The island of Reunion is a tiny bit of France with a tropical twist, situated 500 miles (805km) east of Madagascar, deep in the heart of the Indian Ocean. Nicknamed 'l'Ile Intense', Reunion is a dramatic, mountainous paradise created and shaped by volcanoes. The scent of vanilla, stretches of black and white sand beaches, forest-covered peaks, rugged valleys, gushing waterfalls and an incredibly diverse and friendly population make this an idyllic destination. Reunion is first and foremost an alluring tropical island getaway, but its interesting mix of cultures and peoples adds another interesting element to the island.
The history of Reunion island is reflected in its people. The Portuguese stumbled across the unoccupied territory in 1513, but it was the French that descended in 1646 and really made their mark. French exiles and colonists, Malagasy slaves, Chinese indentured labourers, Indians and Pakistanis have subsequently created a rich melting pot of cultures, as well as contributing to the creation of the island's most widely spoken language, Reunion Creole.
Reunion was hard hit by the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, as it lost significance as a stopover on the East Indies trade route, and to this day it relies heavily on France for financial support. Its main industries are the cultivation of sugarcane, rum, vanilla, geranium oil for perfumes and, not surprisingly, tourism. Although inequality and the resulting socio-economic strife is an occasional concern for locals, for the most part everybody seems to live relatively equably side-by-side on this beautiful island, with a heartening bonhomie shared between the many different racial and religious groups.
Reunion is home to one of the world's most accessible active volcanoes, Piton de la Fournaise, and has three major cirques(amphitheatre-like craters): Cilaos, Mafate and Salazie. This rugged topography, in many cases overgrown by lush forest, provides breathtaking scenery and world-class trekking and canyoning with many waterfalls to admire along the way. The interior is home to small mountain villages and rich birdlife and the lack of commercial development is refreshing. The island's beaches are also worth writing home about, with the black volcanic sands at Etang-Sale particularly remarkable. The beaches are lapped by the warm Indian Ocean and the abundance of underwater creatures makes snorkelling a delight. The popular St Gilles-les-Bains offers classic palm-fringed shores on a wide lagoon and Saint Leu boasts wonderful surfing.
As if all this natural splendour wasn't enough, the unusual cultural melting pot of Reunion ensures travellers can sample delicious creole cuisine, and revel in the island's unique music and dance offerings, while still enjoying a little taste of French sophistication.
Travel Guide powered by Word Travels, copyright © 2023 Globe Media Ltd. By its very nature information in this travel guide is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities. Neither Globe Media Ltd nor Travel Vogue can accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.
