No, you probably don’t want to surf (re: sharks), but the southern shore receives massive waves on their way up from the Southern Ocean. One of several rock pools on Reunion Huge waves. You can swim in some places, but man-made rock pools near the water are probably a safer bet. There are so many sharks, surfing is illegal. The ocean around Reunion is some of the most shark-infested in the world. We struggled to capture Mafate’s magnificence in a smaller photo Black sand beaches. As a volcanic island, Reunion contains both black and white sand beaches, primarily on the west coast. I wish I could have spent a week here, especially after the steep hikes required to descend and ascend the crater walls.

Hikers can camp or spend the night in guesthouses located inside the crater. Some children walk for miles to get to school. Walking around Mafate evokes images of 19 th century France, mixed with the mountainous scenery of Machu Picchu.

Mafate. Inside the Cirque de Mafate, one of Reunion’s volcanic craters, a few hundred people reside in small villages connected by footpaths. You will likely see some extremely fit people running up and down painfully steep trails. Cilaos is a popular starting point to hike the Cirque de Cilaos, climb the Piton des Neiges-(Reunion’s highest point at 10,069 feet/3069 meters), or hike other numerous trails in the area. From day-hiking to week-long treks, there are plenty of options for enjoying Reunion’s mountainous scenery. For many, hiking and exploring the mountains is the reason to visit Reunion. Our friend Jay guided us around the island (Piton de la Fournaise in background) Hiking. Other dormant volcanoes on the island have left breathtaking scenery to explore by car or on foot. Depending on the level of seismic activity, you may be able to walk across the crater to view the volcano up close. The volcano is located within a large crater that can be reached by car. The Piton de la Fournaise is an active volcano that erupts every few years. The Cirque de Mafate Highlights of Reunion Volcanoes. The island contains an active volcano, world-class hiking, black sand beaches, and a tropical island attitude more like Maui than Paris. Three hundred miles east of Madagascar, Reunion is a department of France with similarly excellent cuisine and a 35-hour work week. Posted by Sterling Laudon on MaSeptemMix France and Hawaii together and voilà: Reunion.

Reunion island