Anse des Cascades

The Anse des Cascades is a small cove on the windward coast south of Sainte-Rose where a set of waterfalls come out of the cliff face and drop into a grove of coconut and traveller's palms right at the shoreline. A fishing harbour sits at one end, cut into the basalt, and there is a picnic area under the palms that fills with Réunionnais families at weekends. The sea here is rough and swimming is not on offer.

What you actually see

• The cliff waterfalls - falls emerging from the rock face straight onto the shore.
• The palm grove - coconut and traveller's palms between the cliff and the sea.
• The fishing harbour - a small port cut into the basalt at the cove's end.
• The picnic ground - the shaded area used by families at weekends.

When to go

Year round; the falls are strongest after rain. Weekends are extremely busy with picnicking families. Cyclone swell closes the road at times.

Honest expectations

There is no swimming; the sea here is dangerous with heavy swell on rock. Weekend crowds fill the picnic area and the parking. The falls reduce a great deal in dry spells.

Nearby

Notre-Dame-des-Laves is north, and Route des Laves is south.