We know what you may be thinking: tropical French island?
As in, like France, the European country? Is this yet another travel publication that either can’t get its geography right or is overselling some island in the south of France when ‘tropical’ doesn’t even apply?
You probably know France for its twinkling Eiffel Tower, beautiful Old Towns full of half-timbered buildings, and of course, the idyllic Mediterranean South, but we’re not talking about some lesser-known spot off Côte d’Azur, nor the up-and-coming Corsica:
Welcome to Reunion, a French territory in the Indian Ocean boasting year-round warm weather and a dramatic volcanic nature that’s recently hit a new popularity peak:
A Little Slice 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 get taught this in school, but France is a multi-continental country.
This means it has territories both in Europe and other continents!
Regarding the latter, these non-European territories, which in their vast majority comprise former colonies, are fully integrated into France, meaning they fly the tricolor flag, their currency is the euro, and their residents are French citizens.
Think French Polynesia, the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe, or even the lesser-known Saint Pierre and Miquelon, only 15 miles from Newfoundland in Canada: they may be thousands of miles away from Europe, but they’re every bit as France as Paris, Marseille or Lyon are.
We know, crazy, right?
Reunion is no exception: an official department of France, it is an island just east of Madagascar, in Africa, surrounded by the Indian Ocean, and characterized by towering volcanic peaks, lush rainforests, and unspoiled beaches.
Reunion Is Seeing A Record Surge In Visitors
It is the largest of the French overseas territories, with a population of over 885,000 people, and it’s a thriving domestic leisure destination that, as of this year, is expecting a record surge in visitor numbers, set to surpass the 556,000 guests registered in 2023.
Well, it’s not for nothing that Reunion Island is experiencing a 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 scenery and untouched wilderness, then you’ll love Reunion:
Reunion Offers Both Beach And Culture
The capital, Saint-Denis, is a bustling city on the north coast famous for its 19th-century architecture, laid-back cafes, and numerous museums, including a landmark Musée Léon Dierx, which houses modern works of art as well as renowned Picasso and Gauguin works.
Still in the northern region, Saint-Andre is a small commune surrounded by verdant plantations and dotted with Hindu temples, where you can go wakeboarding in a salt pond, while the scenic Sainte-Suzanne river is popular for canyoning.
Downstream is Niagara Waterfall––not to be confused with Canada’s own natural wonder––dropping from a height of over 25 meters.
Moving clockwise, on the windy east coast, there’s swimming in the natural pools of Ilet Bethleem, horse-riding through the volcanic landscape of Grand-Etang, and the pond-dotted valleys of Plaine-des-Palmistes.
Meanwhile, the southeast is all about undisturbed beaches––picture a stretch of fine, golden-sand hugged by a turquoise ocean––majestic forests dating back millions of years, and hiking tours a very-active Piton de la Fournaise volcano, starting from only €60 (around $67).
To the west, Saint-Paul is one for the foodies: with around 105,000 residents, it is not only Reunion’s second-largest city, but also home to the island’s largest open market.
Réunionese 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 rougail saucisse from a food stall in Saint-Paul: a thyme-and-garlic-flavored Creole sausage typically served with rice.
For dessert, don’t forget to get some gateau patate, their delicious cinnamon-sprinkled sweet potato cake.
Beautiful Beaches For Miles On End
A short 16-minute drive from Saint-Paul, there’s a lively Roches Noire beach, popular for snorkeling and diving with rays and turtles, though if we were you, we’d refrain from diving in the deep end as the Indian Ocean is a hotspot for aggressive sharks.
Don’t worry: when there are shark sightings, red flags go up and many of the beach zones around Reunion have nets installed to keep the big-toothed creature at bay.
For a more relaxed environment and Caribbean-style white sands, Boucan Canot Beach between Saint-Paul and Roches Noire is not to be missed, either, and the further southwest you go, the more pristine the coastline gets.
Running for miles on end along teal waters, Hermitage Beach is highly sought-after for its shallow, swim-friendly waters and thriving fauna and flora, and for marine life enthusiasts, the Kelonia Sea Turtle Observatory near the fishing town of Saint-Leu is a must-see.
Scenic Hikes Galore
If you love hikes, then the center of the island is where you’ll find the monumental Piton des Neiges, a shield volcano rising 3,069 meters above sea level (and the clouds), commonly called the roof of the Indian Ocean.
This is a rather-challenging venture, taking roughly 8 hours to complete once you set off from Hell-Bourg, so make sure you’re well prepared in advance, and you’re dressed for the unpredictable weather conditions.
For the more gentle excursions, we’d suggest doing the Scout Trail route: elevation is minimal, it’s mostly going downward with a duration of 2-3 hours depending on your physical condition, leading to Cirque de Mafate, a large caldera dotted with isolated hamlets only accessible by foot.
There are countless hiking trails to choose from all around Reunion, with varying levels of difficulty, and though there is a comprehensive network of buses, the most convenient way to explore the island’s mountainous hinterland is renting a car.
Lucky for you, car rentals in Reunion are fairly affordable, starting from only $28 a day for a Peugeot 108.
This Is How Cheap La Reunion Is
Like any other integral part of France, Reunion Island uses the euro as its official currency, but you’d be surprised at how much lower the cost of living is here, compared to the ‘métropole‘, a.k.a the French mainland over in Europe.
On average, you can eat reasonably well in local réunionnaise restaurants for under $14, as well as stay in a 4-star hotel for around $136 a night, such as La Digue Island Lodge––according to Momondo, the average price of accommodation for two people for a 6-night stay is $889.
That’s roughly $444.50 each for a one-week stay in the paradisiacal island, not exactly dirt cheap, but somewhat affordable considering how expensive hotels in France in general can be, particularly mainland cities like Paris and Nice.
That being 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 over from the mainland, are pricier, as is gasoline.
A gallon of gasoline here costs $7, whereas in the mainland it’s $5.54, according to data from Numbeo.
How To Get There From America
Finally, how is one of the most remote islands in France accessible?
Contrary to what you’d expect, relatively easy to get to!
That is, if you don’t mind long-haul journeys that will involve at least one layover––unfortunately, U.S. based airlines are yet to discover Reunion’s potential, and there is no nonstop service offered from the States.
For many Americans, the least-complicated itinerary involves flying first to Paris, then boarding a Reunion-bound flight from the French capital: nonstop flights are operated by Air France and French Bee, and can cost as cheap as $514 return, average flight time of 11h45.
If you’re asking us, the least painful way to travel to Reunion Island is combining it with a visit to mainland France as a two to three-day stopover, to give you time to rest up, then traveling onward to the African territory, then doing the same on the way back.
Flights to Reunion are also offered from a range of other international hubs, like Johannesburg in South Africa, Bangkok in Thailand, and even Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, so there are plenty of stopover options available!
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