The 10 Best Nature & Parks in Reunion Island, Reunion Island

June 6, 2021 Malia Yoakum

Home to one of the world's most active volcanoes, snow-capped Piton de Fournaise, Reunion is a little known gem. This rocky, French-governed island off the coast of East Africa is easily explored by Les Cars Jaunes, yellow buses that link main settlements. The road into the mountains provides breathtaking scenery. Bike tours on rough back roads are an option for the brave and the extremely fit. Beyond the reach of cars, untamed village Cirque de Mafate shows the island's wildest side.
Restaurants in Reunion Island

1. Piton des Neiges

Cilaos Reunion Island http://www.reunion.fr
Excellent
81%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 196 reviews

Piton des Neiges

Soaring to over ten thousand feet, this often snow-capped peak is Reunion Island’s tallest mountain.

Reviewed By fsevelin - Charolles, France

Piton des Neiges is not an easy place to reach. But, if you cope with the difficulties of this hike, you will enjoy one of the most beautiful sight in Réunion Island. If you are used to mountain hiking, you can dot it (up and down) in a single day. But if you’re not used to, or if you are with children, you had better to sleep in the « refuge de la caverne dufour ». But don’t expect for comfort and good cooking. The owners do the minimum.

2. Piton de Fournaise

Saint-Benoit Reunion Island +262 692 31 42 04 http://www.fournaise.info
Excellent
87%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 869 reviews

Piton de Fournaise

This is the only active volcano on the island and one of the most active in the world.

Reviewed By 188DaveW188

Firstly. The sites we looked at rated this hike as "Easy"...it is absolutely. NOT! AND..I would not recommend doing this without a guide, you could very easily get yourself into dangerous situations. The drive there is beautiful with lots of stop off/vantage points along the way (again, a good guide will give you lots of important info) then you arrive at the top car park, and the fun begins!! Firstly there is the 180mtr climb, down sheer face of the older larger crater, down rugged steps. From there across the (flattish) bottom plain of the older crater to the summit (3 hours minimum) is a case of stepping from stone to stone, up and down through gullies on and on up 2600 mtrs of rough, ROUGH ground under the blazing sun!!! It is hard!! But the rewards with the views from start to finish and the sense of power a volcano evokes really, REALLY!! Makes it worth the pain! (Don't forget, when you've finished at the top? You've got to do the whole thing in reverse, including that 180mtr climb UP the steps!!!????)

3. Piton Maido

Piton Maido Mafate, Saint-Paul Reunion Island
Excellent
83%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 138 reviews

Piton Maido

Reviewed By constructageo

I'm lucky to have visit a part of this beauty by being a part of the Grand Raid 2019 race (Trail de Bourbon)...the terrain is hard and technical but the nature is breathtaking and unique ... The last day of our staying on the island we took a helicopter flight, and admiret the views all from the sky, I racomend it!!!

4. Cascade de trou noir

Saint-Joseph Reunion Island
Excellent
81%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 68 reviews

Cascade de trou noir

5. Reunion Bike Aventure

40 Rue du General de Gaulle, Saint-Gilles-Les-Bains 97434 Reunion Island +262 692 15 42 19 [email protected] http://www.bikeaventure.com
Excellent
86%
Good
10%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 70 reviews

Reunion Bike Aventure

6. Descente VTT

Saint Gilles, Saint-Gilles-Les-Bains 97400 Reunion Island +262 692 21 11 11 http://www.descente-vtt.com/article.php3?id_article=9
Excellent
69%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 132 reviews

Descente VTT

D

7. Jardin des Parfums et des Epices

7 Chemin Forestier Mare-Longue, Saint-Philippe 97442 Reunion Island +262 262 37 06 36 http://jardin.ep.fontaine.pagesperso-orange.fr/index.htm
Excellent
60%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
4%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 998 reviews

Jardin des Parfums et des Epices

Reviewed By like2travl2004 - Knysna, South Africa

For all friends of nature and plants this is a MUST visit! The name is maybe a bit deceiving because really this is a lush rain-forest type private garden of probably at least 1 hectar which you walk through on your own or with a guided tour (90 minutes, at 10:30 and 14:30). Not sure if only in french though. We walked by ourselves and taking our time (nearly 2 hours!) we saw so many astonishing plants and flowers. Loads of creepers and ferns on humungous trees, ferns galore, coffee and cacao trees amd a thousand more we don't even know. Just fabulous! Highly recommend it, but take your time!

8. Kelonia

46 rue du General de Gaulle Pointe des Châteaux, Saint-Leu 97436 Reunion Island +262 262 34 81 10 http://museesreunion.re/kelonia
Excellent
43%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,134 reviews

Kelonia

observatoire tortues

Reviewed By Drisky92 - Leicester, United Kingdom

I lived on the island for 8 months and visited Kélonia multiple times - if I ever had visitors, it was one of the first places I took them. This isn't just an aquarium, it's a conservation centre, so yes, you get to see the adorable sea turtles, but you also get to learn so much through the information exhibits as well. Beautiful setting, good price and relaxed vibes. Brilliant for all ages.

9. Domaine Du Cafe Grille

10 Allee des Cedres Pierrefonds, Saint-Pierre 97410 Reunion Island +262 692 52 24 32 [email protected] http://www.domaineducafegrille.fr
Excellent
73%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,189 reviews

Domaine Du Cafe Grille

"le domaine du café grillé" is mainly a ethno-botanical garden dealing with a time travel through all the history of Reunion island thanks to 900 plant species. In otherwords you start the visit in a modern and aesthetic creole garden commonly found nowdays, and the guide will bring you ,step by step, to the first endemic forests composed of amazing medicinal plants discovered in 1665. Meanwhile we will talk about the golden age of Reunion island.

10. Anse des Cascades

Route Nationale 2, Sainte-Rose Reunion Island
Excellent
52%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 499 reviews

Anse des Cascades

Reviewed By 148leons - Pretoria, South Africa

What a beautiful spot for a picnic or just to relax. Anse des Cascades sits on the sea, with great views of the ocean on the one side and waterfalls surrounded by green forest on the other side. There is a restaurant and a takeaway shop. We had some sandwiches from the takeaway shop at a very reasonable price. The kids really enjoyed this as there were lots of paths to explore. A must stop when visiting.

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