Roche Merveilleuse
Lookout over waterfalls.
Rémih — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rémih — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rémih — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rémih — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rémih — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Cirque de Cilaos is one of three great mountain calderas formed around the Piton des Neiges in the centre of Réunion, with the town of Cilaos at its heart at about 1,214 m. Its name is thought to come from a Malagasy word meaning «the place one does not abandon». Its first inhabitants were runaway slaves who took refuge in these sheer mountains, and official settlement began around 1850, when a spa was set up around its hot springs, which the town is still known for. Cilaos is also famous for its lentils and for a fine hand embroidery that local women have passed down for more than a century. A mountain road of countless bends climbs from the south coast through a narrow gorge, and from it and around town you see towering rock walls and small villages such as Bras-Sec. Many trails start from Cilaos, including the Roche Merveilleuse lookout over the Bras de Benjoin waterfalls and the Sentier de la Chapelle along the valley floor. Exploring the cirque is free. Give it at least a day, ideally staying overnight in town to start walking early, and May to November suits hiking better than the rainy season.
Lookout over waterfalls.
Village on a ledge.
Climb from the coast.
Cilaos, Réunion
By a mountain road from the south coast, or by bus.
For a quick look, but staying over is better for hiking.