The Cirques of Réunion

The mountainous heart of Réunion, protected within a national park and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most spectacular hiking landscapes on earth, dominated by three vast cirques, immense natural amphitheatres formed by the collapse and erosion of the island's ancient central volcano. Cilaos and Salazie, ringed by soaring ramparts, deep green ravines, waterfalls and thermal springs, are reached by dizzying mountain roads and dotted with villages. The third, Mafate, is so rugged that it has no roads at all and can be reached only on foot or by helicopter, its remote hamlets a world apart. Crowned by the peak of Piton des Neiges, the cirques are a paradise for trekkers.

What you actually see

• Cirque de Mafate - the road-free cirque reached only on foot.
• Cirque de Cilaos - the amphitheatre of peaks, springs and villages.
• Cirque de Salazie - the green, waterfall-laced cirque.
• Piton des Neiges - the highest peak, climbed for sunrise.

When to go

May to November, the cooler, drier season, for the best hiking weather and clearest views, as the wet season brings heavy rain, cloud and cyclone risk; even in the dry season, mornings are clearest before cloud builds. The classic Piton des Neiges climb is timed to reach the summit for a spectacular sunrise, staying overnight in a mountain refuge.

Honest expectations

The cirques are a serious mountain-hiking destination, with steep, demanding trails, dizzying roads to Cilaos and Salazie, and Mafate accessible only on foot or by helicopter, so exploring their best requires fitness, preparation and, ideally, guides; weather can change fast. For keen walkers and lovers of dramatic mountain scenery, though, the soaring ramparts, hidden green valleys, waterfalls and remote villages of Réunion's UNESCO cirques offer some of the finest and most spectacular trekking anywhere.

Nearby

The Piton de la Fournaise volcano and the coastal towns are within reach.