lava flows, this natural corridor causes the ocean to rumble when it rushes in, hitting the rocks. This trail will first make you crawl over the volcanic rocks, before leading you to the sand dunes and finally to pebble beaches. Your destination, the Étang du Gol, is 7.6 kilometres away.

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Be careful, although it does not represent any difficulty, keep up to date with the closing order of this trail at the tourist office or the ONF. Ideal for picnicking and bathing (in icy water!), the Biberon waterfall basin, named after a former forest warden, is accessible by an easy family path, although narrow and slippery in case of rain. Count 1 hour of walking there and back. A delight.

The trail starts at Takamaka. It's a hike on lava gratons, you must bring sturdy shoes and water. We cross the entire coule through the Takamaka gully to the Takamaka peak at about 1,000 m above sea level and then we descend through the Lemon-Pebble gully. One can also continue higher, or even camp. Count then 8 to 10 hours to reach the road to the Plaine des Sables or the pas de Bellecombe and especially a difference in altitude of 2 400 m!

This is a pleasant walk to make your family by a day of big heat. Thirty-five minutes will be enough to reach the waterfall from the parking lot. The trail follows the St. John River on a fully-banded surface, making it accessible to wheelchairs. It plunges into the dense forest, between bamboo and banana trees, until reaching the cascade basin. Bathing is not monitored, but you will soon realize that the places are very popular with tourists and locals who are getting refreshed.

Tariff: free.

Duration: 35 minutes.

Difficulty: .

To the south of the Reunion, this small loop of 1 h 30 proposes you to discover the landscapes of L'Étang-Salé. Here, easy to locate: one side of the loop runs along a pipe that goes down to the city. The journey can be made in both directions, the important being to arrive at the summit, marked by a white cross; Enjoy a panoramic view of the municipality and the Ocean. You will discover throughout this easy walk of endemic plant species: you have to recognise them!

Tariff: free.

Duration: 1 p. m.

Difficulty: .

The trail begins at the stele of Thérésien Cadet, the professor who drew the attention of biologists to the richness of this forest. This primary forest installed on an ancient lava flow presents species that have for the most part disappeared from the rest of the island. Signs will inform you about the species to be observed and their main characteristics. Two other loops of one hour each also allow you to explore the forest.

This botanical trail, almost 5 km long in the Providence forest, is the most popular on Reunion Island after the Volcan trail, and is a meeting place for sports enthusiasts in Saint-Denis. It follows the famous GR R2, which crosses the entire island, but for the time being, you can make do with the section between Saint-Denis and the village of Le Brûlé. Interpretation panels line the route, providing information on the plant species you come across. The trail is well signposted, but with a steep gradient, which adds to the difficulty.

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.

Le Dimitile is renowned for its many hiking possibilities. To reach the summit (1,850 m), the Boeuf la Chapelle trail is the shortest and most accessible route. The hike begins in Entre-Deux, at the foot of Dimitile. The trail is well marked and easy to follow. The first part of the climb is steep and can be difficult for those not used to hiking. As you go up, the vegetation becomes denser and the view opens up to the south of the island and then to the cirque de Cilaos. A magnificent hike.

Present on the island for more than thirty years, Évasion Kréol offers climbing or canyoning outings all over the territory, accessible from 7 years old. For canyoning, the circuits are adapted to all levels: Sainte-Suzanne, Grand Galet or Langevin rivers for beginners. Bras Rouge and Fleur Jaune in Cilaos, Trou Blanc, Ti Cap for the more sporty. Finally, the confirmed ones will be able to go to Takamaka and the Trou de Fer. Évasion Kreol also offers the ascent of the three Salazes in Cilaos, a must if you don't suffer from vertigo.

From the Pas de Bellecombe parking lot (at the end of the volcano's forest road, approx. 23 km from Bourg-Murat), this accessible but no less challenging hike takes in the Piton de la Fournaise and the Dolomieu crater. Departures are usually early in the morning, before the clouds roll in and visibility is reduced by thick fog. The trail begins with a gentle descent to the enclosure gate at the top of the rampart. Hikers then take a 150 m-long path, or rather a stone staircase, that leads them to the bottom of the rampart, with all along a breathtaking view of the lava plain and the small Formica Léo crater. In the immensity of this plain covered with lava that has been solidifying for centuries, you'll head towards the Piton de la Fournaise, passing Formica Léo and the Rosemont chapel. All you need to do is follow the white markings on the ground, which are very useful to avoid venturing onto uneven terrain and getting lost, especially when the clouds roll in and you can't see a metre. From here, you'll need a little more breath to climb gradually up the side of the Dolomieu crater, for around 2 km. After the effort, the reward: you arrive at an altitude of 2,512 m, at the edge of the Dolomieu crater, to observe a gaping chasm over 300 m high.On the way back, on the descent, your joints ache, the landscape over the lava plain and the ramparts deserves a few more breaks, and you'll never tire of this grandiose landscape. Finally, the famous steps at the beginning of the ascent will finish off your thighs and calves, but you'll have the satisfaction of having completed one of Réunion's most beautiful hikes, a must if you want to discover one of the world's most active volcanoes. Do it on your own or in a group with a guide.

Equipment. Good walking shoes are a must, as this is not a well-trodden path: you'll be walking on volcanic rock. You'll also need a raincoat, even if you're setting off under a clear blue sky, as the weather can change quickly, as well as water and food (a picnic break is appreciated in such a setting), and sun cream, as the sun beats down hard at altitude!

Option. Several routes are possible from the Pas de Bellecombe. Along the ramparts of the enclosure to the Piton de Bert (1h30) or the Nez Coupé de Sainte-Rose (1h30). Within the enclosure, to piton Kapor (1h30) and/or cratère Rivals (2h).

Here is one of our favourite walks, close to downtown Saint-Denis, accessible with the whole family. The path presents no difficulty and offers a beautiful view of the city and the ocean. In season, you can even see the whales jumping over the waves. There is a kiosk where you can picnic and why not have a glass of wine at sunset. The view is beautiful at night too, when the city lights are on.

Ayapana specializes in organizing outdoor sports activities. Alexis, a state-certified guide, is full of enthusiasm and good humor, and knows all about the riches of his adopted island. He accompanies his customers according to their desire for discovery and their level of fitness, adding little stories about botany and tastings of Creole products. From leisurely hikes to trails, from mountain biking to multi-day treks, or even musical hikes for music lovers and nature enthusiasts, all options are possible!