Things to see and do Sainte-Marie

Every May ^1st, crowds from all over the island gather in front of a small miraculous cave where, according to legend, Mario, a runaway slave, hid during the time of the Marooning. A bougainvillea bush is said to have grown at the entrance of the cave, blocking its access and sparing the fugitive from the rapacity of the chestnut hunters. If you ask passers-by about this legend, each one tells his own story. Protector of the oppressed, the Black Virgin, whose statue watches over this unusual cave, is highly respected on the island.

More difficult to access than the Marie-Louise basin, the path leading to Z'Lightning is very poorly maintained. Perhaps it is to discourage the most daring, because bathing is also prohibited here.

On the dry Ravine, the beautiful Marie-Louise basin is unfortunately forbidden for bathing. Even the trail to access it is fallow!

This Tamil temple dedicated to the goddess Mariammen cannot be visited (except for exceptional events), but it can be admired from the outside. It is the first to be built in Sainte-Marie. A few planks in the courtyard of the factory then allow Tamils to meditate. Although it has been moved several times, it is still standing and still active. Located in La Mare, it is one of the most beautiful of the island. It also honours Ganesh, the god with the elephant head, and Alvan, the fire keeper. The fire march takes place on January 3rd of each year.

With over thirty-five years' experience, Helilagon is Réunion's historic airline. Over the years, it has established itself as a key player in Reunion's economic and tourist landscape, operating in three business sectors: tourist flights, aerial work and medical transport. Its priority: to make your flight a unique and safe experience, by offering you the most beautiful views of the Reunion landscape. Sightseeing tours, heli-excursions by the day (heli-cari, heli-rando, heli-resto, heli-4 x 4, heli-golf), airport transfer flights, private flights on request. Authentic and dazzling, the panoramic flight over the island, commented by the pilot in French/English, offers a unique and incomparable interlude. Discovering Réunion's emblematic natural sites from the air is guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience. To ensure that customers have a clear view of the sites overflown, the company carries out a weather check 15 minutes before the departure of each flight, and offers great flexibility with the possibility of postponement in the event of unfavorable conditions. Helilagon has the largest fleet on the island, and is the only company to operate from three bases (north, west and south). Its main base is located on a unique 4-hectare site in the middle of the savannah at L'Éperon, overlooking the bay of Saint-Paul, and its two secondary bases are at the airports of Saint-Denis and Saint-Pierre. Free shuttle service in the west.

This departmental forest is crossed by numerous hiking trails of varying difficulty. The Fougères trail, intended for a family audience, tells the story of Sylvèr, a young fern merchant from Salazie who set off in the direction of the Saint-Denis market (count three hours). For the more sporty, the Piton de la Plaine des Fougères path allows you to make a loop with a view of the Salazie circus. We advise you to leave in the morning.

Located at the eastern end of the Roland Garros airport, the port of Sainte-Marie is home to about 180 boats, pleasure boats and fishing boats. The place is charming and much appreciated as a place to walk and watch the planes take off, but also for fishermen. There are also restaurants and refreshment stands where you can enjoy ice creams and pancakes while sitting on the edge of the dykes, your feet playing with the foam of the waves.