The Conservatoire Botanique National de Mascarin is one of the best places on the island to understand the native plant life of Réunion without hiking into the forest. Located in the hills above Saint-Leu, it’s peaceful, informative, and surprisingly scenic, with terraced gardens, lava stone paths, and long views toward the coast.

What to expect:

• 8 themed gardens showing endemic, exotic, and Creole medicinal plants

• Explainer panels in French, with a few multilingual sections

• Old colonial estate setting, now converted into a conservation hub

• Butterflies, birds, and fruit bats are common in the upper trees

• A calm, semi-wild feel. This isn’t manicured like a city garden

The property is steep in parts, but walkable for most. It’s cooler than the coast, and usually quiet, even in high season. If you care about plants or just want a scenic break with space to breathe, it’s worth the detour.

👉 Local tip: Visit mid-morning or late afternoon for the best light and to avoid the midday heat. If you’re into Creole gardens, take a notebook. Lots of native uses are listed here that aren’t found elsewhere.