Réunion Island — Two-week itinerary

If you’re looking to do some hiking while wearing shorts in December, with direct flights from Paris, Réunion could be your spot.

When

28th December — 8th January ( 2024)

Getting There

Direct flight from Paris — Just over 11 hours

Where to stay

With plenty of hikes and sights to see, we split our stay across three locations

Airbnb with a View (4 nights)

This was such a gem. A nice view and an outdoor kitchen setup. We happened to be here for New Year’s Eve, and it turned out to be the perfect spot to watch the fireworks bursting all over the island.

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Bonus: There was a very chill neighbourhood cat who came to hang out.

Hôtel Le Saint-Pierre ( 5 days)

A more central location that made it easier to explore town. We found a few coffee shops we ended up returning to daily, usually before heading out on hikes. (More on those below.)

NESS BY D-OCEAN ( last 3 days)

This was our wind-down stay. On the pricier side, but you get direct access to the ocean (as the name suggests 😄). It’s a reef area, so it’s perfect for snorkelling — tons of fish to see.

Where and what to eat

Coffee

Line Coffee & Shop — Good flat whites and an excellent dessert selection.
Kazkfe — Great for both coffee and beans to take home.

Food

KITCHEN Asia — Our top pick for lunch/brunch. Grab a takeaway Banh Mi before a hike — you won’t regret it. So good.
Anse des Cocos — Best seafood lunch we had. When we asked for hot sauce, they gave us some to take home. Spicy and delicious.
Ti’Coq — A solid buffet spot. Homemade sauces with pineapple and chillies? Yes please.

I went back a few times

Le Mouton Gourmand — Roadside café worth stopping at. Tasty food and super friendly staff.

Bonus: Ice cream

L’Artisan Glacier — Hands down the best ice cream. Try the spicy mango

What to do

Swim

Grande Anse — Great for a swim or picnic. There’s a restaurant and restrooms nearby.
Bassin 18 — Fun little spot for a dip. Some locals had a slackline set up. Tip: Wear sneakers instead of flip-flops to get down — it can be a bit of a scramble.

Art

Jace, you’ll spot this street artist’s work all over the island. It’s a fun side mission to find them as you explore. Stop by The Gouzou Factory and pick up a T-shirt or a poster.

Cité des Arts — We enjoyed looking around. I think it cost us 10 euro? also has a nice cafe and a Jace on the outside wall.

Indoor Bouldering

Basalte Evolution 1 — Salle d’escalade de bloc Île de La Réunion

If you want to switch it up from hiking, this bouldering gym is a great way to spend an evening. Plus, the on-site restaurant does delicious burgers. We went a few times.

Shop

Got a cool T-shirt here SO HYPE Studio
Local home-made chilli + Lychee (a hiking essential)

Top 3 Hikes

Cascade du Bras d’Anette

Nice loop hike. We originally planned to camp, but couldn’t find flat spots off-trail — and the frogs were loud. Like, constant background soundtrack loud.

Mars-like terrain. We got caught in rain and wind, and it got cold. Bring a rain jacket — even if it looks sunny at the start. We couldn’t see the crater due to fog, but still loved the hike. Getting back into the warm car afterwards = bliss.

Grand Bassin — Voile de la Mariée waterfall from Bois Court

We started late, so we were heading down as most people were coming back up. It was muddy, and the hike involved a lot of steps. But at the bottom: waterfall to ourselves, a quick dip, and Banh Mi from KITCHEN Asia. Perfection. I would recommend starting this hike late so you have the view to yourself. I imagine it can get quite crowded here.

Roadtrip — view points

On January 1st, everything was closed — so we made it our island road trip day. Full loop took about 4 hours with stops.

Other

Jiu Jitsu @ Foucheroll BJJ

Trained once while there — took a bit to find the gym, but the crew was super welcoming.

DECATHLON SAINT-PIERRE

For any last-minute gear. We picked up a gas canister for the Jetboil here.

Labo Duplex

Got some film developed here — about a 2-hour turnaround. Great service and quality.

If you’re planning a trip (or have already been!), let me know how it went. Want more recommendations or have any questions? Drop a comment or reach out.