Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 0692 85 20 91;
www.legiteduvolcan.com
;
dm €16-18, d bungalow incl breakfast €60, q €80; )
If you wish
to stop overnight to soak up this grandiose scenery, the 65-bed Gîte du Volcan boasts a
stunning location, a 15-minute walk from Pas de Bellecombe. Digs are in four- to 12-bed
dorms. There are also two cute bungalows that come with bathrooms. Hot water is limited
and is token-operated (€1.50). In principle, bookings are to be made through Centrale
d'Information et de Réservation Régionale - Île de la Réunion Tourisme (
Click here
) or
through any tourist office, but the caretakers usually accept travellers who haven't re-
served if the
gîte
is not full (but reservations are recommended, especially during the
trekking season). The
restaurant
is open at lunch for day trippers and serves up five differ-
ent dishes. The real clinchers are the picture-windows with lovely mountain views. Water
is recycled. Breakfast/lunch/dinner cost €6.50/14/19. Credit cards are accepted.
Cafeteria
(Pas de Bellecombe; snacks from €1; 9am-5pm daily)
This modest place near the parking lot at Pas
de Bellecombe sells snacks and refreshments.
SANDWICHES, SWEETS
€
WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE VOLCANO
A webcam has been positioned on the outer crater rim, due north of Piton de la Fournaise. It allows walkers to
check out the weather conditions that prevail near the volcano and curious travellers to simply admire the monster
in its full grandeur.
The images update every five minutes. Log on to
www.fournaise.inf
o
/webcam.php.
Getting There & Away
There's no public transport to/from the Piton de la Fournaise.
For those with a vehicle, getting to the volcano couldn't be easier because of the all-
weather Route Forestière du Volcan, which climbs 30km from Bourg-Murat all the way to
Pas de Bellecombe.
Without your own car, the 5½-hour hike to the volcano from Bourg-Murat via the Sen-
tier Josémont (GR® R2) is regarded as something of a walk for masochists, as it's easy to
pick up a ride along the Route Forestière du Volcan instead.
