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Réunion🇷🇪 | landmarksPointe de la TableFresh lava coast, Grand Brûlé, pounding surf, no shade | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Pointe de la Table
👀 For curious travelersunique site ranked #8
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

The black rock under your boots at Pointe de la Table is young lava, much of it laid down within living memory, so the coastline here is still being redrawn. The point sits on the wild southeast coast of Réunion, in the Grand Brûlé zone below Piton de la Fournaise. Come for the ocean, which slams into jagged basalt and throws up salt spray that coats your lips, while the air smells of wet stone and sea. Wind hisses through casuarinas and sparse scrub on the cooled flows. The walk is short and the scenery is raw, but there is no café, no souvenir stall and no shade. Skip it at midday. Go early or late, and wear sturdy shoes, because the lava is sharp.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #8 unique site in RéunionWhat makes this unique site worth visiting

Pointe de la Table gives you something Réunion’s postcard cirques cannot: a front-row look at the island as a work in progress. Here you see the lava fields of the Grand Brûlé meet the Indian Ocean, with fresh black flows running to the water’s edge and pioneer plants poking through cracks. For backpackers who like geology without a guide, that is a free classroom, and the sea-cliff drama costs nothing.

It also fits easily into a loop of the island. The Route des Laves (the RN2 coastal road) passes close by, so you can pair it with the volcano, the southern villages and the quiet coves around Sainte-Rose and Saint-Philippe. Most hikers go straight to the crater and skip this coast, which means you often share the point with a few fishers and nobody else. Bring a camera for the contrast of black rock, green growth and blue surf.

💡 HighlightsKey sights and experiences for travelers

  1. Pointe de la Table headland: the main draw, a rugged lava promontory where the ocean pounds dark basalt. Stand back from the edge, since waves here are heavy and the rock is undercut.
  2. Grand Brûlé lava fields: the slopes above the point were buried by repeated flows from Piton de la Fournaise. You can read the eruptions in the textures, from ropy pahoehoe to rough, clinkery aa.
  3. Route des Laves (RN2): the coastal road crosses recent flows, and the lanes of cooled lava on both sides are an easy drive-by lesson in the island’s volcanic history.
  4. Pointe du Tremblet: a neighboring black-rock coast with the same raw feel and more room to wander. It suits anyone who wants a second viewpoint without a long detour.
  5. Notre-Dame des Laves: the small church at Piton Sainte-Rose, famed because the 1977 flow parted
… read more 👉
  1. Pointe de la Table headland: the main draw, a rugged lava promontory where the ocean pounds dark basalt. Stand back from the edge, since waves here are heavy and the rock is undercut.
  2. Grand Brûlé lava fields: the slopes above the point were buried by repeated flows from Piton de la Fournaise. You can read the eruptions in the textures, from ropy pahoehoe to rough, clinkery aa.
  3. Route des Laves (RN2): the coastal road crosses recent flows, and the lanes of cooled lava on both sides are an easy drive-by lesson in the island’s volcanic history.
  4. Pointe du Tremblet: a neighboring black-rock coast with the same raw feel and more room to wander. It suits anyone who wants a second viewpoint without a long detour.
  5. Notre-Dame des Laves: the small church at Piton Sainte-Rose, famed because the 1977 flow parted around its entrance and stopped. It is a short hop up the coast and free to see.
  6. Anse des Cascades: a cove further north with waterfalls, palm shade and picnic tables, handy for a swim or lunch after the harsh lava.
Start with the headland itself at first or last light, when the low sun brings out the texture of the rock and the heat on the exposed lava is bearable.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit Pointe de la Table

  • Austral Winter (May to October): Pointe de la Table sits on the dry west side of Réunion's Saint-Paul commune, so this is the steadiest window. Days run 18 to 25°C (64 to 77°F), mornings are cool, and the clearest light is on the coastal path and cliffs.
  • Summer (November to April): Expect 25 to 31°C (77 to 88°F), strong sun, and afternoon storms. Cyclone risk peaks from January to March, and trails can close after heavy rain.
  • Daylight: Winter gives roughly 11 hours of light, summer about 13 hours, so start early in the hot months.
  • Crowds and prices: French school holidays in July and August and around Christmas fill beds and push up flight and rental car prices. May, June and September stay quieter.
Go early in the morning for the coolest walking and the softest light on the basalt.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: excellent 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?Choosing the right base

Saint-Paul is the most practical base for Pointe de la Table, with the coastal strip toward Boucan Canot and Saint-Gilles-les-Bains as the social alternative. Saint-Paul has a big Friday market, a calm seafront and cheaper guesthouses, and suits travelers who want local life and early starts at the headland. Saint-Gilles-les-Bains is where most backpackers end up. Its beach, surf schools, bars and dorm-style stays make meeting people easy, and the lively waterfront is well lit and busy in the evenings, so solo travelers feel comfortable walking back at night. Boucan Canot sits between the two … read more 👉
Saint-Paul is the most practical base for Pointe de la Table, with the coastal strip toward Boucan Canot and Saint-Gilles-les-Bains as the social alternative. Saint-Paul has a big Friday market, a calm seafront and cheaper guesthouses, and suits travelers who want local life and early starts at the headland. Saint-Gilles-les-Bains is where most backpackers end up. Its beach, surf schools, bars and dorm-style stays make meeting people easy, and the lively waterfront is well lit and busy in the evenings, so solo travelers feel comfortable walking back at night. Boucan Canot sits between the two and has a quieter beach feel with fewer budget beds. Choose Saint-Gilles if you want company and Saint-Paul if you want lower prices. Buses along the west coast link all three, but they thin out in the evening, so check the last departure before a night out. Book ahead for July, August and December.


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👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)How expensive it really is

A day at Pointe de la Table costs about €52 for a backpacker, since the headland itself is free to walk. The figures below assume you travel from Saint-Paul or Saint-Gilles-les-Bains and pay in euros.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Entry€0Open coastal access with no ticket
Accommodation (high season)€25 to 35Dorm bed or basic guesthouse room; low season is about €20 to 28
Local transport€2 to 5Bus fares are about €1.50 to 2 per ride; a taxi is much pricier
Food€10 to 18Bakery snacks, market fruit and a takeaway rougail or curry plate at €7 to 10
Water and extras€2 to 4Bottled water, sunscreen and a coffee
Total Daily Budget€52Comfortable for a budget day without a rental car
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

FAQTraveler FAQ

Pointe de la Table is a basalt headland on Réunion's west coast, in the Saint-Paul area, with views over the Indian Ocean and the cliffs toward the Cap La Houssaye. It is a free outdoor spot for coastal walking and photos. Plan on dry footwear, water and sun protection, as shade is limited.
Pointe de la Table needs about 1 to 2 hours for a relaxed walk and viewpoints. Add another hour if you want to swim or picnic on the nearby coast. A half day is enough, and it combines easily with Saint-Paul market on a Friday or an evening in Saint-Gilles-les-Bains.
Pointe de la Table is reached by car in roughly 15 to 25 minutes from Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, or about 45 minutes from Saint-Denis on the main west coast road. Buses to Saint-Paul cost around €1.50 to 2 per ride, but you may still need a short taxi or a walk for the last stretch. A rental car, from about €30 a day, is the easiest way to arrive.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

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We 💚 feedbackFinal thoughts on visiting Pointe de la Table

Pointe de la Table is a place where travelers often go at noon, then find the black rock radiates heat and offers no shade. I would arrive early or near day’s end, bring water and closed shoes, and keep well back from the wave-battered edge.

✍️ 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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