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Réunion🇷🇪 | national parksParc National de La RéunionFournaise crater, three cirques, cloud forest, island summits | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Parc National de La Réunion
🏆 Top picknational park ranked #1
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Your boots slip on wet basalt as the cloud tears open and the Cirque de Mafate drops away below you, green and ridged, with a few tin roofs far down and the smell of wet earth and geranium rising on the draft. That is a normal morning here. Parc National de La Réunion covers most of the island's interior in Réunion, in the Indian Ocean, and its hiking is some of the best anywhere. The trails are well marked and steep. Volcanic craters, three cirques and cloud forest sit within a day's reach of each other, and the endemic birds, like the Réunion harrier and the white-tailed tropicbird, show up without much effort. The downsides are real. Weather flips within an hour, popular viewpoints fill by late morning, and a car makes life far easier. Plan your first day around an early start at a viewpoint, a long ridge walk in clear air, and a plate of rice, rougail and grilled sausage in a village café afterward.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 Réunion Travel Guide.


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #1 national park in RéunionWhat sets this place apart

Parc National de La Réunion suits self-guided walkers better than almost any park its size, because the trail network is dense, signposted and linked by village gîtes. You can string together a multi-day loop without a guide or a tent. The Cirque de Mafate, reachable only on foot or by helicopter, has no roads at all, so every supply arrives on someone's back and every evening ends at a family-run table. That alone justifies the trip for anyone who likes walking from place to place.
The second pull is variety. In a single week you can cross the lava fields around Piton de la Fournaise, one of the world's most active volcanoes, then climb into the highland forest of Bélouve, then drop into a tropical gorge. The landscapes change fast, and almost every route has a bus or short taxi hop to the … read more 👉
Parc National de La Réunion suits self-guided walkers better than almost any park its size, because the trail network is dense, signposted and linked by village gîtes. You can string together a multi-day loop without a guide or a tent. The Cirque de Mafate, reachable only on foot or by helicopter, has no roads at all, so every supply arrives on someone's back and every evening ends at a family-run table. That alone justifies the trip for anyone who likes walking from place to place.
The second pull is variety. In a single week you can cross the lava fields around Piton de la Fournaise, one of the world's most active volcanoes, then climb into the highland forest of Bélouve, then drop into a tropical gorge. The landscapes change fast, and almost every route has a bus or short taxi hop to the start.
A third reason is the mountain hut and gîte culture. Sleeping in a dormitory near the trail, eating a hot set dinner and leaving at dawn keeps costs sensible and logistics light, which suits independent travelers well.

💡 HighlightsKey sights and experiences for travelers

  1. Piton de la Fournaise: The island's active shield volcano, with a black lava desert, the Formica Leo cone and the summit crater Dolomieu. Eruptions come every few months to years, and the crater walk is the park's signature outing.
  2. Piton des Neiges: At about 3,070 meters, the highest summit in the Indian Ocean's southwest. Most walkers sleep at the Caverne Dufour hut and climb at dawn for the view over all three cirques.
  3. Cirque de Mafate: A collapsed caldera without roads, holding small hamlets such as Marla and La Nouvelle. You walk in, sleep in a gîte and eat local cooking.
  4. Cirque de Cilaos: Reached by a road of roughly 400 bends, it offers thermal springs, lentil dishes and the Taïbit and Col du Taïbit routes into Mafate.
  5. Cirque de Salazie: The wettest cirque, full of waterfalls and chayote
… read more 👉
  1. Piton de la Fournaise: The island's active shield volcano, with a black lava desert, the Formica Leo cone and the summit crater Dolomieu. Eruptions come every few months to years, and the crater walk is the park's signature outing.
  2. Piton des Neiges: At about 3,070 meters, the highest summit in the Indian Ocean's southwest. Most walkers sleep at the Caverne Dufour hut and climb at dawn for the view over all three cirques.
  3. Cirque de Mafate: A collapsed caldera without roads, holding small hamlets such as Marla and La Nouvelle. You walk in, sleep in a gîte and eat local cooking.
  4. Cirque de Cilaos: Reached by a road of roughly 400 bends, it offers thermal springs, lentil dishes and the Taïbit and Col du Taïbit routes into Mafate.
  5. Cirque de Salazie: The wettest cirque, full of waterfalls and chayote vines. The Voile de la Mariée falls drop beside the road, and Hell-Bourg is a village of colorful Creole houses.
  6. Trou de Fer: A waterfall plunging into a narrow gorge, seen from viewpoints near Bélouve. The view only exists when the cloud lifts, so you wait and watch.
  7. Forêt de Bélouve: Tamarind forest with tree ferns, moss and mist, with a good chance of seeing the endemic Réunion olive white-eye.
  8. Maïdo viewpoint: A rim overlooking Mafate from the west, best at first light before cloud fills the basin.
Piton de la Fournaise and Maïdo can share a long day if you start before dawn, taking Maïdo first for sunrise light and driving around to the volcano for the afternoon.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?When to go for the best experience

  • Austral Winter (May to October): Dry, clear and the prime hiking window. Coastal highs sit around 22 to 26°C (72 to 79°F), while Cilaos and Mafate nights drop to 5 to 10°C (41 to 50°F), and the Piton des Neiges summit can touch freezing. Gîtes fill weeks ahead, especially July, August and school holidays, and prices for huts and flights rise.
  • Austral Summer (November to April): Hot and humid, 28 to 33°C (82 to 91°F) at the coast and 15 to 22°C (59 to 72°F) in the cirques. Afternoon cloud rolls in early, heavy downpours are common, and cyclone season peaks January to March, which can close trails for days. Waterfalls run full and huts are cheaper and emptier.
  • Shoulder Months (April to May, October to November): Stable weather, thinner crowds and easier bookings. Daylight runs roughly 11 to 13
… read more 👉
  • Austral Winter (May to October): Dry, clear and the prime hiking window. Coastal highs sit around 22 to 26°C (72 to 79°F), while Cilaos and Mafate nights drop to 5 to 10°C (41 to 50°F), and the Piton des Neiges summit can touch freezing. Gîtes fill weeks ahead, especially July, August and school holidays, and prices for huts and flights rise.
  • Austral Summer (November to April): Hot and humid, 28 to 33°C (82 to 91°F) at the coast and 15 to 22°C (59 to 72°F) in the cirques. Afternoon cloud rolls in early, heavy downpours are common, and cyclone season peaks January to March, which can close trails for days. Waterfalls run full and huts are cheaper and emptier.
  • Shoulder Months (April to May, October to November): Stable weather, thinner crowds and easier bookings. Daylight runs roughly 11 to 13 hours year-round, so start before dawn to beat cloud on the summits.
Book Mafate and Piton des Neiges huts as soon as dates are fixed, and plan your summit morning for an early start.


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

The best base inside Parc National de La Réunion is a mountain gîte, and the choice depends on the trail. Mafate has no roads, so every night there is spent in a gîte (roughly €40 to 60 for half board, dinner and breakfast included) in places like Marla, Roche Plate, Aurère and La Nouvelle. Book these early, as many are small family-run houses. For Piton des Neiges, the Caverne Dufour gîte sits at the foot of the summit climb and is the usual stop the night before sunrise on the top.

Outside the park, Cilaos and Salazie are the two cirque towns with the most choice, from simple guesthouses to … read more 👉
The best base inside Parc National de La Réunion is a mountain gîte, and the choice depends on the trail. Mafate has no roads, so every night there is spent in a gîte (roughly €40 to 60 for half board, dinner and breakfast included) in places like Marla, Roche Plate, Aurère and La Nouvelle. Book these early, as many are small family-run houses. For Piton des Neiges, the Caverne Dufour gîte sits at the foot of the summit climb and is the usual stop the night before sunrise on the top.

Outside the park, Cilaos and Salazie are the two cirque towns with the most choice, from simple guesthouses to small hotels (about €35 to 80 a night), plus shops and restaurants to stock up before treks. Hell-Bourg in Salazie is the prettiest, with Creole houses. Bourg-Murat and Plaine des Cafres are the practical bases for Piton de la Fournaise, with gîtes and a few hotels near the volcano road. Saint-Denis and Saint-Pierre have hostels and cheaper rooms for arrival and departure nights, and Saint-Gilles on the west coast has the beach scene. Camping is limited and regulated, with designated sites only, so check rules before packing a tent.


Best quality hotels in Réunion

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Money, prices, and spending tips

Parc National de La Réunion costs roughly €75 to 105 per day on a hut-based hiking budget, with no park entrance fee. The table shows typical high season prices (May to October) for one traveler.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Entrance fee€0Free to enter the park and walk its trails. Some parking or special sites may charge small amounts.
Accommodation€40 to 60Half-board gîtes in Mafate and on the summit route; dorms or guesthouses in towns are about €25 to 45 without meals.
Food and supplies€15 to 25Gîte dinners and breakfasts are included in half board; add lunch picnic supplies from supermarkets in the lowlands, where prices are lower than in the cirques.
Local transport€5 to 10Interurban Car Jaune buses cost about €2 to 4 per ride; a few trailheads need a taxi or shuttle.
Extras€5 to 10Trail
… read more 👉
Parc National de La Réunion costs roughly €75 to 105 per day on a hut-based hiking budget, with no park entrance fee. The table shows typical high season prices (May to October) for one traveler.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Entrance fee€0Free to enter the park and walk its trails. Some parking or special sites may charge small amounts.
Accommodation€40 to 60Half-board gîtes in Mafate and on the summit route; dorms or guesthouses in towns are about €25 to 45 without meals.
Food and supplies€15 to 25Gîte dinners and breakfasts are included in half board; add lunch picnic supplies from supermarkets in the lowlands, where prices are lower than in the cirques.
Local transport€5 to 10Interurban Car Jaune buses cost about €2 to 4 per ride; a few trailheads need a taxi or shuttle.
Extras€5 to 10Trail snacks, water, helicopter-free shuttles and drinks at remote gîtes cost more because supplies are carried in.
Total Daily Budget€75 to 105Lower in the summer months when huts are cheaper; payment is in euros, and gîtes in Mafate often prefer cash.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🥾 TrailsTrail guide for Parc National de La Réunion national park

Parc National de La Réunion has a trail network that runs from gentle forest paths to steep, exposed ridge climbs, all well marked in the national hiking system.
  • Sentier du Piton de la Fournaise (Pas de Bellecombe to Dolomieu): About 11 km round trip, 4 to 5 hours, moderate. Starts at the Pas de Bellecombe rim, descends by steps to the lava plain, then climbs the crater edge across black basalt with strong sun and wind. Access can close during eruptions.
  • Piton des Neiges via Caverne Dufour: About 8 km each way from Le Bras Rond, plus a day for the summit. Strenuous, around 10 to 12 hours total with
… read more 👉
Parc National de La Réunion has a trail network that runs from gentle forest paths to steep, exposed ridge climbs, all well marked in the national hiking system.
  • Sentier du Piton de la Fournaise (Pas de Bellecombe to Dolomieu): About 11 km round trip, 4 to 5 hours, moderate. Starts at the Pas de Bellecombe rim, descends by steps to the lava plain, then climbs the crater edge across black basalt with strong sun and wind. Access can close during eruptions.
  • Piton des Neiges via Caverne Dufour: About 8 km each way from Le Bras Rond, plus a day for the summit. Strenuous, around 10 to 12 hours total with an overnight. Steep forest, then rocky ridge with a dawn summit push.
  • Taïbit to Marla: A classic crossing between Cilaos and Mafate, 5 to 6 hours. Demanding, with steep switchbacks and a high pass at Col du Taïbit, then a drop into the cirque floor.
  • Trou de Fer viewpoint walk: Short and easy, around 1 to 2 hours, on boardwalks and forest trails with views of the falls when clear.
  • Sentier de Bélouve: Easy to moderate, 2 to 3 hours of damp tracks through tamarind forest, with birdlife.
Public buses reach the cirque towns of Cilaos, Salazie and Hell-Bourg from the coast, but they are slow and run infrequently, and Piton de la Fournaise and Maïdo are far easier with a rental car. Crowds gather at the main viewpoints late morning and on weekends, so start early. The park has no entrance fee, though huts and gîtes must be booked ahead in high season. Carry a rain layer even on sunny mornings.
⚠️ Hiking info can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate. Before you hit the trail, check the latest conditions with locals. If you do spot anything that's off, I'd love to hear from you, so I can update it for fellow travelers.

🛡️ SafetyStaying Safe: What Travelers Should Know

Parc National de La Réunion is well managed and waymarked, and most problems come from weather and underestimating the terrain. Trails are steep, often with long stepped descents that punish knees, and rock turns slick after rain. Cloud usually builds by midday, so start early to see views and avoid getting caught out. Cyclone season (January to March) can bring sudden heavy rain, rising ravines and closed paths, so check Météo-France forecasts and local trail status before setting out, and turn back if a river crossing looks high. Nights above 2,000 meters get properly cold in winter, so bring a warm layer and a rain shell. Carry at least 2 liters of water, since sources vary by route. There are no dangerous land animals, though sun is strong and sunburn is common. Around Piton de la Fournaise, … read more 👉
Parc National de La Réunion is well managed and waymarked, and most problems come from weather and underestimating the terrain. Trails are steep, often with long stepped descents that punish knees, and rock turns slick after rain. Cloud usually builds by midday, so start early to see views and avoid getting caught out. Cyclone season (January to March) can bring sudden heavy rain, rising ravines and closed paths, so check Météo-France forecasts and local trail status before setting out, and turn back if a river crossing looks high. Nights above 2,000 meters get properly cold in winter, so bring a warm layer and a rain shell. Carry at least 2 liters of water, since sources vary by route. There are no dangerous land animals, though sun is strong and sunburn is common. Around Piton de la Fournaise, stay on marked paths and respect closures during eruptions. Mobile coverage can drop in Mafate, so leave your route with your gîte. Emergency number 112 works across the island.
Check Country Safety

FAQTraveler FAQ

Plan 4 to 5 days for Parc National de La Réunion if you want one cirque and the volcano, and 7 to 10 days for a proper tour. A typical mix is a 2-day Mafate loop, an overnight at Caverne Dufour for the Piton des Neiges sunrise, and a half day at Piton de la Fournaise. Keep one spare day for weather, since cloud and rain can scrap a summit plan.
You can reach much of Parc National de La Réunion without a car, though it takes planning. Car Jaune buses link Saint-Denis, Saint-Pierre, Cilaos and Salazie (about €2 to 4 a ride, 1 to 2 hours), and Mafate is only reachable on foot. Piton de la Fournaise and some trailheads like Le Maïdo are harder by bus, so expect taxis, shared rides or a rental for those.
Parc National de La Réunion has no general entrance fee and no permit is needed for day hiking. Overnight stays in Mafate and on the Piton des Neiges route need gîte reservations, typically €40 to 60 per person for half board, and these sell out in July and August. Camping is only allowed at designated sites, so check current rules before bringing a tent.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Réunionnais national parks near Parc National de La Réunion

Explore more nearby:

  • Cirque de Salazie—waterfalls, lush valleys, Creole villages, misty forests| 15 km away
  • Cirque de Cilaos—mountain amphitheater, thermal springs, switchback roads, lentil fields| 16 km away
  • Cirque de Mafate—remote villages, footpath access, deep ravines, isolation| 23 km away

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We 💚 feedbackIs it worth it?

Parc National de La Réunion is best from the austral winter, roughly May to October, when mornings are clear and the trails are drier. Whatever the month, I would be on the trail by dawn, because cloud usually fills the cirques by midday and swallows the views. Pack a warm layer for the huts, since nights at altitude get properly cold.

✍️ 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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