How Long Does It Take to Drive Around Réunion Island?

When I look through the satellite image of Réunion Island, I observe some special features that

has to offer.

For example, thanks to its amazing network of backcountry roads, I can get to almost anywhere on the island.

Some of these roads are impressive, and they overcome extreme natural obstacles to their destination.

How long does it

?

I can rent a car and drive around the island to explore all the thrilling and fun parts of the island.

 Here is what I think regarding the duration of driving around this island:

How long does it take to drive around Réunion Island?

Even though you spend hours on the road, it’ll all be wasted if you don’t know some of the best spots to check out during your drive.

The main entry point to

is the Roland Garros Airport in Saint Denis.

I use rental agencies located in a separate building opposite the main terminal.

To access the car rental offices, I only need to exit the Arrivals Hall and cross the road toward the parking area.

I often start my drive by heading for the west coast, located on the N1 highway, bypassing Saint Denis.

I can get to the beach in Saint-Gilles or L’Ermitage-Les-Bains, in less than an hour.

What better way to get over jet lag?

Further down Saint Denis, there is a long section of the highway, which is suspended above the ocean.

As a result of occasional rock calls from the coastal cliffs that caused a huge disturbance to the old road, this highway was built.

Below are some of the best scenic drives you can find on

The beach at St.

Gilles

The center of Saint-Gilles is compact and has a lot of shops, cafés, and restaurants around.

It also includes a marina and a lovely beach.

You can park at the large parking area at the marina and walk across the pedestrian bridge to get to the town center.

Chez Marie is an amazing seafood restaurant you cannot afford to miss.

L’Ermitage-Les-Baïnes

L’Ermitage-Les-Baines is located south of Saint-Gilles and boasts of a great number of hotels, shops, cafés, and restaurants.

Other impressive places where you can stop are:

 The Jardin d’Eden (Garden of Eden botanical gardens):

Although this place is quite small, it has very unique plants and trees that will definitely catch your interest

Le Manta:

Here, you can have a wonderful dinner with your partner or family.

This place is set in a beautiful garden and the menu consists mainly of local seafood and Creole specialties.

 The beaches at L’Ermitage les Bains

You’ll see various historic monuments through the N1A coastal road down to Saint-Leu.

Two of these include:

• The Church of Colimacons and

• Hôtel des Postes

Saint-leu is a very famous area for paragliding.

You can paraglide over the Saint-Leu lagoon here.

• Kélonia: This is a turtle conservation center which is located just outside Saint Leu.

West coast beaches

The West coast is famous for

.

It stretches from Saint-Gilles to L’Ermitage-Les-Bains and down to La Saline-Les-Bains with long, sandy beaches that are well protected by reefs.

Here, there are a good number of beach cafes and restaurants littered around.

You’ll also

beach at L’Étang-Salé located southeast of Saint-Leu.

It is important to note, however, that

has had cases of shark attacks over the years.

There are a few areas where water sports and the like have been banned.

Volcano Piton de la Fournaise

Volcano Piton de la Fournaise is an active volcano measuring a length of about 2632 miles.

It is the perfect place to be when the volcano spits lava and in white-hot projections.

Asides it’s periods of eruption, walking to the observation point of the volcano is a thrilling activity with its panorama of the lunar desert of the caldera

Hiking enthusiasts enjoy passing the 900km marked trails and three hiking routes.

One of these routes leads to the three cirques birthed due to the collapse of the Piton des Neiges Circus of Cilaos is dominated by the Piton des Neiges and remains the driest.

From Bénare, you can also get a brilliant view of even the circus Mafare.

Bénare is the third summit of the island and measures a length of 2,898 meters.

Alongside its isolated islands, the Mafate Circus is the most authentic and can only be accessed in two ways:

• By helicopter or

• By foot

How long is Réunion Island?

With a nearly elliptical shape,

is about 40 miles (65 km) long and 30 miles (50 km) wide.

The capital of

is Saint-Denis, located on the northern coast.

You can begin your journey from the West Coast.

The coast is remarkable for its stunning lagoons, laidback gowns and Sandy beaches.

After your trip to the island, this is the ideal place to chill and relax.

Some of the best towns to visit while on the West Coast include:

• Saint-Paul,

• Saint-Gilles and

• Saint-Leu.

The coastal road (N1A) from Saint-Paul to Saint-Gilles has views of the ocean that will definitely take your breath away.

If you’re interested in water

, scuba-diving, or whale-watching, the west coast is the right place for you.

On the West Coast, you’ll find some tour operators in towns like Saint-Gilles-Les-Bains.

You can join a dolphin/whale watching boat excursion with a marine safari from Saint-Gilles-Les-Bains or engage in snorkeling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days do you need in Réunion Island?

Two days is a moderate amount of time to spend in Réunion Island.

However, depending on the nature of your trip, you can choose to spend a long time here.

When should I go to Réunion Island?

The months between May and November are the best time to travel to

.

These months are usually very cool and dry.

What season is it in Réunion Island?

Generally, the hot sub-tropical climate in Réunion Island has sea temperatures around 23°C on average.

The dry months are from May to October, with temperatures ranging from 20-25°C.

From November to March, the temperatures are more humid than in the other months, and there are also more occurrences of rain and frequent cyclones in January and February.