19 Best Reasons to Visit the Tropical Island of Réunion
19 Best Reasons to Visit the Tropical Island of Réunion
The island of Réunion is one of France’s overseas departments administratively. It is one of the eighteen regions of France, along with the other four overseas departments, having the dual status of overseas region and integral republic, meaning it shares the same status as the metropolis. Part of the euro region is the Union of the United States and the French Overseas Department.
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Informations
Temperature: The dry season is May to October, with temperatures 20-25°C. November to March is more humid, with most rain and occasional cyclones in January and February.
Language: As in the political metropolis, the correct language is French. In addition, the majority of the population of the Réunion region speaks Creole.
Currency: Euro
Food Prices: Meal in a cheap restaurant=7 EUR, Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant=50 EUR
You can find more information about the visa here.
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Things to do
Cascade Grand-Galet
A waterfall on Langevin in the Saint-Joseph municipality on the French island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean is known as Cascade Grand-Galet. It’s close to Reunion National Park on the southern part of the island.The municipality of Saint-Joseph on the island of Réunion is home to the Grand Galet Falls, sometimes known as Langevin Falls after the name of its river. Located within Réunion National Park, its natural pool is a well-liked spot for picnics and swimming on weekends and holidays.
Photo Source : Allison Mouhat on Facebook
Piton de la Fournaise
The French overseas department of La Réunion is home to the 2632-meter-tall Piton de la Fournaise volcano. It is one of the world’s most active volcanoes and was formed 380,000 years ago on the southern flank of the Piton des Neiges. There have been signs of approximately 180 eruptions since 1640, and 47 eruptions have been officially documented since 1950.This is Reunion Island’s main attraction. The island’s most popular tourist destination is the Piton de la Fournaise. The 2,631-meter-tall Cité du Volcan at the Plaine des Cafres has been revealing the mysteries of this enormous behemoth since August 2014. Even when clouds are gathering around its summit, this raging volcano is visible from all over the island. It is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, erupting on average every nine months.
Photo Source : Réunion la 1ère on Facebook
Cirque de Mafate
The northwest Caldera des Piton des Neiges is home to the Cirque de Mafate in the French overseas department of Réunion. The basin spans roughly ten kilometers from north to south and five kilometers from east to west, with the majority of its length falling within the municipality of La Possession. Over 1600 meters descend the nearly vertical granite cliffs from the top of the Grand Bénare.
Photo Source : Photos Péi – ILE de La Réunion on Facebook
Piton des Neiges
The highest peak in the Indian Ocean and the French overseas department of La Réunion is the 3,070-meter-tall Piton des Neiges. There is no snow on the peak. It is coated in hoarfrost on some days of the year, and only seldom does it get a little snow. A volcano, or hot spot, developed on the Indian Ocean floor approximately 5 million years ago. About three million years ago, the island of La Réunion was formed with the emergence of the Piton des Neiges.
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Trou de Fer
On the island of Réunion, there is a gorge called Trou de Fer that resembles a cauldron and is roughly 250 meters deep. Northeast of the island, on a mountainside, is where you can find the Trou de Fer. You cannot access the interior. Hiking routes in the Forêt de Bélouve lead to an observation platform on the southern edge of the basin, although fog and clouds frequently obscure the view into the depths.
Photo Source : François H.M Photos on Facebook
Kélonia
Located in the municipality of Saint-Leu on the western coast of the French island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean, Kélonia is an aquarium that specializes in sea turtles and serves as an observation station. At the location of an old turtle farm, it was established in 2006. Kélonia takes part in a range of scientific endeavors pertaining to the observation of sea turtles, such as genetics research, population monitoring, and migration studies. There’s a turtle infirmary as well. With the help of Argos GPS transmitters, many of the sea turtles that Kélonia releases may be tracked online during their migrations.
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Voile de la Mariée (Salazie)
On the island of Réunion, there is a waterfall called Bridal Veil Falls. Situated around 500 meters above sea level on the rugged barrier dividing the Salazie Canyon from the Bélouve Plateau Forest, it is a component of the Salazie commune on the Réunion island.According to legend, a tragedy occurred here: Amanda Armand, a young, ideal girl, fell in love with Henrio, but her father, a widower, would not let her go and imprisoned her. She got away. In front of the church altar, Mr. Armand discovered the lovers. The young bride ran away, but her veil blinded her, and she fell onto a cliff where her veil was still hanging.Then, Mr. Armand poured all of his tears onto the bride’s veil.
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Plage de Boucan Canot
Located between Cap Lahoussaye and the seaside resort of Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, the long white sand beach of Boucan Canot is among the most beautiful beaches on the island of Reunion. It has become an essential popular beach and also the fashionable place for young people from Reunion who meet there on weekends and during school holidays, it also appeals to lovers of sunbathing or even Beach Volleyball and Beach players. -tennis. This heavenly beach without a lagoon offers magnificent waves and a coral reef populated with tropical marine fauna and flora.
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Plage de l'Hermitage
The southernmost portion of Saint-Paul’s coastline is home to Hermitage Beach. At about 7 km in length, it is the longest on the island. The town of Saint-Paul and the corniche road in the north, as well as the Tamarins road in the south, provide easy access to it.The location was once spelled “L’Hermitage,” but this spelling has now been accepted by all signposts and the IGN maps1.
Photo Source : Ile de la Réunion on Facebook
Maison Folio
The Folio family now owns “Maison Folio,” popularly known as “Villa Folio,” together with its grounds. A trip inside the house transports one to a bygone era when the island’s huge Creole families retreated inland from the coast’s summer heat to revel in the pleasure of the cool mountain air in little lakes leisure houses. The garden, with its gazebo, fountain, and pathways made of worn stones, is a representation of the “Creole art of living.”
Photo Source : Ile de la Réunion on Facebook
Anse waterfalls
A natural area in the Sainte-Rose municipality in eastern Reunion Island is called L’Anse des Cascades. After being closed to the public for several months in 2018 due to the devastation caused by storm Fakir, you can now once again enjoy its waterfalls in a verdant landscape close to the Indian Ocean. Our volcano’s water intrusion from the top and beneath trickles through layers of impervious rocks until it reaches Cascades Cove is another enigma. For this reason, the water emerges from the center of the cliff rather than above it. “The tears of the volcano come here to throw themselves into the sea,” a poet would undoubtedly declare.
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Cité du Volcan
Located in the southwest of the Indian Ocean on the island of Réunion, La Cité du Volcan, also known as Maison du Volcan from its founding in 1992 until 2011, is a museum run by the French foreign department. Its headquarters are in Bourg-Murat, a village in the commune of Le Tampon’s Plaine des Cafres, which is situated at the summit of the area. The island’s active volcano, Piton de la Fournaise, is the focus of one of the permanent exhibitions at the Cité du Volcan on the world’s volcanoes. One of the four locations owned by the regional public corporation Réunion des Musées Régionaux is the Cité du Volcan.
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Belvedere of Bois Court
Perched directly above the city of Tampon, the Bois-Court belvedere is a platform in the middle of Reunion Island that commands a commanding view over the Plain of Cafres. Reaching a height of 1,400 meters, its peaks offer views of the Circus of Cilaos’ ramparts and the magnificent Voile de la Mariée waterfall near the tiny settlement of Grand Bassin. It provides an amazing perspective of Grand Bassin and the Cilaos ramparts. vantage point with a view of the Grand Bassin islet, where tiny homes are visible among the trees. The Bridal Veil, a stunning cascade that empties into a blue pool, is seen.
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Grand Étang
The largest lake on the French island of Réunion in the western Indian Ocean is called Grand Étang. Ridges, the upper headwaters of more than ten steep-sided coastal valleys, and the upper basin of a significant tributary of the Great River are all features of the Grand Etang Forest Reserve, which ranges in height from 300 meters in St. Cyr to 760 meters at an unidentified peak in the Reserve’s north. Southeast Mountain (712m), Mount Sinai (700m), Mount Qua Qua (713m), and the unidentified peak (760m) are Grenada’s four tallest mountains, and they are all located within the Reserve. These mountains dominate the physical terrain and were all formed by volcanic activity during the Pliocene and Pleistocene Periods.
Photo Source : La Réunion vue du ciel avec Alexandre Haffner on Facebook
Église Notre-Dame des Laves
On the French overseas department and region of La Réunion, the commune of Sainte-Rose is home to the Notre-Dame-des-Laves church, a Catholic church. A small, pink building in Piton Sainte-Rose, a neighborhood close to the Piton de la Fournaise volcano, has a unique character because of a lava flow that entered the nave for a mere three meters during the eruption of Piton de la Fournaise in March 1977. The rest of the flow avoided the building entirely and passed by it outside the last caldera, Enclos Fouqué. Furthermore, the statue of the Virgin known as the parasol that we are currently standing next to was previously housed at the Grand Brûlé but had to be taken down due to the danger of
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Grande Anse beach
Located in the village of Petite-Île to the south of Reunion Island, Grande Anse beach is a picnickers’ delight. Located at the base of Piton de Grande Anse, this small bay is notable for its expansive white sand beach surrounded by vacoas and coconut palms.Grande Anse, regarded by locals as one of the most stunning beaches on the rugged island, is a Reunion institution that attracts large crowds for weekend and public holiday picnics.
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Cascade Niagara
On the French island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean, the Sainte-Suzanne River provides water for the Cascade Niagara waterfall. It is around twenty-five meters high and situated in the commune of Sainte-Suzanne. The river empties into a basin that is a well-liked swimming spot at this point.The waters of the Sainte-Suzanne River created the Niagara waterfall. It empties into a pool at a height of around 25 meters. In the midst of sugar cane fields, this pleasant location is perfect for picnics.
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State garden
The island is home to a remarkably diverse and abundant plant life. The tamarind, latanier, and screwpine, which are endemic species that give Reunion the appearance of an earthly paradise, are found in the center of this luxuriant vegetation on Les Hauts (Highlands).The Department’s restoration work stems from the intention to preserve a special garden in Reunion with a remarkable collection of rare species and to establish it as a crucial reference in the network of botanical gardens in Reunion Island and the Indian Ocean region.
Photo Source : Oana Alexandra Cristea on Facebook
Bassin la Paix
Reunion Island has a water feature called Bassin la Paix. Situated approximately 50 meters above sea level on the path of the Rivière des Roches, a coastal river that empties into the Indian Ocean, it is nourished by multiple waterfalls. It is situated at the intersection of the communes of Saint-Benoît to the east and Bras-Panon to the west.The route continues down the road from the rear of the parking lot. Between dense grass, exotic trees, and canes, he moves silently. About fifteen minutes later, the foliage gives way to a pool with a waterfall below. At this point, exercise extreme caution as the small walkway runs along the rampart’s edge for about 10 meters.
Photo Source : Ludo MP – Réunion de Paysages on Facebook
Activities include hiking, diving, surfing, beaches, helicopter flights, and canyon tours. Attractions: Thermes de Cilaos, Réunion Aquarium, Le Maido, Cirque de Salazie, Réunion Museum of Natural History, and Former Hotel de Ville.
Book your perfect vacation!
Vacations: We are happy that we have the opportunity to work with the most famous companies in the world, we always order our vacations from these companies and we have never been disappointed: Check 24, Trivago, Trafalgar, TravelUp, Insight Vacations, Explorer Fernreisen.
Where to stay
Hotels, bed & breakfasts, and guesthouses, regardless of location—in the center of town, close to a lake, or amid natural surroundings. We were able to identify the top companies providing the best hotels: Booking.com, Trip.com, TravelUp, esky, Hoteltopia, Millennium Hotels and Explorer Fernreisen.
The first travel choice that springs to us when we think of stunning scenery and amazing islands is a cruise. Thus, this is the greatest choice if you would rather visit several stunning islands than fly to only one and remain there. When on a cruise, you can unwind on days when the ship is just in the sea or ocean, but if you’re an adventurer, you can also take advantage of the opportunity to see other locations. We work with the world’s top cruise operators, so you may select the ideal voyage:
The food of Réunion is one of its most striking features. Réunion has a rich history of foreign influences, encompassing French, African, Indian, and Chinese cuisine, which has resulted in a diverse range of restaurants and cuisines catering to different tastes. Cari and rougail, or simply pork and rice, are two of the most well-known but straightforward recipes. Naturally, Réunion’s tropical terrain and environment produce an abundance of delicious fruits all year round. When locals go out on the town, rum is the preferred libation, and the majority of the cities surrounding Réunion have respectable, if not exceptionally vibrant, nightlife scenes.
Restaurants
The greatest diversity of excellent restaurants may be found in Saint-Denis, Saint-Pierre, and Saint-Gilles. With its blend of French and Asian cuisine, L’Atelier de Ben (12, Rue de la Compagnie, Saint-Denise) is frequently referred to be the most intriguing restaurant in Réunion. Le Reflet des Iles (27 Rue de l’Est, Saint-Denis) is the most well-known Creole restaurant in the city, and Le Roland Garros (2 Place, Sarda Garriga, Saint-Denis) offers authentic French cuisine.
The well-known Le Retro (34 Hubert-Delisle Boulevard, Saint-Pierre) offers classic French cuisine and is located along the waterfront in Saint-Pierre. Saint-Pierre even has several excellent Italian restaurants, particularly L’Osteria (16 Rue Marius et Ary Leblond, Saint-Pierre). Le Marin Bleu (45 Rue de L’Amiral Lacaze, Saint-Pierre) serves some of the best fish dishes in the city, mostly on a Creole-inspired menu.
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There are many restaurants in Saint-Gilles, Réunion. Restaurant l’Oxygene (1 Rue de la Plage, Saint-Gilles) may not be located in the greatest area of the city, but its French and Creole food is delicious. Located on 122 Rue de General de Gaulle in Saint-Gilles, Restaurant L’A Cote is a popular French restaurant that is relatively new to the island. Excellent local pub food and an extensive wine selection can be found at O’Casier (190 Rue du General de Gaulle, Saint-Gilles).
Travel Tips
The island has two distinct seasons: austral winter, which runs from May to October, and austral summer, which runs from November to April. When making travel plans, it is better to steer clear of the French vacation seasons (especially school holidays). One of the island’s best-kept secrets is Langevin. Tourists splash around in its cool, luxuriant water throughout the day. This waterfall is located in the island’s southern region. Riding a horse, explore the tropical hinterlands.
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It is imperative that you reserve your lodging well in advance. You should also stay away from beaches that aren’t meant for swimming due to the possibility of strong currents and shark attacks. The Cirque de Salazie and Cique de Cilaos are two of the island’s “canyoning” attractions. Visit the neighborhood bar to enjoy some séga beats, a kind of music exclusive to the Seychelles, Réunion, and Mauritius Mascarene Islands.
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Book your tours!
Tours: If you do not go by car and need to know more information about the tours, and things to see, we recommend these companies that are offering tours for any kind of activity you want to do and where you can buy trips much cheaper than if you buy them when you arrive at your destination. It is always good to be able to save some money!
Viator, Get Your Guide, Tiqets, City Sightseeing, Sesame, Sightseeing Pass, Contiki, Riviera Travel, CityPass: the best activities in town!
Shopping
The majority of Réunion’s shopping culture is unaffected by modernization. The majority of shopping on the island takes place in streets and markets that feature locally produced goods rather than global name brands. Malls are not the standard when it comes to shopping. The Saint-Pierre Market is located in Saint-Pierre, a city in southern Réunion. It takes place on Saturday mornings along Hubert-Delisle Boulevard near the waterfront. One of the biggest markets on Réunion Island, it offers a wide variety of products to satisfy bargain hunters and compulsive shoppers.
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Although the main market in Saint-Pierre provides healthy competition, this is frequently cited as the most popular shopping destination in Réunion. This expansive marketplace provides a wide range of products from all throughout the region. Popular wooden handicrafts and apparel from regional manufacturers are always top priorities for consumers. Other goods offered in the Grand Market include handcrafted jewelry, woven items, and embroidery.
The Saint-Paul Street Market is another well-regarded market. From locally produced wines to French-colonial furniture, visitors can find an enormous variety of things here. Every Friday night and Saturday morning, the market is held. This street market is just breathtaking in terms of both atmosphere and color.
Getting around
On Réunion, there are no trains in operation. On the island, there is a robust bus system, though. It makes it possible for visitors to access even the most remote settlements because it links several of Réunion’s smaller towns with the island’s major cities. The primary bus company operating on the island is Car Jaune. It usually operates from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. The bus system connects several major cities, including Saint-Denis, Saint-Benoit, and Saint-Pierre. Car Jaune’s minivan service connects smaller communities such as Saint-Leu and Sain-Paul.
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Even though boats are not frequently used to get around the island, getting to the island of Réunion by boat is possible. The ferries from Mauritius Trochetia and Mauritius Pride depart from the island of Mauritius several times a week, stopping at both Madagascar and Réunion during their journeys.
Réunion’s car rental facilities cannot be beaten when it comes to getting around the island. There are a lot of options when it comes to renting cars in Réunion, and in comparison to taxis, the service is reasonably inexpensive. Drivers will need to be over 21 years old and have had a license for more than a year.
Book your transport!
- when it comes to buses, Busbud is the best choice.
- when I want to travel by train, I choose Omio.
Here you can find the best offers to rent the right car for you, as well as parking right in the airport: esky, Explorer, Centauro and intui.travel.
Getting Here
Fly from Mauritius: The flight time between two islands is about forty-five minutes. Therefore, splitting the trip into two halves and seeing both islands will be the wisest course of action. All of the island’s inhabitants who practice French civilization will be on Reunion. You can take advantage of excellent service and beaches on Mauritius. Approximately 80 euros was the cost of a one-way ticket from Mauritius Island to Reunion Island. Direct flights to and from Johannesburg, Mayotte, Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius, and Comoros are offered by Air Austral on a non-daily basis. Air Mauritius is another option for traveling to Reunion Island from Mauritius.
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Charles de Gaulle, Marseilles, and Paris Orly airports all offer flights to Roland Garros airport. If you’d like, you can drive directly from the airport to your accommodation or start exploring the island. The Roland Garros airport is close to a number of rental firms that offer a variety of cars.
Book tour Flights!
If you have not found your desired flight, or you simply want more flight options to find the best and cheapest, we will help you with the best flight plans, where you will definitely find what you are looking for. With just one click you will find the cheapest flights to a wonderful destination!
Book your Cruise!
Here you can find the best offers for luxury cruises, or cheap cruise offers. We went on a cruise in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman and we can only recommend this unforgettable experience, not just here, but around the world!
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is a type of insurance designed to cover the costs and losses associated with traveling. It serves as a safeguard for travelers in case of unexpected events. Here are the main types and key components of travel insurance: Trip Cancellation,Medical Insurance,Baggage Insurance, Travel Delay Insurance, Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation Insurance, Accidental Death , Rental Car Insurance:
Order your Luggage!
Choosing the right travel luggage can make your journey more comfortable and hassle-free. Here are the best offers to help you select the best travel luggage for your needs:
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