The West

Introducing The West

Welcome to Réunion’s Sunshine Coast, or Réunion’s Riviera, or the leeward coast. However you label it, say hello to this 45km-long string of seaside resorts and suburbs running from St-Paul to St-Louis. Truth is, there’s a bit of a Groundhog Day feel about this series of getaways along the RN1, and tourist development has got a little out of hand to the south of St-Paul. But this region does have a wealth of developed tourist facilities and attractions, including the best of the island’s beaches (which is not saying a lot). It’s an easy introduction to Réunion, but traffic jams on the coastal road go pretty far toward shattering any illusions of a tropical paradise.

Sea, sand and sun are not the only raison d’être on the west coast. There’s also a superfluity of activities on land and sea. Big surf breaks issue a siren’s call to surfers, steep drop-offs tempt divers, spectacular slopes beckon mountain bikers, while paragliders soar over the lagoon.

But while the west is synonymous with beach culture and traffic snarls, it also contains the antithesis to these. In this most populous, most visited region there remain hidden corners of untouched wonder, where you can soothe your soul. Despite the new, monstrous Route des Tamarins that zips along the flanks of the mountains down to Étang-Salé-les-Bains (due to be completed in 2009), it’s easy to leave behind the coastal hedonism and explore the glorious hinterland and its bucolic offerings – think sugar-cane fields, lush orchards, geranium plantations and cryptomeria forests swathing the slopes of the mountains, studded with character-filled villages that retain a palpable rural air. Oh, and charming chambres d’hôtes where you can retreat in homely comfort.

With the exception of St-Louis and the Hauts (hills), this region is predominantly Zoreilles (the name used in Réunion for people from France) territory and feels closer to mainland France than South Africa. Brush up on your French!

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009