Trou de Fer

A giant natural amphitheatre in primeval rainforest, where several waterfalls plunge from cliffs about 300 metres high. It often appears in Réunion's promotional photos.

Trou de Fer is a circular canyon about 300 metres deep, located deep in the Bélouve forest southeast of the Salazie cirque. Several streams, including the Bras de Caverne, pour down from the surrounding cliffs. The longest waterfall has a drop of more than 700 metres in total, counting its multiple tiers, which is truly spectacular. Because the terrain is so steep, visitors cannot reach the bottom. There are two ways to see it. The first is to walk from the Gîte de Bélouve, following a primeval mountain rainforest trail (partly on wooden boardwalks) for about 2 hours to a viewpoint. The round trip takes about 4 to 5 hours, and along the way you can see giant ferns, moss-covered cryptomerias and birds found only on the island. Bélouve can be reached on foot from Hell-Bourg or by car from the Plaine-des-Palmistes side along forest roads. The second is a helicopter ride over the canyon, which gives a view of the whole gorge and all the waterfalls. It is Réunion's signature helicopter sightseeing flight. Visibility is usually best in the morning, while clouds often cover the site in the afternoon. The paths are slippery and muddy, so wear waterproof shoes and bring rain gear.

Trou de Fer

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby