Piton Ste Rose – Anse and Pointe des Cascades

Start from the lower car park (no. 1) overlooking the cove. If this is full, you can set off from the two upper car parks along the route.

(S/E) From the lower car park, walk up the road leading to it and turn left onto the path that takes you to the car park above. Continue along the road, passing the third car park on your right. After a straighter stretch, you’ll reach a path leading down to the right.

(1) Turn right and follow this path downwards as it winds through the vegetation. You’ll soon reach a banana plantation and, if you look closely, you’ll also spot vanilla plants twining around other vegetation on either side of the path. Ignore a path branching off to the right, just before the clearing that marks the end of the plantation, and continue to the left to begin the descent towards the coast. The vegetation becomes denser and the path rougher. Continue straight on until you come to a cross path.

(2) At the crossroads, turn right and head towards the cliff face, which you then follow more or less. The vegetation generally blocks the view of the sea, but the few opportunities to get closer clearly show the ruggedness of this coastline. Continue in this way to the Pointe des Cascades. As the side view is generally obstructed, you know you’ve reached the headland when the waves come in head-on, which is rather impressive.

(3) Continue by following the path through the vegetation and staying close to the coastline. When you veer off it and head up the hill, you will soon come to a fork.

(4) Turn left here, descending almost to sea level, and continue towards the casuarina trees lining the coast. After a small ravine, you’ll emerge amongst the tall palm trees that cover the entire back of the beach, right up to the foot of the waterfalls. Cross this majestic plantation, leaving the waves breaking on the huge pebbles to your left and the restaurant to your right, to reach the foot of the cliff from which the waterfalls flow.

(5) A wooden walkway allows you to follow the cliff, ascending past the numerous waterfalls flowing from it. A breathtaking spectacle during the rainy season when water gushes in great volumes from the volcanic rock face. Then follow the decking and paths through the palm groves to return to the foot of the car park where you started (S/E).

Let’s not forget that Piton Sainte-Rose is located in the rainiest part of Réunion. Don’t set off without rain gear.

The only difficulty on the route lies in the nature of the ground along the section running alongside the sea. Although the path appears well-trodden, it has not been worn down enough to smooth the basalt rocks. Sturdy footwear is essential!

If volcanic landscapes inspire you, don’t miss the Route des Laves, which runs from Sainte-Rose to Saint-Philippe. There is also a coastal path that crosses the entire Grand Brûlé (the lower part of Piton de la Fournaise between the Remparts de Bois Blanc and the Remparts du Tremblet). Return by bus is possible.

At Piton Sainte-Rose, don’t miss a visit to the Church of Notre-Dame des Laves and the small museum opposite (a former gendarmerie), which, thanks to their solid construction, survived the 1977 lava flow.