How to discover Piton de la Fournaise
Renowned as one of the most active volcanoes in the world, Piton de la Fournaise is THE most visited site on Réunion Island: with its lunar landscapes, surprising geology and fascinating events, it has no shortage of secrets to reveal! So don't wait any longer and set off to discover it, with a range of fun and sporting activities to suit everyone.
With a massif that covers the whole of south-east Réunion, i.e. around 40% of the island's total surface area, and its highest point at 2,632 metres, Piton de la Fournaise is awe-inspiring, not least because of the lava flows that are gradually nibbling away at the Indian Ocean. This natural jewel is part of Réunion's National Park, a nature reserve listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its rich biodiversity and beautiful landscapes. So a visit to Piton de la Fournaise is a must on any trip to the island where it is located, whether you're a geology enthusiast or just a visitor looking for a complete change of scenery!
The history and geology of Piton de la Fournaise
It's impossible to discover Piton de la Fournaise without first taking an interest in its past, its evolution and the events that have shaped its history, which dates back some 500,000 years. Either with a local guide or by visiting the Cité du Volcan in Plaine des Cafres, you'll be surprised to learn a whole host of amazing things about it, including the famous story of Notre Dame des Laves church in Sainte-Rose, which miraculously escaped the lava flows of the volcano's 1977 eruption.
A visit to the Cité du Volcan offers fun, immersive experiences, perfect for learning about the history of Piton de la Fournaise before you go to the site itself, or after you've been there to add to the information you've gathered. Children and adults alike will enjoy a visit to this museum, located in Bourg-Murat on the road leading to the Plaine des Sables below the volcano, which lasts no more than 3 hours, even if you take the time to look at everything.
But the most important thing is to go straight to the site, to the Massif de la Fournaise, to see for yourself the geological and biological wealth of the site. This is something you can do entirely on your own, with hiking trails accessible to the public from the Pas de Bellecombe car park and even earlier, at the Plaine des Sables. Just make sure you leave early, and check the official La Fournaise website for the latest news about the volcano, and the Observatoire volcanologique website for the latest bulletins.
However, if you want to discover Piton de la Fournaise while learning new things about it, nothing beats having a guide by your side! There are many guided walks at Piton de la Fournaise, of varying lengths and with different levels of difficulty, depending on what you want to do. Some are even off-piste, giving you a unique experience! Most are accessible from the age of 10-12, so if you're planning to visit the volcano with younger children, a guided tour of Piton de la Fournaise in a van will be more suitable: you'll have the pleasure of stopping off at the site's main points of interest (the Nez de Bœuf lookout, the Commerson crater, the Plaine des Sables, the Pas de Bellecombe with its view of the Formica Leo, and finally the Dolomieu crater) and visiting the Cité du Volcan after a local lunch.
And to complete your visit to Piton de la Fournaise, if you have the time and the opportunity, take part in a caving expedition in the volcano's lava tunnels between Sainte-Rose and Saint-Philippe, which will offer you even more incredible discoveries about the environment created by its various eruptions, which have taken place on average every 9 months over the last 10 years. You'll visit tunnels formed following the eruption and lava flow of Piton de la Fournaise in 2004, an underground adventure that will allow you to admire exceptional geological formations (lava stalactites, lava benches, stalagmites, vitrified walls and skylights)!
The breathtaking scenery of Piton de la Fournaise
Piton de la Fournaise is not only a geological treasure trove, but also a profusion of rich and varied landscapes that will delight your eyes. It's not uncommon to think of volcanic land as a barren landscape devoid of vegetation, but that's not the case here! In fact, once the lava has subsided, whitish lichens start to grow, followed by other vegetation, until life returns in full force. And even if there isn't greenery in every corner of the volcano, the notable differences between each of Piton de la Fournaise's points of interest make it a magnificent site on Réunion Island.
You can of course enjoy these sublime landscapes by car or on foot, but other outdoor activities will offer you the same panoramas, if not even more incredible ones, while providing you with fun and new sensations!
Discover Piton de la Fournaise on a mountain bike or off-road electric scooter
Calling all sports enthusiasts: are you ready to complete a 30km electric mountain bike tour of Piton de la Fournaise on your own? You'll be pedalling along signposted trails that are accessible to all, on an intense itinerary that will allow you to admire the volcano's most important landmarks, from the Nez de Bœuf to the Pas de Bellecombe. But if that's still too much effort for you, an electric scooter tour of Piton de la Fournaise lasting around 2? hours will be more to your liking, not least because the route can be adapted to suit your level.
Unique excursions in front of Réunion's active volcano
To get even more pleasure from visiting Piton de la Fournaise, there are other fun activities available, such as the original electric-assisted quadricycle excursion departing from Plaine des Sables: you'll be on board an all-terrain quadbike that will give you incredible sensations for an unforgettable ride in Réunion! And if you're an experienced rider who's at ease in all 3 gaits, a horseback ride to Piton de la Fournaise is sure to charm you, with the scenery between the Reunion forest and the volcano giving you the impression of riding in an atmosphere worthy of a Western.
Flying over Piton de la Fournaise
And what better way to admire the natural beauty of this exceptional place than by taking a helicopter flight over the Piton de la Fournaise? If you can make it to Saint-Pierre, a thirty-minute drive from Plaine des Cafres, don't miss the chance to take off for a memorable flight over the volcano. From the sky, you'll enjoy breathtaking panoramas that only a helicopter can offer!
Impressive in so many ways, Piton de la Fournaise is a must-see on any trip to Réunion Island. Between its hiking trails, the Cité du Volcan and the activities on offer all around the massif, you're sure to find the way to discover the Piton de la Fournaise that suits you best! And the same goes for Réunion's 3 cirques, which are also must-sees on the island: the Cirque de Mafate, the Cirque de Salazie and the Cirque de Cilaos. So, what will be the next stop on your trip to Réunion?