Riviere des Remparts

The Rivière des Remparts has cut a valley more than a thousand metres deep into the southern flank of the island, running about twenty-seven kilometres from the slopes below the Plaine des Sables down to the sea at Saint-Joseph, with near-vertical walls on both sides that give it its name. A classic route walks it end to end, starting from the Nez de Bœuf viewpoint at the top and descending to the hamlet of Roche Plate before continuing to the coast, a long two days.

The landscape

• The valley walls - remparts over a thousand metres high on both sides.
• The Nez de Boeuf viewpoint - the platform at the head of the valley.
• Roche Plate - the hamlet on the valley floor with a gite.
• The through route - the walk from the volcanic plateau down to the sea.

When to go

May to November is the dry season and the only sensible window. The river floods dangerously after rain and the valley floor route becomes impassable. Cyclone season should be avoided entirely.

Practical notes

The valley floor route crosses the riverbed repeatedly and is genuinely dangerous when water levels rise. There is no phone signal for much of it. Transport arrangements at either end need planning.

Nearby

Nez de Boeuf is at the head, and Saint-Joseph is at the mouth.

Key facts