Country:
City:
How to get there:
- From Saint-Pierre: head towards Grand Bois via the N2. Cross the Rivière d’Abord, then take the second exit. Go straight on at the roundabout, take the third exit at the next one, then the second at the following one. Then park in the first car park on the right.
- From Saint-Joseph: head towards Saint-Pierre via the N2. Drive past the village of Grand Bois and take the first exit. Park in the car park on the left.
(S/E) Take the path which starts in the right-hand corner of the car park. You’ll come to a sign indicating the entrance to the Terre Rouge nature reserve. Keep left here, then left again at the next junction. The path passes close to some recent plantations as it approaches the sea. Turn left at the next junction and go down a few steps. The wide, well-used path winds through the brown cassava plants. It is often exposed and runs close to Pointe du Bois de Buis. Some of the casuarina trees are particularly striking. Ignore all the small paths branching off to the left towards the cliff.
(1) You’ll reach a major junction with what remains of an old wooden sign in the middle. Turn left at this junction. If you look back, you can see the Piton de Grande Anse in the distance. There’s a short descent as you cross the Ravine des Roches.
(2) For the return journey, ignore the faint path on the right and turn left. The path approaches the RSMA (Adapted Military Service Regiment) before running alongside a wall. You’ll reach a track; turn right. Turn right again onto the path. After passing the houses, the path veers slightly to the left. You’ll need to keep a sharp eye out, as the grass can hide this path. However, the grass is short and the markings on the ground are easy to follow once you’ve spotted them.
(2) Follow the path back along the same route as on the way there.
(1) Turn left. The path climbs slightly.
(3) You’ll come to a junction with what remains of an old wooden sign in the middle. Take the path on the right, which is slightly less exposed and quickly leads back to the car park at the starting point.
(S/E) You’ll then reach the road; turn right. Next, take the first path on the right to avoid a dangerous junction. This turns into a narrow track that joins the old main road, which you should follow to the right. You can see the Piton de Mont-Vert a few metres further on. The road then passes a picnic area.
(4) You’ll then pass a grave and take the path on the right which starts just before the bridge. The Bassin Dix-Huit can already be seen from the bridge. The descent to the basin, however, is technically challenging and is only suitable for experienced walkers as it is not secured. The path is very pleasant at first and heads towards the sea. Then look out for an arrow on the left: it indicates the correct route to the basin. You’ll need to climb down a rocky outcrop. There are handholds, but the slightest misstep could be painful. The descent is steep all the way down!
(5) You’ll reach the Bassin Dix-Huit quite quickly, though. There are several legends surrounding it. It’s very popular! It’s one of the best-known pools in the South. Its magnificent blue water is well worth a short stop. You can swim there, but be careful: it’s very deep and can be dangerous if it’s rained further up the valley or when the sea is rough. This is because the sea is very close by and the pool is often fed by the waves when the sea is rough.
Then head back to the car park where you started (S/E).
Visorando Member
Easy 
Difficult 
