Things to see and do La Plaine Des Palmistes

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.

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.

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.