1232 Travel Guide

Located in the Salazie cirque, Trou de Fer is a geological wonder: a near-300-metre-deep chasm on the Piton des Neiges massif into which multiple streams plunge, forming a waterfall with a drop of about 725 metres — cited as the tallest waterfall in France.

A hiking loop through the Terre Plate forest and past the Manouilh (Manouil) hot springs near Salazie/Hell-Bourg. The Manouilh spring was a thermal source discovered in 1916 by a local young man along the Rivière du Mât, and the route offers primeval tropical rainforest and hot-spring experiences.

The Cimetière Marin (Seafaring Cemetery) of Saint-Paul is a famous tourism site and a national historic monument of Réunion, lying between the royal road and the bay. Beneath coconut trees and frangipani rest many notable historical figures, including the pirate La Buse (Olivier Levasseur).

The Mare à Poule d'Eau pond in the Salazie cirque takes its name from the moorhens (poule d'eau) that live there. The water reflects casuarina trees and bamboo, and several shelters line the shore, making it a peaceful spot for picnics and rest.

The ruins of the Anciens Thermes (old thermal baths) in Cilaos recall a spa establishment built in the 19th century to welcome convalescents from Réunion and the surrounding islands. It was destroyed by severe weather in the 1950s and only traces of it remain today.

La Case Tonton is a traditional Creole-style wooden house in the Cirque de Salazie, tucked among the villages and greenery of Reunion's central highlands. Salazie is one of the island's three cirques, known for its steep cliffs, numerous waterfalls and cool climate, and villages such as Hell-Bourg preserve many Creole dwellings. Such cabins are usually built against the hillside in quiet surroundings, a base for experiencing Reunion's mountain dwelling culture and the scenery of the cirques; for its exact location and any access or hosting arrangements, confirm directly with local sources before you travel.