Outdoor activities in Reunion

The island of Reunion is a paradise for lovers of outdoor activities and thrills: from water sports such as kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing, wind surfing and snorkelling to boat trips to see dolphins and whales, from hiking for all levels in the mountains and volcanoes to canyoning and underground explorations, from helicopter flights to swimming in postcard-perfect seas.

Hiking in Réunion

Réunion is a true paradise for hikers, whether beginners or experts: the island offers more than 900 km of marked trails. They cross a varied and breathtakingly beautiful environment: a dense tropical forest in the east, savannahs or sugar cane fields in the west, lunar landscapes on the volcano, windy paths along the ocean waves.

This unique variety of landscapes earned the island its inscription among the UNESCO World Heritage natural sites in 2010.

You will find children’s trails, family walks, night or beach hikes, steep trails – the island offers a wide variety of paths and routes. Whatever your level, there will be a route that allows you to discover the splendours of the island at your own pace. One of the unmissable hiking trails on the island is the one that leads to the majestic Piton des Neiges, the highest point of the Mascarene archipelago.

Every year, almost 400,000 visitors set off to attack the famous volcano, each at their own pace. Through marked trails, you cross the lunar landscapes and craters of the Plaine des Sables, until you reach the summit at an altitude of 2,632 metres.

The best season to enjoy the beauty of the island is the austral winter, more specifically the months of August, September, October and November. These are the driest months of the year. The climate is mild, temperatures are mild and rainfall is low. The hiking trails are therefore perfectly passable. During the rest of the year, it is still possible to hike on most trails, although they can be muddy and therefore more slippery. Wear suitable shoes and bring waterproof clothing. Some recommendations are necessary, however: plan ahead because the climate changes quickly in the high mountains even if it rains less during the austral winter. Also, if you leave very early in the morning, you will have a better chance of seeing the sun at the top of the Piton de la Fournaise.

Guided hikes

Whale spotting

Among the must-do activities on Réunion,whale spotting and swimming with dolphins is an absolute must. It is impossible to resist the fascination and mystery of these playful and captivating mammals.

The best season to come across these cetaceans is between June and October and you will find numerous tourist cruises in all forms. The important thing is to contact true professionals, who respect the environment and are cetacean enthusiasts.

These outings are organised mainly in the mornings, when the animals move along the coast to obtain food. Leaving from the port of Saint-Gilles, board a zodiac in a small group to reach the areas where these animals live.

Fly over the island in a helicopter

Flying over the whole island to discover its various seascapes and mountain landscapes is one of the best things to do on Réunion: it is from above that the best views open up, especially those encompassing cirques and volcanoes.

There are several companies offering tourist flights, mainly departing from the west coast. They offer flights of various durations, which allow you to discover most of the landscapes: you can fly over the cirques of Mafate, Salazie or Ciloas, passing close to the Piton des Neiges or over the vapours of the Piton de la Fournaise, with the Indian Ocean in the background.

The most spectacular flights allow you to descend into the Trou de Fer: although you will have to endure some thrilling aerial acrobatics, you can get as close as possible to the vertiginous waterfalls that plunge into this inaccessible abyss.

The only drawback: the costs are obviously high.

Paragliding at Saint-Leu

The island’s high peaks protect much of its west coast from the prevailing winds of the Indian Ocean. This makes the island an ideal place to discover and practise paragliding.

In fact, this sport is mainly practised in calm weather and on Réunion it is possible all year round thanks to its unique terrain, especially perfect for first flights.

The town of Saint-Leu has a take-off area. Your instructor will accompany you with all the necessary equipment in a van to the starting point. Once you have put on your equipment and prepared your glider, you will take off with him.

You will admire a magnificent view of the surroundings as you calmly descend towards the sea. With a bit of luck, you will take advantage of the ascending currents to prolong the pleasure of the flight and finally glide over the turquoise blue lagoon for a gentle landing on the beach.

Canyoning in torrents

With its high peaks and abundant rainfall, Réunion is full of torrents that have carved numerous labyrinths in its mountains. It is therefore the ideal playground for canyoning.

Equipped from head to toe and following a guide, you can experience the most unspoilt natural landscapes while practising a truly fun activity: plunging into waterfalls, sliding down natural slides, abseiling down watercourses, to name but the most thrilling.

Various places are suitable for this activity, each with its own strengths. Some routes offer more abseiling, others offer magnificent stone slides. Sometimes you have to swim a lot, while other courses are less physical. This diversity makes it possible to open canyoning to athletes of all levels and to vary the pleasures during an outing.

One of the most popular choices is the Fleur Jaune course in Cilaos. It offers magnificent rappels into waterfalls and a beautiful view of the glacial cirque at the end of the route.

Exploring lava tunnels

Reunion Island is shaped by volcanoes: the Piton de la Fournaise, or simply ‘the volcano’ for the Reunionese, is still one of the most active on the planet.

Over the centuries, it has excavated numerous tunnels throughout the south of the island: you can visit them during an interesting introduction to speleology in the lava tunnels. During this underground excursion, accompanied by an experienced guide and after being equipped, you will leave the tropical atmosphere of Reunion for cooler underground spaces and, above all, in total darkness. You will have the opportunity to discover tunnels with rocks of various shapes and textures that testify to the variety of volcanic phenomena.

This experience is open to almost everyone: only small children cannot participate. The maze of tunnels allows the route to be adapted to the sporting level of the participants, and also to people prone to claustrophobia.

Diving off the coast of Reunion

The south-west of Reunion is known for its lagoons and coral reefs. Apart from snorkelling, which already allows one to discover spectacular seabeds, it is naturally a place that lends itself perfectly to scuba diving.

Up to 6 metres underwater, you will have the opportunity to observe clown fish, blue surgeon fish or even black-banded damselfish in the bay of Saint-Leu, not to mention turtles.

Given the problem of underwater pressure, it is imperative to do this activity at least 48 hours before or after your arrival and return by plane. Caution: as places are limited, it is best to book as early as possible.