Cirque de Cilaos
A cirque reached by a road of over four hundred bends, with thermal springs, lentils and rock climbing.
Updated 18 October 2026
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.
History
The name comes from the Malagasy Tsilaosa, the place one does not leave, and some historians trace it to a Malagasy slave named Tsilaos who took refuge in the cirque. Its first inhabitants were runaway slaves who believed themselves safe at the top of the world, but they were soon tracked down by well-armed slaveholders, several were killed trying to escape, and it seems likely that they made the goat paths that climb most of the mountains of Réunion. The cirque was likely empty again for a time, as the first official record of settlement dates only from around 1850, when a spa was set up; there were 960 inhabitants by 1866 and 2,500 by 1900, the commune split from Saint-Louis on 4 February 1965, and on 7-8 January 1966 Cilaos received 1,825 millimetres of rain in 24 hours, the most ever recorded in a single day (Wikipedia, Cilaos).
Highlights
- 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.
Practical notes
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.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q1014746, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Cirque de Cilaos
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Broken-in walking shoes or boots - Grip and ankle support matter more than looks; never hike in brand-new boots. Find on Amazon
- Swimwear - Needed at most public thermal pools; some traditional baths are nude and single-sex. Find on Amazon
- Layers + a waterproof shell - Mountain weather turns fast; a packable rain jacket saves the day. Find on Amazon
- Quick-dry towel + flip-flops - For wet changing areas and hot poolside stone. Find on Amazon
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