Early travellers saw the East Coast as a garden of Eden, an original, untainted land. With its lush countryside and waterfalls, travellers discover an enchanting region tumbling with flowing water.
Spellbinding and mystical, this Land of Eden has preserved its purity. Falling water mingles with scented smoke while the air pulses to the rhythm of religious and cultural traditions.
Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of the East Coast where nature is bewitching and mystical.
The Land of Eden is like its water, revitalising and soothing. From waterfalls to lakes, this abundance of water in the east of the island has helped to shape unspoilt landscapes such as Anse des Cascades, in Sainte-Rose. This place has a breathtaking rugged beauty. Small fishing boats do battle with the choppy Indian Ocean and graceful tropicbirds use the cliffs and their abundant vegetation to shelter from the wind.
A little higher up, on the Plaine des Palmistes road, Grand Étang, a high-altitude lake of volcanic origin, reveals itself to visitors in a lush green setting with an array of impressive waterfalls.
The humid and enchanting nature of the Land of Eden can also be appreciated in splendid pools full of refreshing, clear water such as the very popular Bassin Bleu, Bassin Mangue or Bassin La Paix in Saint-Benoît. Places where islanders and tourists alike like to picnic by the river, lulled by the birdsong and the gentle sound of flowing water.
More active visitors can go hiking, canyoning and rafting in Rivière des Roches to explore the landscape from a new perspective. A unique way of experiencing the lush vegetation and different variations of water that make up the East.
As adventurers travel to the East of the island they will see the countryside change. The deeper you plunge into these unspoilt and mysterious lands, the more omnipresent nature seems to become. The untamed Land of Eden appears as the perfect reflection of the biodiversity sheltered on Reunion Island. Favourable microclimates and diverse natural habitats have made it easier for all the different native species to thrive. With its gardens and primary forests, the East of Reunion Island is a panoply of emerald green. Discover this diverse selection of plants by hiking in Bélouve primary forest, one of the best examples of biodiversity in Reunion Island. It recalls the island’s original and vibrant atmosphere. Make sure you don’t miss the very impressive Trou de Fer waterfall, a sight only visible on foot or from the air.
Another striking example of the power of these wild lands: Takamaka valley, a deep gorge that cuts through Piton des Neiges. Its steep walls enclosing one of island’s longest water courses, Rivière des Marsouins, make an imprint on the landscape.
While the dense vegetation of the primary forests, ravines and rivers sculpting the East of Reunion Island is astonishing, the farmlands also harbour a surprising variety of crops. In the austral winter, the red gold of Reunion Island, the guava, can be found everywhere. The orchards, where you can pick your own, are overflowing with these tangy fruits, which can be made into juice, jams or jellies. In the summer, in the festive season, the East is taken over by lychees. If lychees from Reunion Island are the best in the world, those from the East are the most renowned on the island, particularly the lychees from Bras-Canot, in Saint-Benoît. A joyous plethora of scents and flavours highlights the fertility and abundance of this part of the ultimate experience.
Exploring the Land of Eden will awaken the child in you! Let your curiosity have free reign and admire the stunning range of plants, flowers and birds that add vibrant colour to this region.
Apart from its lush landscapes and biodiversity, the Land of Eden is just like a mini version of Reunion Island as a whole: a land of diversity and tolerance.
Travellers in quest of spirituality will find it reflected in a harmonious society where beliefs are not only respected, they are intertwined. Historically the land of Indian indentured labourers, the East is populated by multicoloured Tamil temples open to passing visitors, such as the Colosse temple or Maryen Peroumal temple in Saint-André. It is a wonderful opportunity to discover both spirituality and Tamil rituals and traditions, like firewalking, processions and other impressive festivals such as Diwali (the Festival of Light).
In the Land of Eden, alongside the temples, there are iconic churches such as the Church of Sainte-Anne, where Catherine Deneuve and Jean-Paul Belmondo got married in the film Mississippi Mermaid, or Notre-Dame-des-Laves, in Sainte-Rose, which miraculously survived the Piton de la Fournaise eruption in 1977. With its diversity and different faiths, which transcend differences, combined with a melting pot of cultures and populations, Reunion Island is a perfect example of living together.
Bassins Cascades Takamaka37 Credit Irt Serge Gelabert Dts 12 2017.jpg
Canyoning
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Sainte Rose01 Anse Des Cascades Credit Irt Emmanuel Virin.jpg
Sainte Rose20 Pont Credit Irt Evelyne Coustillat.jpg
Vegetation59 Ravine Traversant Le Chemin De Ceinture Saint Benoit Credit Irt Yabalex Dts 07 2017.jpg
Oiseau la vierge
