Reunion Travel Guide

Reunion

With its various landscapes including extinct volcanoes, spectacular waterfalls, blue lagoons, golden and dark sand beaches, all squeezed on such a small island, Reunion remains unknown to most of the tourists.

Reunion – Geography

Located west of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, Reunion is a beautiful mix of high mountains, golden beaches and deep canyons. The island’s topography is marked by the presence of the two extinct volcanoes, Piton des Nieges, also the highest point on the island (3070m), and Piton de la Fournaise. The slopes of the volcanoes are covered with dense forests and the valleys formed between them offer breathtaking scenery.

Another characteristic image here due to the presence of the volcanoes is the calderas, the most important ones being the Cirque de Salazie and Cirque de Cilaos. As a result of its location the island has a tropical climate with two seasons and slight variations in temperature and precipitation with elevation.

The island has a few important rivers like the Langevin River and also has its own Niagara Waterfall, a small but picturesque waterfall created by a spring flowing though a caldera.

Reunion – Flora and Fauna

The island has a flora and fauna just as diverse as its topography with indigenous species of birds and mammals, unique in the world, as well as a large number of plant species. Endangered marine or terrestrial animal and plant species are all protected in Reunion in all of their three natural parks. Any tourist willing to meet these local species can visit Hauts de St Philippe State Biological Reserve, Mare Longue-St-Philippe Nature Reserve or Mazerin State Biological Reserve, all located near the capital city St Denis.

Reunion – Tips for Tourists

If you decide for Reunion as your next holiday destination then you must know that usually a visa and a valid passport are required to enter the country. You will also be requested to have a return ticket, documents for your next destination if necessary and enough money to support yourself during the stay.

The travelers are also advised to check with a local embassy or consulate office in order to receive the most accurate information.

The local currency is Euro due to the fact that Reunion belongs to the French Overseas Department.

Reunion – Transports

Reunion has a quite developed transport infrastructure for such a small island. There are two main airports here, the Roland Garros International Airport and the Pierrefonds International Airport.

For getting from one town to another and inside towns the easiest is to travel by bus or to rent a car from one of the many local firms. Renting a car would be the best choice due to the numerous wonderful landscapes and tourist attractions located near the access roads.

Reunion – Resorts

Reunion is a privileged holiday destination due to its wonderful location, diverse landscape and numerous accommodation facilities. The island is the favorite destination for birdwatchers, mountaineers, divers but also for people looking for relaxation surrounded by the sounds of the ocean.

If you want to visit Cirque de Cilaos you should stay at one of the many local guest houses like the Chambre d’hotes Chez Helene Payet, a cozy chalet offering an exotic atmosphere in all its rooms and home cooked meals with homegrown vegetables.

For a relaxing vacation on one of the wonderful beaches of the island, Hotel “Le Nautile” is the place to stay. Located near a dreamlike lagoon surrounded by coconut and palm trees, the hotel offers besides high class accommodation, a fresh water swimming pool, cocktail bar, private parking and excellent restaurants.

Reunion - Cuisine

The traditional cuisine here is a mix of European and Creole cuisine with many exotic accents, having as main ingredients fish and seafood, different types of cheese, chicken, sausages, local vegetables and fruits and of course numerous spices.

Some of the most popular dishes in Reunion are the rougail boucané, a type of curry with smoked pork or sausages, cabri massalé, a goat stew also very spicy and as desserts they usually serve rum based dishes like the rhum arranges or pastry like the corn cake or cassava cake.

Any tourist visiting Reunion will be amazed by the beauty of these places, the richness of tourist attractions and the numerous outdoor activities fit for every taste.