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We know what you might be thinking: tropical French island?
Just like in France, the European country? Is this yet another travel publication that either doesn’t get the geography right, or oversells an island in the south of France when “tropical” doesn’t even apply?
You probably know France for the sparkling Eiffel Tower, beautiful old towns full of half-timbered houses and of course the idyllic southern Mediterranean, but we are not talking about a lesser-known spot on the Côte d’Azur, nor about the higher areas. -and-coming Corsica:
Welcome to Réuniona French region in the Indian Ocean with year-round warm weather and dramatic volcanic nature that has recently reached a new peak of popularity:
A little piece of France in Africa
This may come as a shock to you, but don’t worry, that’s the reaction Americans would get anyway: You probably didn’t learn this in school, but France is a multi-continental country.
This means it has territories in both Europe and other continents!
Regarding the latter, these non-European territories, which consist largely of former colonies, are fully integrated into France, which means that they fly the tricolor flag, their currency is the euro, and their inhabitants are French citizens.
Think of French Polynesia, the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe, or even the lesser-known Saint Pierre and Miquelon, just 15 miles from Newfoundland in Canada: they may be thousands of miles from Europe, but they are as France as ParisMarseille or Lyon.
We know, crazy, right?
Réunion is no exception: an official department of France, it is an island just east of Madagascarin Africa, surrounded by the Indian Ocean, and characterized by towering volcanic peaks, lush rainforests and pristine beaches.
Reunion sees record numbers of visitors
It is the largest of the French overseas territories, with more than 885,000 inhabitants, and is a thriving domestic leisure destination that is expected to see a big turnout from this year. record increase in visitor numbers will surpass 556,000 registered guests in 2023.
Well, it’s not without reason that Réunion is going through a crisis Tourism Renaissance: With its variety of activities, status as a UNESCO protected reserve and rich culture, it’s a wonder it wasn’t discovered by the masses much sooner.
If you love Madeira, the trendy Portuguese island off the coast of West Africa, famous for its rugged landscape and untouched wilderness, then you will Love Meeting:
Reunion offers both beaches And Culture
The capital, Saint-Denis, is a vibrant city on the north coast known for its… 19th century architecturecozy cafés and numerous museums, including the monumental Musée Léon Dierx, where you can see modern works of art as well as famous works by Picasso and Gauguin.
Still in the northern region, Saint-Andre is a small one local authority surrounded by green plantations and dotted with Hindu temples, where you can wakeboard in a salt pond, while the scenic Sainte-Suzanne River is popular for canyoning.
Downstream lies Niagara Falls – not to be confused with Canada’s own natural wonder –falling from a height of more than 25 meters.
Clockwise, along the windswept east coast, you can swim in the natural pools of Ilet Bethleem, horse ride through the volcanic landscape of Grand-Etang and the pond-dotted valleys of Plaine-des-Palmistes.
Meanwhile, the southeast is all about undisturbed beaches––imagine a stretch of fine, golden sand surrounded by a turquoise ocean––majestic forests that are millions of years old, and hikes through a highly active Piton de la Fournaise volcano, from just €60 (about $67).
To the west, Saint-Paul is a city for gourmets: with around 105,000 inhabitants, it is not only the second largest city in Réunion, but also home to the island’s largest open market.
Réunionese The cuisine is a unique blend of African, Indian and European flavors, and you can’t say you’ve been to the island until you’ve tried a traditional dish. rougail sauce from a food stall in Saint-Paul: a Creole sausage with thyme and garlic flavor, typically served with rice.
For dessert, don’t forget to have some cake friestheir delicious cinnamon sprinkled sweet potato cake.
Beautiful beaches for miles
Just a 16-minute drive from Saint-Paul is the lively beach of Roches Noire, popular for snorkeling and diving with rays and turtles. If we were you, we wouldn’t take the plunge, though, as the Indian Ocean is a hotspot for aggressive sharks.
Don’t worry: if sharks are spotted, the red flags go out and many of the beach areas around Reunion have nets installed to keep the big-toothed creature at bay.
For a more relaxing environment and Caribbean style white sandBoucan Canot beach between Saint-Paul and Roches Noire is also not to be missed, and the further south-west you go, the more unspoilt the coastline becomes.
Hermitage Beach runs for miles along blue-green water very popular because of the shallow, swimmable water and thriving fauna and flora, and for marine life enthusiasts the Kelonia Sea Turtle Observatory near the fishing village of Saint-Leu is a must-see.
Scenic walks abound
If you like hiking, in the center of the island you will find the monumental Piton des Neiges, a shield volcano that rises 3,069 meters above sea level (and clouds) and is commonly called the roof of the Indian Ocean.
This is quite a challenging undertaking, it takes approximately 8 hours to complete Once you depart from Hell-Bourg, make sure you are prepared in advance and dressed for the unpredictable weather conditions.
For the quieter excursions we recommend following the Scout Trail route: the altitude is minimal, it usually goes down with a duration of 2-3 hours depending on your physical condition, leading to Cirque de Mafate, a large caldera dotted with isolated hamlets that can only be reached on foot.
There are numerous hiking trails to choose from around Réunion, with different levels of difficultyAlthough there is an extensive network of buses, renting a car is the most convenient way to explore the island’s mountainous hinterland.
Luckily for you, car rentals in Réunion are quite affordablefrom just $28 per day for a Peugeot 108.
La Réunion is that cheap
Like any other integral part of France, Reunion Island uses the Euro as its official currency, but you’d be surprised how much lower the cost of living is here, compared to the ‘metropolis‘, or the French mainland in Europe.
On average you can eat reasonably well locally reunionnaise restaurants for under $14, as well as staying in one 4 star hotel for about $136 per nightlike La Digue Island Lodge–according to Momondothe average price of accommodation for two people for a 6-night stay is $889.
That’s about $444.50 per person for a week’s stay on the island paradise. not exactly dirt cheapbut somewhat affordable considering how expensive hotels in France can be in general, especially in mainland cities like Paris and Nice.
That said, there are certain consumer goods and items that are more expensive here than in the European part of France: all imported products, and this includes domestic items flown in from the mainland, are more expensive, as is petrol.
A gallon of gasoline costs $7 here, while on the mainland it is $5.54, according to data from Numbeo.
How do you get there from America?
Finally, how can one of France’s most remote islands be reached?
Contrary to what you might expect, relatively easy to get to!
That is to say, if you don’t mind traveling long distances that will involve at least one stopover – unfortunately, US airlines have yet to discover Reunion’s potential, and no non-stop service is offered from the United States.
For many Americans, the least complicated route is to fly first to Paris and then board a flight bound for Réunion from the French capital: non-stop flights are operated by Air France and French Bee, and can be as cheap as $514 returnaverage flight time of 11.45 hours.
If you ask us, the least painful way to travel to Reunion Island is to combine it with a visit to mainland France as a stopover of two to three days, so you have time to rest, and then continue on to the African territory. and do the same on the way back.
Flights to Reunion are also offered from a range of other international hubs such as Johannesburg in South Africa, Bangkok in Thailand and even Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, so there are sufficient stopover options available!
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
