Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sleeping & Eating
Most of the accommodation for hikers consists of
gîtes de montagne
(mostly found in isol-
ated locations on the trails themselves) or of privately run
gîtes d'étape
along the walking
trails. Both offer dorm beds and meals. There's often very little to separate the two types of
gîte
in terms of comfort or facilities. Almost all
gîtes
provide hot showers (they're solar
heated). A third option consists of small, family-run
chambres d'hôtes
(mostly found in the
villages at the ends of the hiking trails). Your choice of where to stay will most likely be
based on where you can find a room. There are also a few hotels in Hell-Bourg and Cilaos
for that last night of luxury (and central heating) before you set out on your hike.
One night's accommodation without food costs between €16 and €18. For half board,
reckon on €40 per person.
You can also camp for free in some areas in the Cirques, but only for one night at a time.
Setting up camp on Piton de la Fournaise (the volcano) is forbidden for obvious reasons.
Most
gîtes
offer Creole meals, which are normally hearty, though a little rustic for some
palates. The standard fare is
carri poulet
(chicken curry),
boucané
(smoked pork) or
rou-
gail saucisses,
often with local wine or
rhum arrangé
(rum punch) thrown in. Breakfast
usually consists of just a cup of coffee with
biscottes
(rusks) - or, if you're lucky, bread -
and jam.
If you plan to self-cater, you will need to bring plenty of carbohydrate-rich food. Note
that only a few
gîtes
are equipped with cooking facilities; you are best off bringing a camp-
ing stove. Bear in mind that you are not allowed to light fires anywhere in the forest areas.
Some villages in the Cirques have shops where you can purchase a very limited variety of
food.
