Takamaka Viewpoint

The road up the Rivière des Marsouins from Saint-Benoît ends at a viewpoint above the Takamaka valley, a deep bowl of forest walled on all sides with waterfalls coming down the cliffs, several of them very high and running only after rain. A hydroelectric station operates in the valley below, taking water from the river. The view is one of the most dramatic on the island when the cloud lifts and the falls are running.

What you actually see

• The valley bowl - a deep forested basin walled on all sides.
• The waterfalls - falls coming down the cliffs, many of them very high.
• The hydro station - the power plant using the river in the valley floor.
• The forested walls - dense vegetation covering the cliffs to the top.

When to go

May to November is the drier season for the road, though the falls are best after rain. Mornings are clearest before cloud fills the valley. The road is often closed by landslips.

Honest expectations

The valley is in cloud for much of most days and the view is frequently closed entirely. Many of the falls only run after rain. The access road is narrow and landslips close it regularly.

Nearby

Saint-Benoit is east, and Grand Etang is southwest.