Cirque de Cilaos
The southern cirque, famous for its 400-bend mountain road, hot-spring town, embroidery and wine, and the starting point for climbing Piton des Neiges.
The Cilaos cirque lies in the south-central part of the island. Drive in from Saint-Louis along the famous RN5, a road said to have around 400 hairpin bends, which winds about 35 km along the gorge and passes through single-lane tunnels. The journey is an experience in itself. The town of Cilaos, at the heart of the cirque at about 1,200 metres, has a cool climate and retains its creole-style wooden houses. It is known for its thermal spa, hand embroidery (Jours de Cilaos), lentils and the island's rare local wine. There are plenty of things to do nearby. A half-day trail leads to the Roche Merveilleuse viewpoint, overlooking the town. Canyoning routes such as Fleurs Jaunes and Gobert are among the island's classics. You can also hike across to Mafate or Salazie. The climb to Piton des Neiges usually starts from the Le Bloc trailhead here. The town has many guesthouses and hotels, and staying one or two nights is recommended. The roads have many bends, so car sickness is common. Watch for falling rocks after rain, and travel by day where possible.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Piton des Neiges
- Grand Bassin
- Cirque de Salazie & Hell-Bourg
- Cirque de Mafate
- Bélouve Forest
- Maïdo Viewpoint
- Voile de la Mariée
- Cité du Volcan