Go hiking on Reunion Island

The peaks can be shrouded in the clouds from 11am: leave early if you want to admire the superb landscapes !

It gets dark early (5:30pm in winter; 7pm in summer) and very quickly: you must remember to take a headlamp with you.

Up in the mountains (Volcano, Piton des Neiges, Grand Bénare,…), you could experience both very hot temperatures and very cold temperatures, so make sure you have the right equipment and food.

Don’t set off on long hiking expeditions if there is a weather warning for storms, heavy rain or cyclones !

The volcanic geology has turned the trails into cliffs (the “ramparts”) where falling rocks and landslides could occur: do not plan a hike along these trails during heavy rain and 3 days after the rainy periods (the ground can break apart as it dries, so the rain can make rocks unstable).

Many trails have sections that cross over the rivers: always check the level, current and colour of the water before crossing. Water that starts to foam or change colour is sign of a flood. In fact, a sunny day can often be misleading and it is sometimes impossible to predict heavy rainfall in the island’s highlands. Don’t hesitate to turn back, or wait for the water to recede.

The footpaths of Reunion Island are generally not easy ones: mountainous terrain, steep uphill climbs, a great number of steps, ladders, muddy or stony passages. These characteristics of a tropical climate must be considered, when deciding upon a group’s ability.

During the cyclone season (December to April), respect the safety recommendations and keep yourself up to date with the different levels of alert. After a cyclone, when the alert has been lifted, wait to be given the go ahead for the site in question.