Cirque de Cilaos
Réunion · Cirques · 1200 m
Description
Cilaos is the southern cirque and the one with a road, though the road is the point. Four hundred bends climb from Saint-Louis through tunnels cut in the rock to a village at twelve hundred metres inside the crater walls. Thermal springs made its name in the nineteenth century and still feed a spa. Cilaos grows lentils on terraces and produces the island's own wine. It is the base for the ascent of Piton des Neiges and for canyoning in the ravines, and the embroidery workshops here are a local tradition. The drive up takes about ninety minutes and is not for the nervous.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 2 to 5 days (optimal 3 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: May – November
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Road of four hundred bends from Saint-Louis
- Piton des Neiges trailhead at Le Bloc
- Canyoning in Fleurs Jaunes and Bras Rouge
- Thermal baths and the spa
- Cilaos lentils and the local wine
- Embroidery workshops and the maison de la broderie
- Roche Merveilleuse viewpoint
- Cascade de Bras Rouge
- Îlet à Cordes terraces
- Col du Taïbit crossing to Mafate(Multi-day trip)