Travel to The south coast of La Réunion

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The south coast of La Réunion, Reunion

From Saint-Leu to Saint-Philippe, the south coast is dotted with rocky caps, lava boulders and beaches fringed with filaos or coconut trees. The villages of traditional Creole houses pop up on a road bend or a hillside, and, within this lush and generously preserved nature, local people continue to live as they did half a century ago.

The soul of Reunion is reflected in the east side of the island with its volcanic eruptions that take place once every year, but are not serious most of the time. As for the south of the island, it largely consists of agricultural land full of sugar cane fields, refineries and 'sperm whales'. These are not marine whales but heavy trucks loaded with cane stalks. (In this region ?sperm whales' can easily catch fire or overturn, as can sometimes be heard in news bulletins on the radio.) However, there is more to Reunion than this, it is undoubtedly one of the most charming and likeable places that you could visit.

Along the southern coast, the coral reef is much less developed than at Saint-Gilles. The lagoon intersects and, therefore, the numerous passages and the beaches in particular are different from those on the west coast. In Saint-Leu, the sand is composed of white and black grains, due to its coral and volcanic origin. Further down in the south, at Etang-Salé, the beach is completely black, with very fine grains of sand, and even further to the south than that, Grande-Anse, a beautiful white sand beach is an exception to the rule.

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pros

•  The view of the coastline is often spectacular.
•  The small villages have an authentic ambiance.
•  The proximity of nearby mountains.

cons

•  The distance from Saint-Denis airport.
•  The limited choice of accommodation.
•  The (usually) black sand beaches.

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map Réunion

Weather The south coast of La Réunion - choosing the best time to go

Visit The south coast of La Réunion

• To see

  Watch the sunrise at the top of the Piton de la Fournaise Volcano; the sunset might be more difficult to see as clouds spoil the panorama in the evening. The bravest among will make the two and a half hour trip there during the night from L'Etang Sale or Saint-Pierre to Pas de Bellecombe. The rest of you would rather reserve a bed at the Volcan shelter, a few hundred ft from Bellecombe. Another ?must-see' is the white sand Grande-Anse beach, which is lined with coconut trees with no buildings around it.

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  To do

  Diving is the best seaside activity (introductory courses are available for those who have never done it before). As for land sports, there is rafting, descents on zipline, paragliding, mountain biking or simply walking. Take your time to explore the country by car, from Saint Rose to Saint-Philippe, via motorway number 2 (a coastal road which changes its face with every eruption of the volcano) In this area of the island, you will see rainforests and villages adjacent to the slopes where lava flows and molten rock pours down.

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  To think about

  In the mountains the skies remain clear early in the morning, but from 10:00 am -11:00 am clouds tend to gather on the summits. This natural umbrella quickly lowers temperatures, so do not forget to take a warm jumper and a windbreaker with you. Also, bear in mind that the high season (November to March) is not the best time to visit the island, as the hotels are crowded, more costly and, above all, there is a risk of cyclones.

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• To avoid

  Avoid choosing a hotel in the south for its beaches, as, being of volcanic origin the sand is black or grey (except at Grande-Anse). This not only means that the beaches are not very ?picture postcard', but that the sand on the beach absorbs the heat more quiclkly than white sand, which can make things uncomfortable. However, the south does offer a more peaceful ambiance and, above all, the opportunity to take trips to the Piton de la Fournaise volcano and the east coast.

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  To try

  You must try chicken curry or meat rougail. The recipe almost always has the same ingredients: tomatoes, onions, a little ?piment' (chilli pepper; just to taste) and spices (ginger, turmeric). Quite inexpensive, this dish features on the menu of even the simplest restaurants and is undoubtedly a good choice! If possible, also try the deer meat, it's lovely!

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  To bring back

  Bring back a bottle of rum (aged with vanilla, spices or fruits). Take home some vanilla beans (a vanilla clove or a vanilla extract) and exotic fruit jams (pineapple, guava, litchis) or go to the florists and buy some tropical flowers (packed in special packaging, they will easily survive the plane journey home). To enjoy all of these flavours and scents without even visiting Reunion, visit the web site: www.colipays.com.

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Country guide

Réunion, All you need to know!

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• Culture and traditions 
• Useful Addresses 
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The south coast of La Réunion in pictures

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Share your opinion

Lux Ile de la Réunion - ex Grand Hôtel

 

Score 6/10

any vanberg 25/07/2011 : "Disappointing hotel for the price! The service was sloppy in the mornings. The rooms were basic. Felt like a resort. Cold and sterile. "

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