Reunion Island is a French department in the Indian Ocean, and known for its volcanic and pluvial interior, its coral reefs and its beaches. The intense island, as it is called, is aptly named because it is so full of activities to do and sites to visit. Reunion is a magnificent island, with unspoiled nature, varied exceptional natural sites and spectacular relief. Between valleys and mountains, ocean and volcano, your trip to Reunion promises you unforgettable holidays.
To see in La Reunion Island
Its most emblematic monument is the Piton de la Fournaise, an active climbing volcano of 2,632 m (8,635 ft). The Piton des Neiges, a massive extinct volcano, and the 3 calderas of Réunion (natural amphitheatres formed by collapsed volcanoes) are also climbing destinations. The coral reef is located in the west of the island where it forms a discontinuous belt with a total length of 25km and a reef-lagoon area of less than 20 km². It’s a young reef. There are no mangroves and phanerogam beds are rare.
The main cities of Reunion Island
There are 24 municipalities on Reunion Island, all of which have their own economic advantages and infrastructure.
- Saint-Denis, the capital, the commercial, the administrative and political center of Reunion, offers jewels of Creole architecture between the shopping streets of the city center.
- Saint-Pierre - Reunion people know that if they want to enjoy the nightlife, Saint Pierre is the place to be.
- Saint-Gilles Les Bains - The seaside resort of the island, Saint Gilles is to Reunion Island what Saint-Tropez is to the metropolis. This district of Saint Paul owes its status as a major tourist mecca to several factors: including its beaches, the most beautiful on the island, and its many bars and nightclubs.
- Saint-Leu - Seaside resort with its beaches and its marina.
- Saint-Paul - Lighthouse town in the west of the island, enjoying a particularly sunny climate. Tourist capital with the beaches of Boucan-Canot, the black rocks, the Hermitage, the Saline.
- La Saline-les-Bains - a booming seaside resort with a strong focus on tourism.
- The Port - This town is the only port on the island which is used in particular for the transport of goods by river.
- Le Tampon - Its mild climate is popular with tourists and farmers alike, who take advantage of the town's altitude to produce sugar cane, breed livestock or plant flowers.
- Petite-île - a Creole village in the south of the island which has managed to preserve all the richness of its culture and traditions.
- La Plaine des Palmistes - Located in the Hauts in the center of Reunion Island, this town is surrounded by volcanoes offering an exceptional environment to the inhabitants.
La Reunion beaches
Turquoise blue lagoon, fine sand, coconut palms ...
Do not hesitate to take breaks between your different visits in order to be able to enjoy the beaches, this is still the best way to decompress! The island has breathtaking coastlines, with its 22km of lagoon ideal for relaxation.
Boucan Canot Beach is perhaps the most beautiful beach on the island. The waterfront is really nice, with tall casuarinas trees and pristine sand. There are also many snacks and small restaurants. Saint Pierre beach, located near the port, has the only lagoon in the south. Grande Anse beach is the most beautiful but also more touristy than Manapany. The relatively uncrowded Étang Salé beach has the distinction of being the only gray sand beach with a lagoon. Saint Leu beach, which runs along the city center, is rather pleasant. Quite busy, Trou d'Eau beach is no less magnificent. In addition, the shallow water and the coral reef make it a largely family-friendly site. La Saline / Ermitage beach: La Saline and in continuation of the Hermitage, are the most touristic beaches of Reunion. The long lagoon, the fine sand, the numerous restaurants and hotel complexes make it a must-see for tourists on the West Coast. Roche Noires beach: near the Port of Saint Gilles, is a fairly trendy beach, and very frequented especially by surfers.
Who makes the selection?
Our selection is based solely on our own experiences and those of the friends who came here to La Reunion. It is not based on a paid system. The general referencing visible on the home page is only oriented in the interest of the users of our site dedicated to La Reunion. The proposed venues are intended to be as objective as possible for an audience composed of both casual visitors but also for Reunion residents and expats living in La Reunion.
Below you'll find random links proposed by categories of places to visit while in La Reunion :