Located in the Hauts de Saint-André, to the north-east of the island, the Salazie cirque is not only the most verdant but also the most accessible of all the cirques on Réunion. A UNESCO World Heritage Site like its neighbours Mafate and Cilaos, this unspoilt territory with a humid climate and abundant vegetation has many waterfalls among its mountainous ramparts. The most impressive is indisputably that of the "Bride's Veil" (Voile de la Mariée), an immense waterfall that splits into several small ones, which you can admire from the road between Salazie and Hell-Bourg! The climatic conditions of Salazie also make it ideal for growing chayote, known locally as chouchou, the famous vegetable belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family that people on Réunion particularly enjoy in a gratin, and which you can sample in many local restaurants… In fact, a chouchou festival takes place every June in Hell-Bourg, an event full of flavours and activities celebrating the local emblem.
A haven of peace and greenery, the Salazie cirque invites you to explore its lush landscapes, during a hike on its marked paths or a bicycle or car trip along its peaceful little roads among the vegetation. As well as its magnificent unspoilt environment, this flagship destination of Réunion National Park also boasts a remarkable built heritage, as evidenced by the Hell-Bourg islet, a magnificent little village listed among France's most beautiful villages, which still have some lovely Creole houses with colourful façades that were built during its heyday as a spa destination. The superb Folio house is open to visitors and is sure to delight you with its refined style and charming tropical garden!
Heritage enthusiasts will also want to stop at Grand Îlet, a village perched at an altitude of around 1,100 metres, where the flagship edifice is the splendid Church of St Martin, a listed Historic Monument whose walls are covered with tamarind shingle. From there you can travel along the Bélier road, a beautiful itinerary through the Hauts forest that will guide you all the way to the Col des Boeufs car park, the starting point for the famous walking trail to the Mafate cirque.
To enjoy magnificent views over the Salazie cirque, hikers should be sure to take the footpath between Hell-Bourg and the Bélouve plateau (medium difficulty - 600 metres change in altitude - 3h30 return trip). The efforts made during the ascent will be rewarded upon arrival by an exceptional panoramic view of the verdant Salazie cirque and the famous Piton des Neiges. There is also a particularly well-landscaped esplanade where you can take a well-deserved picnic break!
The hike to the Anchaing Piton departing from the Îlet à Vidot (medium difficulty - 750 metres change in altitude - 4h30 return trip), not recommended for people prone to vertigo, will reveal fabulous viewpoints over the whole Salazie cirque…
Departing from Hell-Bourg, a lovely and pleasant walk (medium difficulty - 600 metres in altitude - 4-hour circuit) will enable you to discover not only the Manouilh spring but also a majestic cryptomeria forest!
