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East Coast Wild on La Réunion

Mirela Letailleur - (TheTravelBunny)
Itinéraire créé par
Mirela Letailleur
What you’ll do

Ready to feel the edge of the earth? This 3-day east coast itinerary explores La Réunion’s rawest, wildest side — where waves hammer black cliffs, the roads twist through lava flows and jungle, and the food is as bold as the landscapes.

You'll picnic above crashing surf at La Cayenne, sip vanilla rum beneath jungle trees in Saint-Philippe, and end with cocktails and ocean spray at Sauvage, perched high above the island’s southeast cliffs. With slow drives, clifftop stops, hidden viewpoints, and culture-rich food moments, this is not the polished coast — it’s the honest one.

Includes daily driving routes, local eats, picnic spots, photo tips, and safe access notes for all viewpoints.

Day Total

53,3 km (33,1 mi)

1 h 19 min

Day 1: Route du Lave + Picnic on the Cliffs

Morning

  • Depart from Saint-Pierre or Saint-Leu

  • Take RN2 toward Saint-Rose, hugging the coast where lava fields meet the sea

  • Stop at the 2007 lava flow viewpoint — jagged, stark, unforgettable.

📸 Tip: Get out of the car — the textures deserve your feet on the rock.

1

Coulée de Lave 2007
Coulée de Lave 2007
Thrilling lava tunnel exploration experience
Catégorie
historique

8,8 km (5,5 mi)

9 min

2

Celui-ci est facultatif

Sainte-Rose Coastal Lookout
Sainte-Rose Coastal Lookout
Lush east coast views over cliffs and crashing waves
Catégorie
spot photo

6,5 km (4,1 mi)

8 min

Midday

Detour to Notre-Dame-des-Laves — church surrounded by lava, not touched

  • 20 minutes is enough to soak in the atmosphere and quiet

Drive toward Saint-Philippe.

3

Celui-ci est facultatif

Notre Dame des Laves
Notre Dame des Laves
Volcano-surviving church with powerful history and views
Catégorie
historique

4,3 km (2,7 mi)

6 min

Afternoon

Arrive at La Cayenne Picnic Spot near Saint-Rose

  • Park near the viewpoint, have a picnic

  • Waves crash violently against black cliffs

  • Sometimes forms mini “sea waterfalls” when the swell is strong.

🧺 Ideal food: fruit, samoussas, chilled juice, coconut cake.

👉 Optional: walk the clifftop trail, watch sky gliders overhead, feel very small.

4

La Cayenne Cliff Picnic Spot
La Cayenne Cliff Picnic Spot
Wild cliffside picnic spot with crashing ocean views
Catégorie
spot photo

23,2 km (14,4 mi)

35 min

Dinner

  • Les Letchis – low-key, very local

  • Ferme-Auberge Eva Annibal - home-cooked local food, ponche, rhum arrangé.

5

Restaurant Les Letchis
Restaurant Les Letchis
Casual local spot serving modern Creole cuisine
Catégorie
restaurant
Est. Price
$$
Type de restaurant
locale

10,5 km (6,5 mi)

19 min

As far as accommodation goes, I recommend:

  • Booking early to stay at Ferme Auberge Eva Annibal

  • Ti Case Bord de Mer for a cozy night by the sea

  • Arbre à Pain to enjoy the garden and swimming pool before bed.

6

Choisissez l'option qui vous convient le mieux

Ti Case Bord de Mer
Ti Case Bord de Mer
Quiet seaside holiday home with sea view terrace
Catégorie
maisons
Est. Price
$$
Arbre à pain
Arbre à pain
Tranquil guesthouse near scenic activities
Catégorie
maisons
Est. Price
$$
Ferme Auberge de Eva Annibal
Ferme Auberge de Eva Annibal
Family-style Creole dining with iconic vanilla duck dish
Catégorie
restaurant
Est. Price
$$
Type de restaurant
locale

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