Réunion
Country/State Data
Regions
1
Breaks
14
Cost of living
Capital
Saint-Denis
Current Time
Security
Health
Positives
- Consistent year round
- Spot diversity
- Scenic countryside
- Superb St Leu
Negatives
- Shark attacks
- Surfing bans
- Expensive
- Crazy traffic
Where to surf in Réunion
A volcanic dot of tropical French idyll, flavored with Creole, Indian, African, and Chinese culture, endowed with some of Earth’s finest natural beauty, Réunion is also ideally placed to receive powerful and consistent Roaring Forties swells. It’s a volcanic isle with black sand beaches and high peaks, including Piton de la Fournaise, an active volcano known locally as le Volcan. Its last eruption occurred on 2 January 2010 and lasted 10 days. The mountainous geography has a big influence on weather patterns and, consequently, coral reefs have only developed on the leeward W coast because the rainfall there is minimal. The rain has shaped canyons that funnel water into the sea and then through coral passes.
Most of the 32 reported spots in West Coast break on fragmented barrier reefs, quite a distance from the beach. There’s also normal lava rock bottoms, but they are less numerous and usually have murky water—good habitat for sharks. For the less adventurous, there’s a few average black sand beachbreaks along with the popular white sand beaches of Roches Noires and Boucan Canot.
East Coast
East of Saint-Pierre’s jetty rights and the short lefts of Grande-Anse and Manapany, sees the south coast start, named ‘La cote du Sud Sauvage’, mainly due to the constant swell and wind action, but also because of a major shift in the island’s geography.
The coral reefs give way to lava flows and basalt rocks, backed by steep ravines leading up to the volcanic peaks that dominate the east coast, where rainfall is way higher than the west, and dense tropical vegetation cloaks the lower slopes. High precipitation inevitably creates murky water at the many rivermouths, which are the preferred restaurants of the large Réunion shark population.
The NE coast from Sainte-Rose to Saint-Denis offers very little opportunity, despite being directly in the summer cyclone firing line and most locals will head to the NW coast for these rare swells.
Surf spots in Réunion
Research the 14 surf breaks in Réunion and discover what spots suit the current conditions.
Break lowdown
We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 14 breaks in Réunion.
When to go
Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to Réunion
- jan
- feb
- mar
- apr
- may
- jun
- jul
- aug
- sep
- oct
- nov
- dec
Library
Helpful surf travel videos and articles featuring Réunion.
Travel Information
General
- Current Time
- Tourists
- 574,000
- Population
- 859,959
- Tourist Info
- Tourist Info
Security
Health
Money
- Currency
- EUR
- Exchange rate
- $1 = 1 euro EUR
Cost of living
Communication
- Dialing in
- +262
- Dialing out
- 00
- Language
- French, Creole
Electricity
- Plug Type
- e
Visas
Réunion follows the same basic rules for visas as France so European nations do not need a visa and can stay as long as they like. Most other nations (Americas, Aussies, kiwis, Japanese) can stay for up to 3 months without a visa.
Getting There
Reunion airport only has direct flights from Mauritius, Madagascar, South Africa and France. To get cheap flights from France you must avoid the July-August holiday period.
Getting Around
The mountainous interior means driving mainly on the N1 coastal road, which busy at rush hours. Being based in St-Leu will save too much driving around. The “Cars Jaunes” bus service is reliable (you clap your hands to stop the bus). A rental car costs from $215/w.
Accommodation
St-Leu’s 3-star Paladien Apolonia is plush but a double room starts at $175/night. Directly across the street from the wave is DodoSpot; a double room there starts at $32/night. The Campix campground is open March to November. Guesthouses ($40/$60) slightly out of town. Spicy Creole cuisine costs $15 or even less from bars.
Activities
Maïdo is a 2000m peak that has a breathtaking view over the W coast. Cirques like Mafate, Cilaos, and Salazie are great places for trekking and views. On the E side, Piton de la Fournaise is the second-most active volcano in the world.
Hazards & hassles
In total 7 people have been killed in shark attacks in Reunion since January 2011. Don’t surf in murky water, on your own, before dark, or after heavy rains. Fire coral, spiny urchins, and shallow reefs are also threats. Only 2 surf schools still operate, running SUP classes in protected lagoons.
Handy Hints
It’s a French island with white “Zoreils” (the name of people from mainland France) raising the standard of living. Mixed-race locals speak Creole. The bars are lively and play local sega and maloya music. Surf gear is very expensive. Only surf the protected beaches.
Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.
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