Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike in an idyllic setting. Along the way, there are sections with ropes to help you climb. The view at the top is simply sublime. We will return to Mauritius very soon and do this hike again for the pleasure of the eyes.

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Date of your route : Jan 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike as described and well signposted.
Some areas are a bit muddy, but the path is accessible to everyone despite the last 50 metres being a bit steep (thank goodness for the ropes).
Allow 2½ to 3 hours for the round trip.

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Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A hike that matches the description, with two beautiful viewpoints, the last of which offers a 360-degree panorama, and most of the walk taking place in the forest (we saw large fruit bats).
The start of the hike is easy to find by following the indicated starting point: two parking spaces for cars just opposite in the bend.

The terrain is very muddy even in dry weather, so wear sturdy shoes and avoid hiking in rainy weather or immediately after rain.
The last 50 metres are very steep and uneven: you have to climb using the ropes on the trail to reach the last viewpoint, so the descent is also difficult and even dangerous. A short but very challenging section. The rest of the hike is quite accessible.

However, I think the estimated time of 2.5 hours is an underestimate. 3 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes seems more realistic (we did it in 3 hours 50 minutes, but with a 2.5-year-old child in a hiking backpack).

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Date of your route : Jun 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Difficult to find the start of the trail despite the stone at the beginning of the path with a faint drawing. Very, very blue, can be done in 3 hours with mud. No view along the trail. Caution: danger during the last 200 metres, where you have to pull yourself up with ropes. At one point, less than 25 metres from the Piton, you have to pull yourself up into the void and mud with roots and ropes. Check carefully! Solidity.
Otherwise, magnificent scenery. It's a shame about the lack of safety. Doable without a guide. He hides or blocks trails like 7 waterfalls. It's business. It's a shame. Looking forward to it.

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Date of your route : Jan 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The comments mentioned and the preliminary information are completely accurate. It is a corridor of vegetation, but you hike in the shade! As for the 360° view, it is magnificent and gives you a good understanding of the geography of Mauritius. If it has rained a lot before the hike, there is a lot of mud, which makes it slippery and lengthens the duration, but that doesn't matter. The trees lining the path are very useful in certain sections. Finally, walking shoes are a must as the path is covered with roots.

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Date of your route : Aug 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We completed this hike in two hours, walking at a good pace. The last few metres are quite technical, requiring the use of ropes. This is something to bear in mind.
The view from the top is stunning and well worth the effort.

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Date of your route : Apr 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This is a hike in the forest, sheltered from the sun's rays when it's beating down! The trail is a long series of ascents and descents without much in the way of views, except halfway along, where there is a viewpoint overlooking Le Morne. The last few metres to the summit are quite challenging, but there is a rope to help you along. The platform at the summit is not very large. The 360° view is splendid when there are no clouds. We hiked after a day of rain: the ground was very wet in places and therefore slippery. Allow three hours for the round trip. Avoid going during the guava harvest period from 15 April to 15 May, as there is heavy traffic on the Plaine Champagne road, not to mention badly parked cars blocking the way.

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Date of your route : Oct 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A monotonous hike, walking through a corridor of thick vegetation, with no views, just two small windows. It goes up, it goes down... it goes up again... it goes down again... it never stops... you have to reach the top to enjoy the view. Once at the top, it's great, with magnificent views... The return trip is long... we go back through the tunnel...
I much preferred doing the Pouce...

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Date of your route : Nov 11, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike in the forest with some stunning views and a well-earned finale offering 360° panoramic views.
The last 100 metres are difficult, despite a rope to help you climb the slope. The ground is slippery, there is a tree root to get around... In short, it's not easy, but it's doable with a minimum level of fitness. Once you reach the top, you won't regret it.
Thanks to the author for the reliable description of both the car park and the route.

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