France (Indian Ocean)
Réunion
Our notebook to help you plan your trip to Réunion: the right season, where to stay and our ideas to make the most of it.
An intense island: Piton de la Fournaise, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, UNESCO-listed cirques and lagoons on the west coast.
Best weatherDuring the cool dry season: ideal for hiking in the cirques. The hot season is more humid, with waterfalls at their best.
A question?
Wéa answers about this destination: neighbourhoods, seasons, ideas.
When to go
Every season has its charm. Here's how to choose yours, depending on what you want to experience.
Southern winter
Dry, cool weather up high, perfect for hiking in the cirques. From July to October, humpback whales come to give birth near the coast. And in October, the Grand Raid crosses the island.
Lychees and warmth
It's lychee and mango season, the sea is lovely and the evenings are long.
Waterfalls at full flow
The southern summer: heat, lush greenery, pools and waterfalls at their best. Cyclone risk from January to March: go for a flexible booking.
Where to stay
The right neighbourhood depends on what you're after. Here are our favourite places to stay.
Saint-Gilles-les-Bains
The west's beach resort: lagoon, beaches and nightlife.
L'Ermitage
The island's most beautiful lagoon, calmer than central Saint-Gilles.
Cirque de Cilaos
In the heart of the mountains, for hiking and recharging your batteries.
Saint-Pierre
The big town of the south: seafront, market and easy access to the volcano.
Our favourites
What we love there: its history, its landscapes, its flavours and its festivals. Take your time, it's all there to enjoy.
Piton de la Fournaise
It's one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The road crosses the Plaine des Sables, an almost lunar landscape, before reaching Pas de Bellecombe and its view over the crater.
Ideal for hikers
The cirques
Mafate, Cilaos and Salazie, together with the peaks and ramparts, form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mafate can only be reached on foot or by helicopter.
Ideal for nature lovers
Maloya
Born among enslaved and indentured workers, this rhythmic song with roulèr drum and kayamb is on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Hear it in concert or at a kabar.
Ideal for Réunion culture
Cari and the lagoon
Cari, a slow-cooked dish served with rice, beans and rougail, is the base of Creole cooking. Then head to the Ermitage lagoon for snorkelling in calm water.
Ideal for food lovers