Cirque de Cilaos
A cirque reached by a road of over four hundred bends, with thermal springs, lentils and rock climbing.
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UNESCO World Heritage
Cilaos is the driest and sunniest of the three cirques, reached by a road built in the 1930s that climbs from the coast through over four hundred bends and a series of narrow tunnels. The town at the top sits at around twelve hundred metres below the wall of Piton des Neiges, and it grew as a thermal spa. It is known for its lentils, its embroidery and its wine, and for being the base for the Piton des Neiges ascent. It lies within the UNESCO property.
What you actually see
- The road in - over four hundred bends and single-lane tunnels from the coast.
- The Piton des Neiges route - the standard start for the island's highest summit.
- The thermal springs - the spa that built the town in the nineteenth century.
- The lentils and embroidery - the two products the town is known for.
When to go
May to November is the dry season. The road is regularly closed by rockfall and by works, sometimes for hours. Nights at this altitude are cold.
Honest expectations
The road is genuinely demanding: narrow, unfenced in places, with single-lane tunnels and frequent rockfall closures. Travel sickness on the way up is common. The town fills at weekends and in French school holidays.
Nearby
Piton des Neiges is above, and Le Dimitile is southwest.
What to pack for Cirque de Cilaos
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.