Réunion National Park National Park

Address: Parc national de La Réunion (Réunion, Indian Ocean)

Website: https://www.reunion-parcnational.fr

Admission: Free (park access); some visitor centres or guided activities may charge

Réunion National Park is a protected area covering much of the interior of Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean, established in 2007 and encompassing the island’s major volcanic peaks and cirques. It is also associated with the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the island’s pitons, cirques and remparts.

The park contains three principal cirques - Mafate, Cilaos and Salazie - carved into the volcanic highlands. Hikers come for ridge and crater walks, mountain villages, and viewpoints; the island’s highest point, Piton des Neiges, reaches about 3,069 metres and the active volcano Piton de la Fournaise rises to about 2,632 metres. Mafate is notable for having no road access and is reached only by foot or helicopter.

The modern park was created to protect the island’s volcanic topography, native forests and endemic species; management since 2007 has focused on conservation, visitor infrastructure and controlling introduced species. The area containing the park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its remarkable volcanic landforms.

Geographically the park occupies the central highlands of Réunion Island, inland from the island’s coastal towns and the capital Saint-Denis on the north coast. The landscape is dominated by steep volcanic walls, deep valleys and high volcanic summits.

• Core landscapes: Many of the island’s signature landscapes are protected, including the three cirques - Mafate, Salazie and Cilaos - and the major volcanic peaks.
• Access notes: Pas de Bellecombe is a commonly used viewpoint and starting point for visits to the Piton de la Fournaise caldera; Mafate has no road access and is reached on foot or by helicopter.

What to See#

• Cirque de Mafate: One of the park’s three steep volcanic cirques, accessible mostly on foot or by helicopter and containing a network of footpaths and small mountain settlements.
• Cirque de Salazie: A deep cirque known for waterfalls and lush vegetation, with the town of Hell-Bourg at its rim and several short hiking routes into the bowl.
• Cirque de Cilaos: A dry, rugged cirque with the market town of Cilaos on its rim, serving as a base for higher-altitude hikes and thermal springs.
• Piton des Neiges: The island’s highest volcanic massif, reaching about 3,069 metres and forming the central highland of Réunion; a common objective for multi-day hikes.
• Piton de la Fournaise: An active shield volcano rising to about 2,632 metres with a permanent caldera and frequent eruptions; several established viewpoints and a visitor circuit at Pas de Bellecombe.

Réunion National Park covers large interior areas of Réunion island; access is by the island’s road network from the main towns (Saint‑Denis in the north, Saint‑Pierre in the south). Visitors normally drive to established trailheads and viewpoints (or join guided tours) - some key sites (for example Piton de la Fournaise and cirque access roads) are served by mountain roads and turnoffs. Public transport into the park interior is limited, so most visitors use a car or organized shuttle/tour.

• Plan visits to Réunion National Park viewpoints (the cirques of Mafate, Cilaos and Salazie) early in the morning to reduce cloud cover and catch clearer views; late afternoons are also prone to clouds and rain.
• If you intend to visit Piton de la Fournaise, check the observatory and park websites for volcanic activity alerts and official trail closures-the volcano is regularly monitored and access changes for safety.
• Reserve gîtes or refuges in the cirques well before peak season (European summer and local holidays); many popular trails and overnight spots fill up quickly and are the only shelter options in remote parts of the park.