Rue Victor Le Vigoureux takes you to this covered market with its spices exuding their intoxicating scents and various kinds of Malagasy handicrafts at very good prices.

The broad riverbed and deep valley carved out by the Remparts River, a refuge for runaway slaves in the 18C, invites you on a magnificent hike dotted with spectacular views. A trail goes up the canyon dug out by the river to the hamlet of Roche-Plate..

For a stunningly breathtaking view of the lovely Remparts and Langevin Rivers, head for the Belvédère du Serré just before Grand-Coude, a village where essential geranium oil is still being distilled. To get there, take the D 33 from Saint-Joseph tow..

Shaded by tall litchi and avocado trees, the road winds along the Langevin River, whose many pools of cool water are the perfect spot for an invigorating break. At Grand-Galet, the great waterfall is the only sound disturbing the peace and quiet arou..

Cap Méchant (“Cape Wicked”) is a most impressive place when you’re standing on the edge of the cliffs (be sure to follow all safety rules), feeling the power of the Indian Ocean and its waves incessantly pounding the black basalt. It is an awesome sp..

The Mare-Longue Botanical Trail crisscrosses the damp, tropical primary forest of the same name. Designated as a natural reserve since 1981, it stretches over a rather recent lava flow, offering a rare opportunity to tread on ground that has been spa..

Up the southeast slope a little past Bois-Blanc, the road opens onto a superb park with cabbage palms. The falls tumbling down the basalt cliffs are only fed during heavy rains. This shady site, always airy and cool, is nonetheless quite attractive w..

Several cataclysms have swept away successive bridges built over the Rivière de l’Est, one of Réunion’s most tumultuous rivers. The (19C) suspension bridge, which can be crossed on foot, towers 50m above the river bed (the RN 2 goes over a more recen..

The village is known for its strange church, rebuilt by Father Daubenberger, which was used as the setting for a scene in François Truffaut’s film Mississippi Mermaid . From 1926 to 1950, with the help of his parishioners, children from his catechis..

At the end of the road you come to an awe-inspiring untamed site – what is left of the former Cirque de Bébour, now filled in. Marsouins River gorge looms into view with its dizzying falls and jagged peaks rising from the thick, damp vegetation. To t..

The cooperative was created in about 1950 to reduce the producers’ operation and distribution costs. It makes high-quality Bourbon brand vanilla and controls 75 % of the island’s production. Following an introductory film the guide explains the long ..

If you’re looking for somewhere refreshing and full of natural beauty, head for the two waterfalls on the Rivière des Roches. First there’s the bassin de la Paix and its 10m falls, which can only be seen from the bridge due to unsteady ground. Then..

This family-run workshop produces two tons of green vanilla per year. The tour takes you around the estate and its 12 000 plants, some grown modern-style in greenhouses and others in the traditional way under trees. You can also learn how flowers are..

Two tours are offered at this still-active industrial site: a fascinating one at the Bois-Rouge Sugar Factory explaining how sugar is made and the effervescence surrounding it, particularly during the sugar season (from July to december); and another..

Niagara waterfall flows through an enchanting setting and is often featured in publications boasting the island’s charms. It is a favourite Sunday picnic spot for islanders. There are less crowded pools if you follow the trail to the top of the cliff..

This lake, surrounded by ramparts covered in exuberant vegetation, was created by an earthquake, and its water level changes with the seasons. Tropical trees , guavas and rose apples (whose pinkish-yellow fruit has a delicious taste of roses) adorn ..

At the end of Mare-à-Vieille-Place village, stop at the Kiosque du Grand Bord, where you can admire the huge Plaine des Fougères rampart closing off the Cirque to the north. The peaks continue all the way to La Roche Écrite, towering above this majes..

A pleasant flower-lined track once used by porters leads to the former spa baths, where you can still relax in the hot, iron-rich waters. The track then continues to the scenic Bras Rouge waterfall ( swimming is dangerous here ). Follow the GR 42 fro..

At this stopover in the primary forest of Saint-Philippe – a truly enchanting experience for the senses – you can explore a 100-year-old garden and its many plant species, some of them native to Réunion. The guide shares his knowledge and passion for..

The Maison de la Broderie displays the traditional openwork embroidery produced in Cilaos. This meticulous craft was introduced in the cirque by Angèle Mac-Auliffe, a doctor’s daughter, and the technique, which consists of drawing threads from the fa..