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How to get there: on arriving in Hell-Bourg town centre, take the first left onto Rue André Fontaine and walk past the town hall. Then keep left at every junction until you reach the next picnic area.
(S/E) Start the walk at the Bellevue picnic area, where tables, shelters and a water point are available. Then follow a track for about a hundred metres.
(1) At the end of the track, turn left onto the path, which begins to climb gently. Rocks are everywhere along the entire route! The start of the walk takes you past casuarina trees and fields of chouchou. The first hairpin bends come quickly, amongst the tibouchinas.
There are numerous views of the cirque during this first half of the ascent, and you’ll have plenty of opportunity to admire Piton d’Anchaing, Piton Maillot, Hell Bourg, the Mare à Poule d’Eau and its eponymous lake, Ilet à Vidot, the Plaine d’Affouche, the Bélier, the Mare à Martin, the Mare à Vielle Place, the Mare à Citron, the Cimendef, the Roche Écrite, Piton Bé Massoune, Bécabot, Salazie and the Sisahaye Plateau at your feet. There are also numerous springs along this section of the route. The narrowest sections are secured with cables.
(2) The last spring is the largest and is situated near a wayside shrine. It lies just before a long traverse and at the end of a series of hairpin bends. This is followed by a shorter stretch of hairpin bends: you are now halfway up the climb, both in terms of distance and elevation gain. The section that follows is flatter, continuing until the next cross.
(3) This marks the start of a series of hairpin bends and the arrival at the ‘forêt de bois de couleurs’. The slope is steeper and the route takes you deeper into the woodland. It takes nearly thirty minutes to climb these hairpin bends and reach the remains of a cable car, which marks the arrival at the summit of the rampart.
(4) Then cross the Ravine de la Vierge and climb up the opposite slope via a few hairpin bends. You’ll reach the viewpoint at the Bélouve lodge after at least 1½ hours’ climb.
(5) Enjoy the view and follow the same route, in the opposite direction, to return to the car park (S/E).
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