What to do in Marsouins River, Saint-Benoit

Discover the activities to do around the Rivière des Marsouins, in Saint-Benoît! Less touristic than the west coast of the Réunion Island, the east coast also has some superb landscapes to discover with some great activities.

Also known as the windward coast, the east of the Réunion Island is a humid region where rain falls more often than in the west. As a result, the commune of Saint-Benoît and its surroundings are filled with luxuriant vegetation along with numerous rivers, ponds and waterfalls: a real paradise for nature lovers! It is a region of cultivation where you will find sugar cane fields, vanilla plantations, as well as fields of letchis (litchis), the fruit for which Saint-Benoît is famous: one of the things to do in Saint-Benoît is to taste litchis!

Just like the other major towns in Réunion Island, markets are organised in Saint-Benoît, allowing you to immerse yourself in the Creole culture. And if you can, don't hesitate to take part in a Réunionese picnic along the banks of the Rivière des Marsouins! This will undoubtedly give you the opportunity to taste some of the typical dishes of Réunion Island, in particular bichique, a small fish caught at the mouth of the river. One of the cultural visits to make in Saint-Benoît is the visit of the church of Saint-Anne, not far from the Bassin Bleu, famous for the colour of its waters.

With a length of about 30 km, the Rivière des Marsouins is a privileged place for many white water activities: rafting, canoe-raft, canyoning, as well as aquatic hiking. As you travel upstream, you will come across the Grande Ravine waterfall, in the Cratère forest, and then further on the famous Takamaka waterfall, in the Takamaka valley carved out of the eastern flank of the Piton des Neiges. Near this valley is the Grand-Étang, a pond of volcanic origin in the heart of a lush forest and a stone's throw from the Plaine des Palmistes, a real paradise for hikers and horseback riders.

Along the Rivière des Marsouins is also the Bethlehem islet, a good place to swim in its natural pools. A little further north of the Rivière des Marsouins flows the Rivière des Roches, which is equally renowned for the activities it offers: white water activities and hiking, particularly along the Bassin La Mer circuit.

As you can see, there are many things to do in Saint-Benoît! Fans of sensational activities such as rafting and canyoning will be delighted to pass by the Rivière des Marsouins, as will families who will have the opportunity to enjoy beautiful horse rides and swimming in the many pools in the region.