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Réunion🇷🇪 | beachesPlage de la Pointe des Trois BassinsRocky point break, lava boulders, tide pools, local anglers | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Plage de la Pointe des Trois Bassins
👍 Recommendedbeach ranked #7
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

The black volcanic boulders here make this one of the few spots on the west coast where the waves break over a rocky point instead of a sand bar, and that shapes everything about the visit. Plage de la Pointe des Trois Bassins sits on the western coast of Réunion, a short ride south of Saint-Gilles-les-Bains. The shore is dark basalt and pebbles, warm underfoot by midday, with salt spray and the smell of wet rock. Swimming is not the draw: the swell is real, and the rocks are slippery. Surfers read the left-hand break from the shore, and you get a front-row seat for free. Crowds stay thin, mostly locals and a few boards. Cheap food comes from nearby snack trucks and bakeries in the village. The access road ends at a small parking area where the pickup-truck cooler lids slam and the sea rumbles beneath you.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #7 beach in RéunionReasons people choose to visit here

Plage de la Pointe des Trois Bassins earns its stop for the left-hand reef-and-rock wave, which is one of the west coast’s better-known surf breaks and draws a steady line of local surfers. Even if you never paddle out, watching them is a free show from the rocks, and it is easy to hang around long enough to get talking with someone who has surfed here for years.

The second reason is the pace. This is a working village shoreline, not a resort strip, so you see families picnicking under filao trees and fishermen working the rocks, and the evening mood is quiet. Trois-Bassins sits on the road between the busier beach towns, so it makes a calm pause when Saint-Gilles feels crowded, and your money goes on a bakery lunch instead of a beachfront menu. Bring your own water and shade, since facilities are basic.

💡 HighlightsKey sights and experiences for travelers

  1. The surf break at the Pointe: the headline attraction, a powerful left that peels along the rocky point. It suits experienced surfers; everyone else gets a close view from the shore.
  2. The black rock shoreline: walk the basalt boulders and pebbles to see how the lava meets the Indian Ocean, with spray, tide pools and a good angle for photographs. Wear shoes with grip.
  3. Picnic under the filao trees: locals spread out here on weekends with grills and coolers. It is the easiest way to see how people on Réunion actually spend a day at the sea.
  4. Sunset from the point: the west-facing coast gives you the sun dropping straight into the ocean, with surfers silhouetted against the glow. It is quiet and free.
  5. Watching the fishermen: anglers cast from the rocks and sometimes pull in catch by the shore. Stand
… read more 👉
  1. The surf break at the Pointe: the headline attraction, a powerful left that peels along the rocky point. It suits experienced surfers; everyone else gets a close view from the shore.
  2. The black rock shoreline: walk the basalt boulders and pebbles to see how the lava meets the Indian Ocean, with spray, tide pools and a good angle for photographs. Wear shoes with grip.
  3. Picnic under the filao trees: locals spread out here on weekends with grills and coolers. It is the easiest way to see how people on Réunion actually spend a day at the sea.
  4. Sunset from the point: the west-facing coast gives you the sun dropping straight into the ocean, with surfers silhouetted against the glow. It is quiet and free.
  5. Watching the fishermen: anglers cast from the rocks and sometimes pull in catch by the shore. Stand back, keep a respectful distance and ask before taking pictures.
For a first visit, the surf break is the one to see, ideally in the late afternoon when the swell is running and the light is warm.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?Choosing the right time of year

  • Austral Winter (May to October): Dry, sunny and the most comfortable stretch, with highs around 24 to 27°C (75 to 81°F) and cool nights near 15 to 18°C (59 to 64°F). The west coast stays clearest here, and the Pointe is a good place to watch humpback whales offshore from roughly July to September.
  • Summer (November to April): Hot and humid, 28 to 32°C (82 to 90°F), with afternoon storms. Cyclone season peaks January to March, and beaches can close after heavy swell.
  • Crowds and Prices: French school holidays in July to August and December to January fill coastal lodging, and rooms can cost 20 to 40 percent more.
  • Daylight: Days run about 11 hours in June and about 13 hours in December.
Book September or October for warm water, calm days and thinner crowds.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: highly recommended for travelingJULJuly: highly recommended for travelingAUGAugust: highly recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas and accommodation options

Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, about 20 minutes by car to the south, is the place to stay if you want other backpackers. It has the west coast’s densest cluster of hostels and guesthouses, a lively evening scene around the marina, and a bus link along the coast. Dorm beds usually run €25 to 40 a night in high season, and you can meet people for shared hikes, surf sessions and rental-car splits. L’Hermitage-les-Bains, just next door, is calmer and has a long lagoon beach, so it suits sleeping well and swimming in protected water. Closer to the Pointe, Trois-Bassins village and the Saint-Leu hills offer … read more 👉
Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, about 20 minutes by car to the south, is the place to stay if you want other backpackers. It has the west coast’s densest cluster of hostels and guesthouses, a lively evening scene around the marina, and a bus link along the coast. Dorm beds usually run €25 to 40 a night in high season, and you can meet people for shared hikes, surf sessions and rental-car splits. L’Hermitage-les-Bains, just next door, is calmer and has a long lagoon beach, so it suits sleeping well and swimming in protected water. Closer to the Pointe, Trois-Bassins village and the Saint-Leu hills offer gîtes and small guesthouses at roughly €45 to 80 for a private room, quiet and surrounded by cane fields and coastal views. Saint-Leu itself, about 15 minutes south, is the surf and paragliding hub with a relaxed, local feel and cheaper rooms. Staying near the beach itself means few services, so pick a base with a car or bus connection.


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🛡️ SafetyScams, Hazards, and Annoyances

Plage de la Pointe des Trois Bassins is a rugged, rocky coastline with volcanic black stones, and the sea here is not a casual swimming beach. Waves break hard on the point, currents pull along the rocks, and entry over slippery basalt catches people out. The surf break draws experienced local surfers, so watch where they paddle out and stay with the lagoon-protected beaches of Saint-Gilles and L’Hermitage if you want to swim. Réunion has had a shark-risk history on this coast, and swimming bans are often posted outside supervised areas, so obey the signs and flags. The sun is strong all year, especially around midday, and there is little shade. Bring water, since facilities are limited. Petty theft from parked cars at roadside pull-offs happens, so leave nothing visible inside.
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FAQTraveler FAQ

Plage de la Pointe des Trois Bassins is reached by car in about 25 minutes from Saint-Gilles-les-Bains or roughly 45 minutes from Saint-Denis via the N1 expressway to Trois-Bassins. Rental cars cost about €25 to 45 a day, and parking is free at the roadside. The Car Jaune bus network serves Trois-Bassins village, but you will still walk or hitch the last stretch.
Plage de la Pointe des Trois Bassins suits surfing far better than swimming, with a reef and rocky point break that works best on solid swells, mainly in the austral winter. Swimming is not recommended because of strong currents, rocks and shark-related restrictions. For calm water and snorkeling, go to the lagoon at L’Hermitage or Boucan Canot, about 20 to 25 minutes away by car, where gear rental costs around €10 to 15.
Plage de la Pointe des Trois Bassins is free to visit, with no entry fee and no gate. Parking along the roadside costs nothing, though facilities such as showers and toilets are minimal, so bring water and snacks. The nearest shops and cafés are in Trois-Bassins village or Saint-Gilles, where a simple meal costs around €10 to 18.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Réunionnais beaches near Plage de la Pointe des Trois Bassins

Explore more nearby:

  • Plage de la Souris Chaude—small cove, volcanic rocks, sheltered swimming, quiet mornings| 1 km away
  • Plage de Trou d’Eau—calm lagoon, shallow entry, family-friendly shade, reef snorkeling| 2 km away
  • L’Hermitage—shallow lagoon, coral gardens, shaded casuarina trees, snorkeling access| 2 km away

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We 💚 feedbackSumming up the experience

Plage de la Pointe des Trois Bassins works best as a half-day stop, or a long afternoon that runs into sunset. One night in the area is plenty, and you will not need more. Bring water shoes, a hat and your own snacks, and skip swimming when the swell is up.

✍️ 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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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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