Sports and leisure activities Cilaos

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.

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!

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.