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Our best spots for a dream vacation in Reunion!

undefined undefined 27 décembre 2025 undefined 08h30

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The Editor

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Recently in Paris, it's cold, it's gloomy, in short, winter has definitely arrived in the capital. So to give ourselves a bit of comfort in the face of this dreary weather, what could be better than organizing a magical holiday in the sun? For that, let’s head to the island of Réunion, where our team has found some little gems you won't want to miss. Are you with us?

It's not called The Intense Island for nothing. La Réunion is a condensed mix of activities and landscapes on an area much smaller than Brittany. Yet, despite its small size, it offers us a multitude of treasures. A magical place that will delight both the most athletic and those who swear by relaxation or leisure. Here’s a little overview of everything you can enjoy to make your stay unforgettable.

Let's start with a practical detail: no matter what your vacation plans are, whether you're considering going for 4 hikes in less than 48 hours or exploring all the beaches of the island in 2 days, you'll absolutely need a car. It's super simple—just head to one of the thousand rental agencies located near the Saint-Denis airport, and you're all set! Once that's taken care of, it's time for new adventures.


Saint-Denis

To kick off the journey, we won't stray too far from the urban vibe of the capital by wandering through the streets of Saint-Denis. We'll stroll down rue de Paris and admire its stunning colonial houses, some of which have been turned into a museum. Let's take a little detour to the Natural History Museum.

lle, just to discover the endemic fauna and flora of the island (and more generally the Mascarenes), and along the seaside, for a quick lunch at the bar of your choice.

And let’s not forget the magnificent cathedral, especially its surroundings, the famous Carré Cat’, where you'll find quite a few must-visit spots in the city. Among our favorites is Le Reflet des Îles, where you can enjoy a delicious Creole cuisine, or Popine, a bit less typical, but sure to please all the trendy folks missing the 11th with its delightful sharing plates and other cocktails.

On the activity side, we take the car and head 20 minutes south to the Port for a diving session with Peï Plongée. It's a magical moment to swim deep with turtles, colorful fish, and sea anemones. For accommodation, we highly recommend the Juliette Dodu, a historic residence where the namesake resistance fighter was born. With old-world charm, a delightful pool, and impeccable service, we absolutely love it.


Saint-Gilles and Saint-Leu

For our second stop, we head a little further west, towards the beach. We make a quick stop at Kélonia, an amazing turtle rehabilitation center, before...

to join Saint-Gilles. To fully enjoy the experience, we settle in at the Tropic Appart Hôtel, where you can experience both the comfort of a hotel and the intimacy of an apartment in a breathtaking setting. Once our bags are dropped off, we head straight to the Hermitage Beach, the most accessible beach in Réunion thanks to its vast natural coral barrier, which provides you with an absolutely perfect swimming spot.

Once the batteries are recharged, we dive into our first hike, heading to the Mafate circus. We absolutely love the trail that connects Maïdo to Grand Bénare. It's relatively accessible and offers stunning views from the top, including an incredible sight of the Mafate and Cilaos circuses, and the Piton des Neiges — probably one of the best spots on the island for a picnic — all while crossing landscapes that are both diverse and breathtaking.

Back on the coast, we take a little detour to Boucan Canot beach, before indulging at La Marmite with its brilliant concept. Huge pots filled with typical dishes, from which we serve ourselves as much as we want, paying by weight. A special mention for the duck.Vanilla, simply delicious. Finally, take advantage of the proximity to Saint-Leu for a little boat tour with Lady la Fée. With a bit of luck, you'll spot some dolphins and even some whales!


Cilaos

This time, we're heading to the lands, and more specifically, Cilaos, the highest village in Réunion, located in the heart of the cirque of the same name. Here, the hikes are definitely more than just a handful, and they are all worth it, no doubt. So, we prepare a delicious picnic (with an essential stop at Kaz Metisse for dessert), and we set off on the tour of Palmiste Rouge via Piton Morel. The beginning is a bit tough, but the view is not to be missed. And as a reward after our efforts, we stop at Bec Rose, a local hangout that we just love.

Regarding accommodation, head over to the apartment le Ti Laos. Not only does it offer all the necessary comfort and an amazing view of the cirque, but Carole's place also has the (very) big advantage of featuring a canopy bed and a jacuzzi outdoors. And trust us, after a lovely day of hiking or just to warm up a bit (the nights can get chilly up high), this is a luxury you won’t want to miss!


Saint-Pierre

Let’s continue our journey by heading down to Saint-Pierre, another big city on the island, to enjoy its lively market, perfect for picking up all your souvenirs. This time, we’re focusing more on culture and relaxation, with the ...

the beach of Étang Salé and its amazing black sand, the lovely coastline, and especially one of our favorite activities during the trip, the cooking class offered by Arlette and Philippe. For a whole morning, the couple welcomes you into their home to create local dishes in an incredible atmosphere. With tasting homemade rums, anecdotes, personal stories, and intoxicating scents, it's a must.


The Wild South

Next, we leave the city to continue our journey to the Wild South, which is perfectly named. Here, the waves crash against the volcanic rocks volcanic, the wind howls and the vegetation comes alive for a complete and immediate change of scenery. From Cap Méchant to the Anse des Cascades, and through the lava tunnels, nature takes over here to leave us breathless.

On the food side, there's another big favorite with the original concept: the Case Volcan. If, like us, you sometimes struggle a bit to choose your meal from names on a menu, here, there's no question to ask, because as soon as you arrive, they bring you...e samples of each dish on the menu to help you make your choice. Not only do we indulge, but we can be sure to treat ourselves afterwards!

And above all, we're making the most of our time in the south-east of the island to tackle the ascent of a giant: the Piton de la Fournaise. For the brave ones, it's a 2 AM start to hike up in the night with headlamps and catch one of the most breathtaking sunrises of your life once you reach the top!

at the top. As a bonus, the pleasure of discovering the landscape on the way down.


Sainte-Rose, Saint-Philippe, and Saint-André

To wrap up our loop, we're heading back up from the east, passing through a series of must-see spots. On the cultural side, we’ll focus on the Tamil temples and the vanilla plantations (especially the Roul family vanilla plantation).

of, to the fascinating history), and the distilleries. For rum enthusiasts, head to the Savanna distillery, where the process of making rum is explained from A to Z, including a tour of a working factory and a tasting at the end.

When it comes to food, head to Eve Annibal’s farm, believed to be the creator of the vanilla duck. Here, again, it’s the concept that we love, with its large communal tables, its unique dishes served in more than generous portions, and its countless punches and flavored rums, available in self-service and in a casual manner.unlimited. The perfect place for a great evening.

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Finally, to wrap up our adventures, it's time for some sports, heading to the last circus on the island, Salazie. Here, we can choose to go to Trou de Fer, either starting from the Bélouve gîte where we’ll spend the night, or making our way from Hell-Bourg a bit lower down, just to discover this incredibly charming village. But be careful if...the view at the top is breathtaking, the weather can be unpredictable, and we recommend getting to the top very early if you want to enjoy it.


The Return

To wrap things up, we're heading back to Saint-Denis, and to end on a positive note, let's go to Villa Fleurié, a gourmet restaurant up in the hills, where the lunch menu with appetizer, main course, and dessert is definitely worth it. With all that, you've got plenty to keep you busy, and we're off to grab some tickets because all we want is to go back as soon as possible.