Vavanguer: Bikepacking Reunion Island

• The first 60km of the route are part of the National Park of Reunion with no access restrictions. Nevertheless, during dry period you might not be allowed to light fire. Camping and fire is prohibilted outside of organized campground with pit fire all along the Maido Forest Road. There are no fee or permit for entering the National Park.
• La Houssaye Cape is part of Coast Conservatory Area. Bivying is tolerated but you need to pitch the tent at dusk and unpitch it before the sun rises. Fire is not allowed.
• Reunion is in the Southern Hemisphere. Whereas its climate is tropical with very hot and humid days, it is also very mountainous with lots of microclimates. So, be prepared to experience big changes in altitude. (big temperature swings from place to place and day/night, even sub-freezing temperatures during winter; very dense fog or clouds).
• It is highly recommanded to get yourself informed about the weather forecast as Reunion is often subject to extreme weather (high winds, heavy rains and cyclones !!). See additionnal ressources for weather forecast.
• During winter (June-September), winds blow from south and can be very strong (90-120km/h), this is to be considered for day 3. During summer, weather is very wet and cyclones can pass over the island.
• Sunscreen is highliy recommanded as Reunion is often under UV12/14 index.
• There are no dangerous wild animals along the route, but there is a very high risk of shark attack all along the coast. Don’t have a sea bath out of lagoons and unsupervised area. Ask locals.

• Day1 : in the national park you should camp in organized camping spots. They are located all along the Maido Forest Road but also along some other tracks in the area. They are equipped with pit fire, sometimes picnic tables and a shelter. There are no toilet facilities in the area. Bring your own rubbish.
• Day 2 : A good place to camp is La Houssaye Cap but tent should be pitched at dawn and unpitched before sunset. This area is very dry, so be carefull while cooking. Alternate camping spot could be at Roche Noire beach, on the seaside, under filao trees.
• Day 3 : There is plenty of accommodation options in Saint Pierre Area. Closest campsite with all facilities is located in Etang Salé-les-bains.

• Day 1: There is a grocery store in Les Makes for food before the start, you should have 2 days of food. You will find water on the trail that but from rainwater tanks (see POIs on RWGPS)
• Day 2: It is difficult to find water in Maido Area so you should have some spare from day 1. There is a little bar at Maido parking but it might be closed. During the descent to La Houssaye Cape, you will cross villages with drinking water available everywhere and some small shops for some basic resupply (see POIs on RWGPS).
• Day 3: Plenty of food options.

• The route could be ridden in two days, if you like to take your time 2 ½ – 3 days is better. MTB or high volume tire gravel bike is recommended for the whole route.
• Day 1 is the is almost only on fire road going up to the top of tevelave forest and then down to Maido forest paved road were you will easily find a place to camp. It can be very steep and rocky at some point but with no major difficulties if you have good MTB skills.
• Day 2 alternates between a bit of paved road (maido forest road) and lots of single tracks and path in the dense forest. You may experience some log on the trail or very dense vegetation from time to time. Then, you take the 1800 rocky road to the maido, which is absolutely stunning. Organise your time to have lunch at Maido Peak and then start your descent to the Lahoussaye Cape. Again no difficulties if you have MTB skills. Experience riders could take an alternate route with technical challenges as the area is the place for a tough DH race called Megavalanche. You will find a lot of GPX files on the internet.
• Route of day 3 is almost pancake flat. Around Eperon village, you will have to cross a ravine and carry your bike on your back. This is the only difficulty of the route. The part of the route may be very windy and the wind direction will never be favorable heading south. The route alternate between sugar cane field tracks and cycle lanes. Fat bike rider should consider riding on the beach from Hermitage to Etang Salé. (app. 30km)

Full Route Description:

The route begins from the highlands, in a tiny village called Les Makes. The first pedal strokes bring you slowly into the dense forest, full of tall crytomeria trees. The climbing is done at a slow pace to warm up, following a winding fire road with a slight gradient. Every turn offers views of the surrounding mountains and seaside towns. The slope become steeper towards the top of the Grand Benare (2,898 meters). The fireroad becomes a rougher two lane track. Hard pack soil becomes very rocky. Vegetation makes itself a bit shy as the higher landscapes dry out. This is Tectec’s home, an endemic bird from Reunion with a round belly. The track reaches 1,800 meters and only the peaks of the Maido and Grand Benare emerge from the sea of clouds. The route then follows its way down to the primal forest of Tevelave. Our choice camping spot and pit fire make a good place for a warm meal and a good night of rest. Temperatures are cool and at this altitude it can drop below zero at night.

“Tévelave” comes from malagasy “Tavy Lava” and means” the great forest”. This forest was a refuge for the runaway slaves, offering a wide area to hide and enough to eat. Discovery hiking trails tell legends of this period around some archeological sites. The forest road through the Tevelave Forest to the Maido is georgeous and verdant — green ferns, large bamboo trees and majestic Tamarins with crooked branches collecting wild orchids. The top of Maido overlooks us and oversees our progress. To reach it is a reward; this peak offers a spectacular panoramic view of Mafate, which you can admire the unspoilt nature. Mafate consists of islets – isolated hamlets and villages – where people live self-sufficient lives — and the access is only possible by foot!

From there the descent is fast: from the forest, we cross pastures, small villages and then sugar cane fields to finally reach the La Houssaye Cape, overlooking the bay of St Paul, nicknamed the “Bay of better anchoring.” It is through this bay that the first French landed for the first time on the island in 1642. Descent is a real playground for mountain biker and the area is the site for the famous Megavalanche DH race. Terrain is very changing and alternate between double tracks, single track with some portions into the bush and open land. Grass, rocks, sand, hardpack soil. For every taste.

La Houssaye Cape is a vast savannah that rises above basalt cliffs. Our eyes slide out of sight on the tall grass waving in the wind. Depending on the season, their colors change from green to rust, dotted with black basalt stones and the silhouette of a few stunted trees.

Our route continues west on the midlands of the island. Some ravines to cross and a few cane and pineapple fields later we are now overlooking the three natural bassins of the Ravine St Gilles which supplied during two centuries the inhabitants of the West Coast with drinking water and which allowed the irrigation of the cane fields for the sugar and rum industry. We reach the coast by crossing some vestiges of windmills and canals lost in prickly vegetation to the former sugar factory called Filaos.

From there, the track to the south follows the coast and alternate between field’s tracks and cycle lanes, almost the first portion of paved road from the beginning of the ride. Fat bike riders can ride the beach all along 30k from here as an option. Not boring at all! The ocean offers us its gradations: calm and turquoise water along the lagoon and white sandy beaches, then we continue along the high cliffs of basalt overlooking the infinite marine blue ocean. Swell offers his show and powerful spray jets are going up in the air up to several meters. The saline from La Pointe au Sel emerge from the tracks through the cane fields, symbols of the last stage of the course. At the right season (june-september), there are also a few spot for observing whales coming for warm water to give birth.

Then, we reach The Forest of Etang Salé along the black sandy beach before crossing the last river of the ride, St Etienne river, to arrive at the Peak of the Devil, entrance to the city of St Pierre. This is the end! Beachfront cafés will offer you a refreshing experience with a “dodo”, local traditional brew to extend the exotic trip of the weekend, a few more days of “vavang” …

Additional Resources

• Local weather forecast: www.meteo-reunion.com/cyclone
• Reunion National Park: www.reunion-parcnational.fr