Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
La Caz des Orangers
( 0692 08 23 12, 0262 44 50 32;
www.lacazdesorangers.com
; 24 Impasse Cernot, Sans Soucis les Hauts; d €49, s/d
without bathroom €30/36, incl breakfast; )
It's a long drive uphill to get to this sweet establish-
ment located in Sans Souci Les Hauts, about 10km northeast of St-Paul, but you'll be re-
warded with enchanting views of the coast and shimmering sea below. It provides a cosy
sitting room, tidy bedrooms with minimalist decor and a lovely garden bursting with trop-
ical plants. Add another €10 for dinner (bargain!). It's a great base for hikers going to/
from the Cirque de Mafate via the Canalisation des Orangers - the trailhead is just 200m
uphill.
GUESTHOUSE
€
Chez Suzy et Gaia
( 0692 52 82 59, 0262 32 45 14;
www.chez-gayaetsuzie.sitew.com
; 197 Route Hubert-Delisle, Bellemène Canot; d
incl breakfast €46; )
This simple
chambre d'hôte
run by a hospitable Indian couple has two
modest but tidy rooms - be sure to ask for the '
vue mer'
(room with a sea view). The din-
ner menu (€25) is based on good-quality local produce, including home-grown vegetables.
B&B
€€
TOP OF CHAPTER
Le Maïdo & Around
Be prepared to fall on your knees in awe: far above St-Paul and St-Gilles-les-Bains on the
rim of the Cirque de Mafate, Le Maïdo is one of the most impressive viewpoints in
Réunion. The lookout is perched atop the mountain peak at 2205m and offers stunning
views down into the Cirque and back to the coast. As with other viewpoints, you should
arrive early in the day - by 7am if possible - if you want to see anything other than cloud.
Getting there is half the fun. The sealed Route Forestière du Maïdo winds all the way
up to the viewpoint from
Le Guillaume
(14km) in the hills above St-Gilles-les-Bains, offer-
ing a scenic drive through majestic cryptomeria forests. On the way, the hamlet of
La Petite
France
(1000m) is famous for its traditional distilleries producing essential oils from
geranium, cryptomeria and vetiver leaves (nice smell!). You'll also find a smattering of at-
tractions along the way to keep you entertained.
A word of warning: expect traffic snarls on Sunday when hundreds of picnicking famil-
ies set up base in the shade of trees along the road.
Activities
