Essential Packing List for La Réunion

Packing for La Réunion is trickier than it seems. It’s not enough to throw some beach clothes in a bag and hope for the best. I found that out fast when I needed proper hiking gear to reach Piton de Bert and had to buy clothes on the island. Not ideal.

If you want to avoid the same mistake, here’s exactly what you will use. This is not the fantasy list, but the real one that matches the island’s beaches, volcanoes, forests, and winding coastal roads.

Shoes You Will Actually Wear

• Trail running shoes or light hiking boots
  Trails can get muddy, rocky, or both. Some paths, like the one up Piton de Bert, have no mercy for city sneakers.

• Flip-flops or basic sandals
  Perfect for the beach, walking to dinner, or short strolls in town.

• Optional: water shoes
  Handy for natural pools or rocky beaches like Boucan Canot if you plan to swim a lot.

👉 Trails start cold and damp in the morning, heat up fast. Wear something that handles both.

Clothing: Keep It Simple

• Lightweight hiking pants

• Quick-dry shirts

• Thin rain jacket
  You will use it. Even on a sunny day, a short rain shower can appear out of nowhere.

• One sweater or fleece
  Nights inland are cooler than you think.

• Swimsuits (at least two)
  Beaches, waterfalls, and natural pools. One will always be drying.

• Loose cotton clothes
  For town, markets, seaside evenings.

👉 In small villages, people dress simply but modestly. A sarong or light scarf/cover-up is practical.

Sun Protection: Essential, Not Optional

• Reef-safe sunscreen
  Hard to find locally, expensive when you do.

• Wide-brim hat
  You will need shade between 10:00 and 15:00.

• Sunglasses with strong UV protection

• Lip balm with SPF

👉 Even in the highlands, the sun hits harder than it feels.

Other Gear That Earns Its Place

• Reusable water bottle
  Tap water is safe to drink almost everywhere.

• Small backpack
  Enough for your rain jacket, camera, snacks, and extra water.

• Dry bag or waterproof pouch
  Useful for boat trips, waterfalls, and sudden rain.

• Basic first aid kit
  Plasters, antiseptic, antihistamines for mosquito bites.

• Headlamp
  Important if you plan to hike Piton de Bert or any sunrise trail.

• Travel towel
  Quick-drying and light, useful for waterfalls and beach days.

👉 Always carry small euro notes and coins. ATMs are not everywhere outside towns.

Tech You Will Thank Yourself For Bringing

• Universal adapter
  French-style plugs, but double-check your devices.

• Offline maps app
  The signal can vanish fast inland.

• Spare camera memory cards
  You will take more waterfall photos than you expect.

• Power bank
  Long days outdoors drain batteries faster than you think.

👉 Weather apps work badly inland. Use offline radar if you are hiking.

What You Can Skip

• Jeans stay wet too long and feel heavy in humidity.

• Fancy shoes will remain unworn. They're heavy, not worth the space.

• Bulky snorkel gear is cheap to rent, so save the luggage space.

• Hard suitcases are unsuitable for hiking lodges, gîtes, and coastal paths.

Packing for How La Réunion Really Feels

La Réunion feels different every hour. Hot coastal roads, misty forests, volcanic plains, afternoon downpours, and cool nights in village gîtes. You are not packing for one trip. You are packing for five.

The lighter and more practical your gear, the more freedom you will have. You will take that trail because you packed for it. You will jump into that waterfall because you are ready, not worrying about drying three outfits.

Pack for the island you will meet, not the one you imagine. Let the island decide the rest.