Plaine des Palmistes

La Plaine-des-Palmistes lies on the saddle between the Piton des Neiges massif and Piton de la Fournaise at around a thousand metres, and it is wet: rainfall here is among the highest on the island, which keeps everything green and has made the town a place of gardens and craft. The Domaine des Tourelles, a restored creole house, holds a craft centre and information point, and Bébour-Bélouve forest is reached from here.

What's there

• The Domaine des Tourelles - a restored creole house with craft workshops and displays.
• The gardens - the plant nurseries and gardens the wet climate supports.
• The forest access - the road up to Bebour-Belouve from the town.
• The saddle position - the town between the island's two volcanic massifs.

When to go

May to November is drier, though it rains here in any month. Mornings are clearest. Winter nights are cold at this altitude.

Things to know

It rains a great deal and cloud is constant; the town sees more rain than almost anywhere else on the island. There is little to do in bad weather. Facilities are modest.

Nearby

Belouve-Bebour forest is northwest, and Grand Etang is northeast.