Reunion Island

Hi VE,

I'm not sure of if anybody will be able to assist, but this is probably the best platform to ask for advise/information.

We are considering a trip to Reunion Island next year where we would like to explore some of the remote parts of the Island and the beautiful mountains on foot. I was wondering if anybody on the forum has, or know where I can get some legit information on some of the following topics. I'll probably be able to Google everything but is hoping to find someone which can give some first hand advise.

1. Visa Requirement.
2. Availability of established routes/track and the booking requirement there-off. The idea is 3 - 5 days on foot in the Mafate Area
3. Accommodation on the Trail (4 Night).
4. Accommodation of the Trail where we can experience local traditions and island activities (2-3 Nights).
4. Safety
5. Any other tips??

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Regards

Henk

You can start here:

blog.welcometoreunionisland.com

Hi Henk,

I'm not much help with all the points but I am an avid "wikiloc" contributor and user. I read your posts and though I would check the island quickly. There are no less than 14 entries of various trails, mtb etc.



Try this link or simply search Wikiloc and zoom in on Reunion.

Wikiloc - Reunion

Have a ball!

I've been to Reunion. It was awesome! I'd love to go again one day.

Regarding your questions:

1. When we went there was no visa requirement.

2. Lots of established trails - "first world hiking". In Mafate as well, although that is the wildest area of the island. If you go during the European holidays (July-August), then you'll need to book in advance (and don't go in their rainy season!). The places you can book through the website are easy. If you have to phone them, be prepared to speak French (in a funny dialect). Very little English spoken there. We didn't spend much time in Mafate, unfortunately, but in La Nouvelle in September we had the town to ourselves. Note that because there are no cars in Mafate, there are no roads and therefore no addresses. The houses in La Nouvelle are just built on the village green, as it were. A bit like the Shire, but in French. So our booking just said "La maison blanc" (the white house), which confused me until I got there, and then I understood.

3. There is a lot of accommodation. You don't have to take a tent.

4. The gîtes (backpackers) are really sociable places, but there you'll meet other tourists, not locals. If you stay in Chez's (peoples' homes) you'll get a better idea of the local culture, but it does depend where, and they are more expensive. Mafate is pretty isolated, so you probably can't go wrong there.

4. Super safe. Many of the streams in the popular areas have Giardia, so I would be careful about that. But otherwise, it is France (or a French 'department', to be exact. Their holiday island). You pay in Euro, the public transport is really good, and people are friendly and active. The rock is basically conglomerate (worse than the Berg) so I wouldn't climb there, although I know some people who have. But in my opinion it is a shlep to lug your climbing gear there for crags that aren't as great as in SA.

5. Other tips... You can spot the South Africans from a mile by their huge packs. The Europeans go with daypacks, since you can buy food at all the places you will be staying, they provide bedding, etc. Maybe that detracts from the wilderness factor, but the landscapes are wild enough that I really enjoyed it (I realised with a shock that a 5km long, 1.5km high wall (Le Rampart, Amphiteatre size) doesn't stand out in those mountains,). It is kind of a European hiking experience on an SA budget. Or an awesome trail-running venue if you are that way inclinded: many guys run from one village to another and then take the bus back if you're not in Mafate (you can get around the island on a bus in half a day).

Piton de Neige (highest point, about 3000m) is reasonably interesting and looks like Mordor, but the gîte there (Caverne Dufour) isn't great. But you don't have a choice if you want to do that, unless you are super fit. The escarpment walk from there to Hell Bourg makes it worthwhile, although it is deceptively long.

St Denis is their capital, but basically an interesting French town. We enjoyed exploring it for a day. But the other coastal towns (and traffic) are nothing special. Cilaos was pretty cool and a good entry point into the Cirques, although there are others as well.

Catered food is expensive, so we did cook for ourselves most of the time. I took a storm cooker and bought some meths in St Denis. Their vanilla is awesome - buy some. Oh, and for their punch is our liqueur, and their liqeur is our mampoer. Other than that, local cuisine is fish, rice, beans, and lentils. Their wine is like the sweetest wine you can buy in SA.

We toured for 5 days and hiked for 5 days. Hiking was definitely the highlight, so if I go again it would be to the cirques (Mafate specifically), and I'd cut out the coastal places and not rent a car. The busdrivers are amazing and it's an experience doing those passes in them.

There's a lot of other adventure activities as well (downhill mtb for 40km from 2700m to the coast), some awesome canyoneering, heli flights, white water rafting, etc. Those activities are what make your trip expensive, though.

They have fantastic maps, but you have to buy them there at one of the many tourist bureaus.

We found that the times on the signposts were a bit on the fast side, but they were for daypack hikers, not us...

Hope it helps! Let me know if you have other questions.

EDIT:
I just remembered, we stayed at Pension Zulekain de Lambada (or something like that), upon our arrival in St Denis. Was a pretty good and affordable place for arriving late at night.

Air Austral is also an amazing airline. They serve awesome food.

The only bus that never arrived was our 06:30 Sunday morning bus to get to the airport on time for flying back. If we missed our flight we would have had to take the next flight, which was only on Thursday. And 06:30 on a Sunday morning in St Denis is deserted, no taxis about. In the end the bus station attendant took pity on us and used his phone to call a friend. We did a high speed chase to the airport and arrived 30min before the flight. The airport is tiny, though, so it was enough time, even for an international flight. But next time I'll have a backup plan.