Cap la Houssaye feels like a different Réunion. The terrain here is dry, with golden grasses and scattered acacia trees rather than rainforest. Waves crash into steep black cliffs, and goats graze near the rocky edge. It’s one of the island’s most dramatic coastal viewpoints, and yet it remains uncrowded.

You can explore on foot, follow goat trails along the bluff, or just sit by the roadside and watch the ocean. During the austral winter, it’s also a good spot for whale watching. Locals come here to fish, walk their dogs, or watch the sky turn orange over the Indian Ocean. It’s a place that feels wide open, raw, and still close to town.

👉 Bring binoculars between June and September. You’ve got a solid chance of spotting humpbacks breaching offshore.