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Réunion🇷🇪 | beachesAnse des CascadesWaterfall cove, banyan shade, basalt spray, fishing ramp | things to do and best time to go

Explore Saga du RhumExplore Boucan Canot

Backpacking in Anse des Cascades
👀 For curious travelersbeach ranked #12
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Salt spray drifts off the black basalt boulders while fishing boats rest on the small ramp, and a waterfall hisses somewhere behind the palms. Anse des Cascades is on Réunion's east coast, south of Saint-Benoît, close to Sainte-Rose. It is a pocket of picnic tables, banyan shade and a rocky shoreline, pretty and tidy, with a few snack stands and the odd food truck. The sea is rough, so swimming is risky outside the sheltered pools, and there is no real sand. Snorkeling is poor. Unlike broad, calm Boucan Canot on the west coast, this is a green, wave-battered cove for lingering, not for lying out.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #12 beach in RéunionWhat makes this beach worth visiting

Anse des Cascades beach earns its stop because it sits on the wet, wild east coast, where the road squeezes between sugarcane and lava cliffs. The place is small enough that you finish a loop in an hour, yet lingering feels right. Pull up under the giant banyan and filao trees and Creole families spread out lunches on the shaded picnic tables that are free to use, so you can eat alongside locals without paying restaurant prices. The Cascade Delices waterfall spills down a cliff next to the cove, and a short stroll puts you under its mist. Cheap snacks come from roadside vendors, and the coast route continues easily in both directions.

💡 HighlightsTop highlights of Anse des Cascades

  1. Cascade Délices: the waterfall that gave the cove its name pours down a green cliff beside the bay, and a short path takes you right up to the cool spray.
  2. Banyan and filao grove: the aerial roots and deep shade make the best picnic spot on this coast, with the sound of surf in the background.
  3. Black basalt shoreline: waves explode against the lava rocks here, so photographers get a dramatic show from the safe viewpoints above the water.
  4. Small fishing ramp: local fishermen haul their boats in and out by hand, and you can watch the routine without any ceremony.
  5. Creole picnic scene: on weekends families set up on the tables with rougail, samoussas and grilled snacks, and sampling a few from the nearby food stands is the easiest cultural lesson on the island.
Anse des Cascades beach takes about one … read more 👉
  1. Cascade Délices: the waterfall that gave the cove its name pours down a green cliff beside the bay, and a short path takes you right up to the cool spray.
  2. Banyan and filao grove: the aerial roots and deep shade make the best picnic spot on this coast, with the sound of surf in the background.
  3. Black basalt shoreline: waves explode against the lava rocks here, so photographers get a dramatic show from the safe viewpoints above the water.
  4. Small fishing ramp: local fishermen haul their boats in and out by hand, and you can watch the routine without any ceremony.
  5. Creole picnic scene: on weekends families set up on the tables with rougail, samoussas and grilled snacks, and sampling a few from the nearby food stands is the easiest cultural lesson on the island.
Anse des Cascades beach takes about one to two hours to see properly, a little longer if you linger over lunch.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?Seasonal considerations and timing

  • Austral Winter (May to October): Dry and mild on the east coast, with highs of 22 to 26°C (72 to 79°F) and cool nights near 16°C (61°F). Daylight lasts about 11 hours, so plan beach time before late afternoon.
  • Summer (November to April): Hot and humid at 28 to 32°C (82 to 90°F), with heavy showers that swell the waterfall just inland. Cyclone risk peaks January to March, and daylight stretches to about 13 hours.
  • School Holidays (July to August, December to January): Local families fill the picnic spots on weekends, and flights from Paris cost more.
  • Whale Season (July to September): Humpbacks pass along the coast and can be spotted from the shore.
Aim for a weekday morning in September or October for calm skies and thin crowds.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: highly recommended for travelingAUGAugust: highly recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: excellent for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: good for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

The best base for backpackers is Saint-Philippe or the Sainte-Rose area, but most budget travelers sleep in Saint-Benoît or Saint-Pierre and visit by rental car. Anse des Cascades has no real hostel scene, only a few guesthouses (chambres d’hôtes) and gîtes along the nearby coast road, typically €45 to 80 a night for a double. Sainte-Rose, about 10 minutes north by car, has the most convenient mix of gîtes, small supermarkets and bakeries, and it suits those who want quiet evenings. Saint-Benoît, roughly 25 minutes away, has more shops, buses and eateries, and it is the practical hub if you rely … read more 👉
The best base for backpackers is Saint-Philippe or the Sainte-Rose area, but most budget travelers sleep in Saint-Benoît or Saint-Pierre and visit by rental car. Anse des Cascades has no real hostel scene, only a few guesthouses (chambres d’hôtes) and gîtes along the nearby coast road, typically €45 to 80 a night for a double. Sainte-Rose, about 10 minutes north by car, has the most convenient mix of gîtes, small supermarkets and bakeries, and it suits those who want quiet evenings. Saint-Benoît, roughly 25 minutes away, has more shops, buses and eateries, and it is the practical hub if you rely on public transport. Saint-Pierre in the south is the social choice, with hostels, bars and a lively seafront, but it is around 1.5 hours away by road. Self-catering gîtes let you split costs in a group and cook with market produce.


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🛡️ SafetyStaying Safe: What Travelers Should Know

Anse des Cascades is a small, rocky cove with a lagoon-free shoreline, so swim only in the sheltered pools and skip the open water. Swells from the Indian Ocean hit the black volcanic rocks hard, and rogue waves can wash over low ledges, so keep back from the edge. Shark risk around Réunion has led to swimming bans in many unprotected areas, and the east coast has no lifeguarded bathing zone here, so wading is the realistic choice. Rain can arrive in minutes, making the rocks slick, so wear sturdy sandals. Midday sun is strong; bring shade and water. Petty theft from parked cars occurs at the lot, so leave nothing visible.
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FAQCommon questions from travelers

Anse des Cascades beach lies on the east coast of Réunion, about 45 minutes by car from Saint-Benoît and roughly 1.5 to 2 hours from Saint-Denis. Drive the N2 to Sainte-Rose, then follow signs to the cove, where parking is free or cheap. Buses from Saint-Benoît toward Sainte-Rose run, but a rental car, from about €30 to 50 a day, is far easier.
Anse des Cascades beach is better for scenery than for swimming, surfing or snorkeling. The coast is exposed to strong ocean swells over black volcanic rock, and the shoreline is not a protected bathing zone, so most visitors only paddle in the small sheltered pools. There is no surf break or reef to snorkel here; for lagoon swimming and snorkeling, head to the west coast near Saint-Gilles, around 2 hours away.
Yes, Anse des Cascades beach has free access, with no entry ticket. Parking is free or very cheap, and picnic tables under the trees, shaded by coconut and vacoa palms, cost nothing to use. Bring your own food, since there are only a few small stalls or none, and expect to spend about €5 to 10 on lunch supplies from a nearby shop.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Réunionnais beaches near Anse des Cascades

Explore more nearby:

  • Plage de Manapany—natural seawater pool, basalt cliffs, local picnic spot, southern coast| 32 km away
  • Grande Anse—wide bay, dramatic headlands, picnic lawns, palm-lined shore| 35 km away
  • Plage de L’Étang-Salé—black sand, casuarina forest, equestrian center, long walking trails| 48 km away

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We 💚 feedbackParting advice and final tips

Anse des Cascades beach trips up travelers who treat it as a swimming stop. The ocean here is rough and the reef pool is small, so don’t pack for a beach day. I’d bring a picnic, arrive early for a shaded table under the filao trees, and save your swim for calm water elsewhere.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Réunion. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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